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Mini trip report on winter ascent of Pikes via Barr Trail.
Started at dawn--6:15 am. Summitted at 3 pm (8:45 total climbing time). This is a big day, requiring most of the available daylight.
Barr Trail below Barr Camp had light snow and beautiful views of the summit through clearings.
Barr Trail light snow below Barr Camp
Above Barr Camp, snow became deeper, 3-8 inches. I never needed to use micro spikes--the snow compressed and wasn't slippery.
Hit tree line at noon. Views were amazing--bright sunny day.
At tree line looking SE
At tree line looking N
Above tree line, the snow became deeper (about 12") and crustier. It helps that someone had been on the trail recently, allowing sight line to trail ahead in most spots. The final ~3 miles above tree line are hard and sometimes feel endless. Success depends on just keeping at it, one step at a time. As the sun dropped below the peak, it got quite cold working my way up the east face. I recommend really good gloves and gaiters (neither of which did I bring). I never needed micro spikes, even in a foot to 16" of snow. The snow compressed well underfoot and held; I slipped only a few times. Negotiating the Golden Stairs in 12-16 inches of drifted snow and gusty wind was a challenge, especially at the end of a long day at 62 years old. But it's a great climb. I finished in time to catch a ride down on the last cog train, which was absolutely delightful.
The biggest cautions I have are to be prepared for a very long day, using all available daylight in winter, be prepared for very cold temps in the shade at the end, and don't do it solo like I did. I lost cell signal for the last 4 hours up there and it would have been tough to get anyone's attention if I'd gotten into trouble. I didn't see a soul on the trail after Barr Camp--so, one cannot count on anyone else spotting you if you find yourself in trouble. I love the solitude of solo hiking/climbing, but there are big risks, especially in winter when few folks are out. I was sure to check on availability of cog train seats while I still had cell signal, so that gave me comfort in pushing for the summit in the afternoon. That train is a great facilitator of one-way trips up Barr Trail !
Summit views on a clear day were magnificent!
From summit, looking E
From summit, looking SE
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Way to go Bill! Looks like an awesome day on Pikes! Great pics and thanks for sharing your day.
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