Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
Up early, drove down from Denver, and hit the trailhead at about 7:00....just in time for the sun to come up and shed a little light on us.
We were happy to see there was absolutely no snow by the trailhead, and it was a cool but pleasant 28 degrees. Started hiking and warmed up fast. Powered up to the treeeline and then the top of a steep ridge, getting our first view of the summit. Again, a lot less snow than I was expecting - guess the last week of sun melted most of what came down last weekend. No need whatsoever for gaiters, yak trax, nothing but trail runners!
Sunny all day, not a cloud in the sky! Made for some great views on the way up, and of course on top. Very little wind until the summit, which made for perfect hiking weather.
Crossing the road was a little sad -- feels weird to hear cars droning past you while you‘re hiking. I guess that‘s probably the biggest sacrifice we made by choosing Crag‘s instead of Barr - the road and cars. Oh well.
The last little push was a little more snowy, but it made it easy to follow the trail - just step in the footprints some others were nice enough to leave behind.
This was our first trip up Pikes (13th 14er climbed), and it very surreal to walk to the summit, which is of course just a big parking lot, then into a little store and smell frying donuts and look at overpriced t-shirts and stuffed bears. However, it was nice to get out of the wind for a few minutes. Most of the people in there gave us funny looks, with our muddy shoes and hiking poles.
We hung around on top for about half an hour or so, then trudged down. The last mile is always the longest -- I was thinking, "Gosh, i don‘t remember this long through trees!!"
Anyway --- Hit the trail at 7:15, summit at 11:00 (3 hrs 45 min), then back down at 11:40, reaching the car at about 2:20 (2 hrs 40 min) Overall, this hike was a lot easier than I was expecting, given the length and elevation gain.
While it‘s always a bit of a bummer when you hike up and don‘t get either a bit of hard earned isolation, or at least share the summit with others who had to earn it the same way you did, the hike was very pretty, the weather great, and the views superb. We really enjoyed the hike, and I would do it again, probably.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Thanks for the report and the pictures. Living in the Springs I try to get up Pikes a couple times a year. Have a big goose egg so far this year though, so I was glad to see conditions are still so nice. There is time left this year, and your pictures are motivation enough for me. Glad you enjoyed your hike and congrats on #13.
Thanks! We had a great time, I still can‘t believe how close Pikes is to the Springs ... must be nice!
Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.
Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
