Pikes Peak

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 1/22/2012, By: dannyrehn
Info: Started hiking around 10am. The trail is all packed snow (some terrain with no snow at all) until getting to treeline, after which I couldn't see any clear trail. I wore yaktrax for the trip, and that was all that was needed for the entire route, even above treeline. Should have had gators for stepping through a few deeper snow spots, though.

The weather forecast predicted 20-30 mph winds, with gusts up to 90 for Pikes Peak, but it was more like 50 mph average wind speed above treeline (felt like sticking your body out of a car window on the highway the entire time). In places, had to get low to the ground/ crawl up because wind was so strong. Decided not to make summit due to wind, and went to Sentinel Point instead (I thought the trail there would be more blocked by winds, since wind was mostly coming from the south). Still was unbelievably windy, but there were places, usually on the north side of a hill, where wind was blocked somewhat.

Photos:
1 - Windiest part of the trip was near the rock formations shown
2 - Picture taken while hiding behind the rocks
3 - Pikes from Sentinel Point 

Route: 
Posted On: 1/22/2012, By: kman
Info: Hiked up and down the Peak with my brother via Barr Trail. From the parking lot to about three miles up, there is no snow or ice except for one small area just past were hikers/runners regain Barr trail after cutting down from the top of the Manitou Incline. From the point where the trail splits to the left to continue up the Peak or heads to the right to the Old Experimental Forest, the trail becomes snow-packed and icy all the way to Barr Camp. Traction devices recommended. From Barr Camp to timberline, the trail continues to remain snow-packed and icy and traction devices are recommended. From timberline to about 12,000 feet, there are lengthy areas where the trail is free of snow. From the 12,000 foot level to the summit, traction devices are HIGHLY recommended due to the hard-packed, very consolidated, icy snow sloping down across the trail. I'm 6'0" 200 lbs, & my brother is 6'4" 220 lbs, and we were barley making a print on the snow! It was nice not having to post-hole! At this time of year, the winds can be ferocious as was evident during yesterday's climb - particularly on the summit! The entire time above treeline was spent climbing toward a constant roaring noise resembling jet engines as the wind whipped across the summit from West to East. We were only able to stay on the summit for a few minutes due to the strong wind gusts. Anyway, picture #1 shows trail conditions just before Barr Camp. Picture #2 shows the hard packed snow across the trail. Picture #3 shows my brother and trail conditions on the final push to the summit. Picture #4 shows icy trail conditions just below treeline during the descent. 

Route: Crags
Posted On: 1/15/2012, By: Jay521
Info: Crags route - good boot pack to timberline. Blown fairly clear above that. No need for snowshoes but traction devices are helpful. Cold and windy today! 

Route: 
Posted On: 12/18/2011, By: pklotzbach
Info: Hiked the Barr Trail to the summit of Pikes on Saturday, December 17. The Barr Trail is in pretty good condition, especially up to Barr Camp. From the trailhead to No-Name Creek, no traction is needed... 95% dry. From there to Barr Camp, it is mostly packed snow... we used Yak-Trax and didn't have any issues. From Barr Camp to the A-Frame, there's some loose snow but not too bad. From the A-Frame to the summit, it's a bit sketchy at points, as the snow has drifted over the trail. With Yak-Trax and trekking poles, we were able to make it to the summit. Definitely a challenging hike in the winter! 

Route: 
Posted On: 12/11/2011, By: DaveSwink
Info: There is some hardened snow & ice between the TH and Barr Camp. The trail from Barr Camp to treeline is covered with 6 - 12" of powder snow. Snow is thin and wind blown above treeline with occassional patches of ice and hard snow. Traction and ice axe or trekking poles are recommended. Floatation is not needed. 

Route: 
Posted On: 12/11/2011, By: kman
Info: Hiked up and down Pikes Peak via Barr Trail yesterday (Dec 10). Met 14ers. members dswink (Dave) and nelsoq (Quinten) along the route and finished the hike up and back down with them. Conditions were pretty much the way Dave (dswink) described them in his conditions report (see previous report). I thought I would add a report with pictures showing the conditions that he described. Picture #1 shows the East Face in the early morning hours from about a mile below Barr Camp. Picture #2 shows the trail between Barr Camp and timberline. Picture #3 shows the East Face during the descent. Picture #4 shows Dave and Quinten and trail conditions on the East Face during the descent. 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 11/20/2011, By: RJansen77
Info: Climbed pikes yesterday from Crags, it was windy!!! Below treeline packed snow, maybe five or six inches in the woods. Above treeline the steeper aspects had snow to knee deep while flatter areas near Devils Playground were blown dry. Snowshoes not needed but micro spikes were nice. PM me if you have any questions. 

Route: 
Posted On: 11/12/2011, By: kman
Info: Climbed up and down Pikes Peak via Barr Trail yesterday - November 11. From the parking lot to the big yellow sign (about three miles up) that tells you to go right to the Old Experimental Forrest, or left to continue to the summit, the trail is devoid of snow. Just past that, however, the trail becomes snow covered (see first picture) and VERY icy all the way to Barr Camp. Traction devices highly recommended here. From Barr Camp to timberline, the trail was covered by a few inches of snow that has not yet turned to ice, so this section was less slippery. From timberline to about 12,000 ft. the trail was very manageable with some short sections completely devoid of snow. From 12,000 ft. to the summit, the trail is snow-filled and wind-crusted and in some cases, covered by deep drifts. It is also very icy in spots. Some route-finding was necessary. The second picture shows conditions on the trail just below the summit during the descent. The third picture shows one of the more "sketchy" sections that was wind-crusted and icy, just below the summit. The fourth picture shows trail conditions on the long traverse across the East face during the descent. 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 10/25/2011, By: mrschaible
Info: Trail is in great condition. No traction devices required. Gators and boots a good idea, but not required. Conditions will change with the coming storm on Tuesday! 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 10/13/2011, By: CO Native
Info: Trail has switched to the winter variation. There is continuous snow from the trailhead to Devil's Playground. From Devil's Playground to the summit it varies between heavily drifted to wind swept clear.

There isn't enough snow to use snowshoes or crampons. There are a few sections where snowshoes would be nice but not enough to justify bringing them all the way.

MicroSpikes would be highly recommended as the trail is very slick in spots when frozen, just sloppy when not. I'd also highly recommend gaiters especially for those short sections of deeper snow. Never hit anything over knee deep. 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 9/19/2011, By: Reyven
Info: Clear up to about 12,000 ft. Icy in spots in the early morning, firm snow further up. Some route finding on the final climb, carins were very visible. Some postholing on the way down, muddy and slippery in some spots.

Picture 1- just above tree line, heading up
Picture 2- coming around just before crossing the road by Devil's Playground
Picture 3- looking NE off the peak
Picture 4- field coming down off the first descent on the way down 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 9/16/2011, By: mrschaible
Info: Pikes received about 5-7 inches of snow the last two days above 13,000 feet. There was some post holing up to our knees in places. Last 200 feet is tough with foot placement as we would not know when we would slip between the rocks so be careful. Snow melted quite a bit on the descent. 

Route: Craigs TH
Posted On: 8/14/2011, By: DScott49
Info: Took a hike up the Craig's TH route on Pike's Peak on Saturday. It was my 8th time up Pike's (5 by Manitou, 3 by Craigs). Trail was clear and dry all the way to the top. Quite a few people on the trail, and many too many on top of the Peak. At my slow pace it took just under 5-hours up and 3 hours down. Don't hesitate to email me if you have other questions. Happy hiking! Dr. Dave 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 8/2/2011, By: Toni Marie
Info: Good trail, a bit muddy in spots but easily avoidable. 

Route: Northwest Slopes
Posted On: 7/30/2011, By: tmccormack
Info: Entirely snow free, pretty steep through the trees and it got very warm on the way back down, a few sprinkles in the early afternoon