Pikes Peak

Route: Three Little Pigs- Right
Posted On: 5/18/2014, By: Kpobean
Info: I went up the Couloir known as \"The Three Little Pigs- Right\" with a buddy today. Warm temps in and around Glen Cove- 50+ degree F. We encountered excellent snow conditions. There were at least a dozen parties skiing various lines throughout the Glen Cove area. The snow became quite heavy towards the afternoon and I observed several small wet slides (D1/R1-1.5). Every main line in the area has seen numerous descents. We opted to ski down the left bowl and enjoyed approx 200-250ft of untracked snow. The road to the summit was closed due to icy road conditions. 

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Posted On: 5/14/2014, By: shearmodulus
Info: Went up to Barr Camp this morning. A group of four ahead of us turned around below tree line because the snow was up to their knees. Barr Camp area was snowy, but no traction devices needed. Lower trail is totally dry.

Looks like the mountain got a pretty good hit of about 14 inches according to the caretakers. I would expect with the rising temperatures later this week for the trail to be wet and sloppy for a few days. 

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Posted On: 5/11/2014, By: kman
Info: Descended the East Face of the Peak yesterday after climbing the Y Couloir via Barr Trail to Bottomless Pit and then up the Couloir on the North Face. Barr Trail is pretty much boot-packed in it's entirety. Most of the lower half of the East Face is wind blown (see picture #1), but the upper half still retains a lot of snow that covers the trail (see picture #2). Much of the trail is also icy, particularly in the area of the 16 Golden Stairs, and traction devices would be helpful. Picture #3 shows trail conditions on the long traverse. Picture #4 shows icy trail conditions just below treeline. Most of the snow and ice was gone about 2 miles below treeline, and the last 8 miles to the parking lot was pretty much bare dirt. 

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Posted On: 5/11/2014, By: kman
Info: Climbed the Y Couloir via Barr Trail to the Bottomless Pit, ascended the Couloir then hiked down the East Face. From the Barr Trail cutoff to the Bottomless Pit, there was lots of residual snow in the treeline. Carried snowshoes but did not use them due to the well-consolidated snow conditions (see picture #1). The Couloir held some of the best snow conditions that I've experienced in my 5 times climbing it. Ice axe placement was like the "sword in the stone." Picture #2 shows 14ers member ylingli climbing above me in the lower portion of the Couloir. Picture #3 shows 14ers member ylingli climbing above me in the middle section of the Couloir. Picture #4 shows 14ers member ylingli and conditions in the upper section (Direct Branch) of the Couloir. It was a long day, but conditions and weather were excellent. 

Route: Flying W Couloir-Left Branch
Posted On: 5/11/2014, By: coloradomojo
Info: Had been hoping to climb the Y from the Toll road but because the road was closed at Devil's Playground we opted to try the left branch of the Flying W, aka the Three Pigs, aka the Three Fingers from Glen Cove. It appears in Image 1. All three branches appear to be in great shape.

Splitting off (left) from the start of the three couloirs, we ascended over a little rock but not too much. The couloir comes into view shortly (image 2). It was in great shape with some windblown areas but nothing that precluded steps from being kicked.

It reached 45 to maybe 50 deg slope (see image 3), but was in wonderful shape. We were almost completely on snow versus the other branches which have rock steps and require protecting. The left branch was a nice steep snow climb.

Toping out we were in the sun (image 4) but could see the storm moving in from the West.

We descended a sloping ridge between the W and the wide bowl many skiers use East of the W. We hit the road and walked a little ways back to the car. Great short day on our home-town mountain. 

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Posted On: 5/4/2014, By: Sugar Madison
Info: Went up Barr Trail today. No snow to Barr Camp. Intermittent snow above, beginning mostly continuous from the "Bottomless Pit 2.4" sign to A-Frame. Traction was helpful early, especially in the are around the A-Frame. . Above the A-Frame is clear for several switchbacks, then covered and somewhat difficult to find trail in spots. Long traverse around 13,000' is melting out quickly. 16 Golden Stairs holding a good amount of snow, easily bypassed though.

We climbed in running shoes and microspikes. No issues at all. The snow that is left is melting fast. I wouldn't be surprised if it's 99% clear in another two weeks or so. 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 4/28/2014, By: MissH
Info: Don't underestimate the wind-chill! I could handle the snow and even the wind, but I was not prepared for the -20degF windchill (per mountain-forecast.com) even though I wore several thermal layers and mitts. Our buffs, our only wind protection for our face, froze solid; I don't know which was worse - the ice chips in the incessant >45mph winds stinging my exposed skin or the solid icy buff "protecting" my face while impairing my breathing at 13,000 ft. Anyway, needless to say, had to turn back or face (ha ha, get it?) frost-bite. Broke trail the entire way - hopefully the people that played safely in the trees below us appreciated my hard work! Snowshoes were great, but probably not necessary since the temps were below freezing most of the time. My traction-less partner only slipped on ice once (that I saw), without even falling, but he sure did sink in a few postholes (not even one complaint so it must not have been too bad) :) Some of the snow on the trail in the trees was already melting so we could see the dirt trail. Without new snow, my guess is the trail will be easy to follow through the trees. Great snowpack up the ridge and over through Devil's Playground. Photos attached of trail snow on our descent and me with freezer-burned face (image 1), view of partial summit, highway with snow blowing across it, Devil's Playground hidden in blowing snow - this wind only got worse as we got closer to the summit (image 2), and image of trail in the trees with icecycle hanging off rocks (image 3), my climbing partner relieved to be out of the wind (image 4). 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 4/26/2014, By: ebeye
Info: Did not go all the way up, only to about 11,500 with the family. However, the trail is mostly snowpack up to that elevation. My kids used cheap Costco yak track knockoffs, while the wife and I just wore our hiking boots. The footing was pretty good, although slipperier going down of course. There was the occasional post holing, but it was not that often. 

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Posted On: 4/20/2014, By: doggler
Info: Stayed at Barr Camp on Fri/Sat this weekend. No traction needed to get to BC during the PM. Traction helpful but not necessary to get to A-Frame. Took the coulior up to just under the summit. Alternating patches of rock and snow, mostly snow. Snowshoes would be useless weight. A little freeze/thaw and the shallow east-facing coulior would be nice. 

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Posted On: 3/31/2014, By: ylingli
Info: From the trail-head to 3 miles up, the trail is completely devoid of snow or ice. From 3 miles to Barr Camp, the trail is a combination of mostly ice and packed snow, with some exposed dirt. From Barr Camp to timberline, the snow-covered trail is nicely boot-packed. Traction devices are highly recommended but snowshoes were not needed. From timberline to the summit, the trail is snow covered and not visible, and route familiarity would be highly advantageous. There are some tracks in various different directions, particularly for the first mile above treeline.

It is possible to summit via the snow-filled gully from the A-frame, although crampons and ice-ax are highly recommended. Be cautious of the avy conditions at the top of the gully, it's steep enough to slide when the conditions are right. 

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Posted On: 3/16/2014, By: kman
Info: From the parking lot to 3 miles up, Barr Trail is devoid of any snow or ice. From 3 miles up and all the way to Barr Camp, the trail is about 10% exposed dirt, 10% packed snow, and 80% ice (see picture #1). Traction devices highly recommended. From Barr Camp to the A-Frame Emergency Shelter sign, the trail is snow covered but with good boot-pack/trench (see picture #2). Many people are hiking up and making the A-Frame Shelter sign their turn around point, so because of all the foot traffic to that point, no snowshoes were needed. Above the A-Frame shelter, and all the way to the summit, the trail is pretty much snow covered and not visible. Route familiarity would be beneficial here. A storm that was forecast for the afternoon came in with a vengeance and shrouded the Peak in clouds. Picture #3 was taken during an "opening" in the clouds and shows snow conditions above treeline. Picture #4, captured off the Summit House webcam by my brother from the luxury of his warm living room, shows the snow conditions on the summit. On a side note, the huge boulder that slid down and came to rest in the middle of the trail (about a mile up from the parking lot) during last September's heavy rains, has now been "altered" and the trail nicely widened around it. 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 3/3/2014, By: akoller
Info: Snow on the road for the last 1.5 miles but we made it in a 2wd car with snow tires. Nice packed trail until 11000 ft. and then we lost the trail, ended up taking a ridgeline north of the true route which had very little snow. For most of the hike past Devil's Playground we couldn't find the trail, but someone with better knowledge of the route might have been able to locate it. 

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Posted On: 3/1/2014, By: Markwise
Info: We summited Pikes yesterday, hiked out today. From TH to Barr Camp we used microspikes sporadically. Aside from one difficult patch of ice (see photos) no traction is really needed the first 2-3 miles. After that its about 70% compacted sometimes icy snow and 30% typical Barr Trail. Above Barr Camp, its all compacted snow up through treeline. In treeline near the A-Frame the trail becomes difficult to follow in places. Above treeline the trail gets lost again as it swings north to begin the big long southern "left" traverse across the East face. We ended up making a bee-line straight up the slope and used GPS to find out when we'd gained the traverse. Past that the trail was easier to follow with somesome care for route finding.

Definitely no snowshoes needed at this time. We were foolish and left our gaiters at Barr Camp and regret that choice. We did use ice ax to protect 3 snow field traverses up high.

Photo #1: The very icy patch a few miles before Barr Camp
Photo #2: A Look at how hidden the trail is up high by the early snow fields.
Photo #3: This snowfield was up the Golden Stairs 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 2/24/2014, By: Exiled Michigander
Info: The road to Crags campground is in good shape. 4WD vehicles should have no problem getting all the way to the campground; 2WD vehicles with good tires might be able to make it as well. I didn't risk it with my 2WD and parked about 3/4 mile below the campground at a nice pullout just after the road quits being plowed. It is a quick warm-up hike from there to the campground.

There is an excellent packed trail from Crags to treeline. Above treeline the slopes are mostly wind-scoured. Absolutely no need to take snowshoes at this point. I brought an ice axe and microspikes, but never used either. Can't say how long these conditions will last, but now is a good time to get Pikes in if you hate post-holing!

Sorry no photos--hiked at night. 

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Posted On: 2/23/2014, By: kman
Info: Hiked up and down the Peak via Barr Trail. There are sporadic icy patches during the first three miles (see picture #1). From three miles up and all the way to Barr Camp, the trail is ice/snow covered but with good boot-pack (see picture #2). From Barr Camp to timberline, the snow is significantly deeper but has "decent" boot-pack and snowshoes were not needed (see picture #3). From timberline to the summit, the mountain is mostly wind swept but there are large sections of snow that cover the trail and route familiarity would be advantageous - especially for the first mile above treeline. There are several rock hard consolidated snow fields that cover the trail and need to be crossed above 12,500 ft. Traction devices are highly recommended (see picture #4).