14er routes by difficulty

[MtSherman2015]

I was just perusing the list "14er Routes by Difficulty" (for the standard routes) and did not see Pikes-Barr listed. ?? I would rate it as a Difficult Class 1--unless that's an oxymoron.

[Flyingfish]

I would rate it as a Difficult Class 1--unless that's an oxymoron.

So you mean class 2

[MtSherman2015]

Technically 'no'. I don't believe any of the trail really rates as Class 2 hiking/climbing. But it is very long with a lot of elevation gain.

[sdkeil]

I typically see the class rating only used to describe to the technical aspect of the hike/climb. It really doesnt have anything to do with the length of the hike or the amount of the elevation gain. The amount of effort required for a hike/climb is typically captured in grade or Roach uses the "Roach Point" system, which is a combination of length of hike combined with elevation.

[Mike Shepherd]

I think you mean it is a class 1 hike full of suffering due to it's length? Perhaps you could come up with a 14ers by fun / agony index. So if the route is easy class 2 and nothing but excruciating loose talus to walk on, it would be high on the agony index, but if instead it was class 3 or 4 on bomber rock it would be low on agony and high on fun.

[MtSherman2015]

If you look at the 14er Routes by Difficulty page (for the standard routes) you'll see that Classes 2 and 3 are listed with two groups, each based on 'difficulty or easiness'. That is why I said Difficult Class 1 for Barr-which would create another sub group of the whole. So I am still wondering how Barr got left off of the list altogether. Just curious, but probably just an innocent oversight.

[justiner]

It looks like there's more routes listed on this site on the whole, than there are routes listed on the, "Routes by difficulty" page. I seem to remember a time when Barr trail wasn't listed on the Pikes Peak page at all! (Edit: it's actually not! There's just a placeholder...)

The Barr Trail is one of the better designed and constructed trails on any of the CO 14ers, as it was actually designed, rather than starting out as a social trail and if lucky, enhanced by a group like CFI. The only other trail that was designed similarly to that would be the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak - at least to the Keyhole. They do share some similarity, namely that the grade is somewhat gentle on both, which adds to their length considerably.

Barr Trail would be probably the shining example of a Class 1 trail on a 14er, long though it is.

[Jim Davies]

The user-ranked difficulty list (http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/usrpeaksrall.php) includes Barr Trail, but not Crags.

[BillMiddlebrook]

The user-ranked difficulty list (http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/usrpeaksrall.php) includes Barr Trail, but not Crags.

Yup, because that page ranks the peaks by difficulty of standard routes. Here's the ranking page: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/usrpeaks ... e14ers.php

But, no, the Barr route is still not on the site. One of these days...

[pmeadco]

I assert that the Crags route is the standard route.

[MtSherman2015]

Thanks Bill. Really appreciate this site and the FB page.

[MtSherman2015]

I assert that the Crags route is the standard route.

Why so? Just want to know your reasons, I don't really care which route is considered the standard route. Does the Crags have more summiters than Barr? It would not surprise me since it is a much shorter trip. I have done Barr to the summit four times and the Crags a total of zero--but I want to change that early this summer. I've heard that snow shoes are often a good idea on Crags early June.