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| Report Type |
Mini |
| Peak(s) |
Pikes Peak - 14,109 feet
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| Date Posted |
05/24/2006 |
| Date Climbed |
05/21/2006 |
| Author |
aubrey |
| Pikes Peak from Crags Campground |
The dirt road to the Crags Campground was completely dry (cars shouldn't have a problem getting there).
Trail conditions were pretty good. Virtually no snow on the trail at all ... and just a few wet/lightly muddy areas. Above treeline we only had to cross three small snow fields. I postholed a couple times, but it wasn't bad, and technical gear wasn't really necessary. My low-rise gaiters came in handy, though ... kept out the dirt and small pebbles which were on much of the trail.
On paper, the Crags route doesn't seem so bad ... but, dang, it was a long haul, specifically the last rock section to the top. Speaking of which, the "trail" was kind of difficult to follow in some parts from Devil's Playground to the summit. There was really no fear of getting lost - just getting on the wrong braided trail, or a trail that led back down to the road. Directions on this site were great. The problem was the 7,000 cairns scattered randomly about. Some designated multiple routes; some went nowhere.
We did our best to stay on the trail and minimize our impact, but on many occasions we'd see a cairn, head over to it, and then find out we just traversed over to a different trail.
We experienced big temp swings all day long - more than your typical 14er climb, IMO. Hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold ... went back and forth all day, from cold and windy with light, clumpy snow to blistering, sunny heat.
Even though I've driven up Pikes Peak a couple times, hiking it was a much better experience. Got to see new angles and views. The road was busy and there were some crowds on the summit, but the trail wasn't bad at all. Much less busy than Bierstadt or Grays/Torreys, for example.
Being our first 14er of 2006, we felt kind of slow on this one:
6:30 a.m. - Left Crags Campground
11 a.m. - Summited
1:30 p.m. - Returned to the Crags Campground
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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