Pikes Peak Trip Report 09/15/2010

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Pikes Peak - 14,109 feet
Date Posted	09/15/2010
Modified	02/13/2015
Date Climbed	08/31/2010
Author	hop2it

Pikes Peak Round Trip Hike...from Barr Trail Head
My friend and I left the Barr Camp Parking Lot around 10 am on August 31. It wasnt hard for us to find a parking space at all! The hike wasnt too bad either, with the exception of us carrying so much 'gear'. We planned on staying at Barr Camp the first night. My friend wanted to take a lot of breaks. Something that I try not to do when hiking, but since we were a 'team' I just went along with whatever she wanted to do. Of course, I needed breaks as well, but I just dont like stopping too much. It took us 7 hours to do 7 miles. I do believe this was due to, mainly our gear but also for stopping for photos, and all the breaks. After we got to Barr Camp, we just relaxed and met some really nice folks. One of them being a man named Phil, who was from PA. The next day was his 80th birthday and he wanted to reach the summit in celebration! Everyone was really nice and helpful. The next morning we left at 7:30 and started hiking those beautiful mountains! We had left part of our gear (and one pack) at Barr Camp...only taking a rain jacket, water, a filter, and safety supplies with us. Although that did lighten the load...it still seemed heavy,; however, we each took turns carrying the pack. We stopped at the A-Frame for a 30 minute break. Neal (care taker at Barr Camp) told us that we should take the time that it took us from Barr Camp, to the A-Frame and double it....that is how long it would take us to reach the summit. So, with that calcuation (which proved to be correct) we reached the summit at 2 pm! We were soooo happy! However, too tired to really celebrate...hah...hah....! We took a 2 hour break (which was much needed and well deserved) at the summit house. After that, we headed back down the trail. So, after picking up the rest of our belongings at Barr Camp we headed the rest of the way down. The last mile ot two of hiking down was brutal on me....I was exhausted...sunburnt....and my toes were bleeding (I KNOW....GROSS). In total we hiked 7 miles the first day, and 19 the next. If I hike Pikes again, Ill leave a lot of the gear behind and ride the train down. I would be interested in seeing the time difference. Im really glad that I finally did it! One dream down and many more to go. I am going to purchase a book on the Colorado 14'ers and try to do ones that are too technical. Id be pretty happy to have all of those under my belt Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Pikes Peak Round Trip Hike...from Barr Trail Head

My friend and I left the Barr Camp Parking Lot around 10 am on August 31. It wasnt hard for us to find a parking space at all! The hike wasnt too bad either, with the exception of us carrying so much 'gear'. We planned on staying at Barr Camp the first night. My friend wanted to take a lot of breaks. Something that I try not to do when hiking, but since we were a 'team' I just went along with whatever she wanted to do. Of course, I needed breaks as well, but I just dont like stopping too much. It took us 7 hours to do 7 miles. I do believe this was due to, mainly our gear but also for stopping for photos, and all the breaks. After we got to Barr Camp, we just relaxed and met some really nice folks. One of them being a man named Phil, who was from PA. The next day was his 80th birthday and he wanted to reach the summit in celebration! Everyone was really nice and helpful.

The next morning we left at 7:30 and started hiking those beautiful mountains! We had left part of our gear (and one pack) at Barr Camp...only taking a rain jacket, water, a filter, and safety supplies with us. Although that did lighten the load...it still seemed heavy,; however, we each took turns carrying the pack. We stopped at the A-Frame for a 30 minute break. Neal (care taker at Barr Camp) told us that we should take the time that it took us from Barr Camp, to the A-Frame and double it....that is how long it would take us to reach the summit. So, with that calcuation (which proved to be correct) we reached the summit at 2 pm! We were soooo happy! However, too tired to really celebrate...hah...hah....! We took a 2 hour break (which was much needed and well deserved) at the summit house. After that, we headed back down the trail. So, after picking up the rest of our belongings at Barr Camp we headed the rest of the way down. The last mile ot two of hiking down was brutal on me....I was exhausted...sunburnt....and my toes were bleeding (I KNOW....GROSS). In total we hiked 7 miles the first day, and 19 the next. If I hike Pikes again, Ill leave a lot of the gear behind and ride the train down. I would be interested in seeing the time difference.

Im really glad that I finally did it! One dream down and many more to go.

I am going to purchase a book on the Colorado 14'ers and try to do ones that are too technical. Id be pretty happy to have all of those under my belt

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Exiled Michigander	Congrats! 9/15/2010 8:45pm Glad you had a great experience. The Barr Trail is beautiful, although the walk back down certainly wears one down, doesn't it? Sounds like you've caught the 14er bug. What one's next? Regarding a 14er guidebook: if you're going to get Roach's text, I believe a 3rd edition is coming out in January. So you might want to wait until then to get the most up-to-date version. Wishing you many more successful 14er ascents!
hop2it	Thanks! 9/16/2010 11:42am I need to get the guidebook to see which one I should do next. The only thing is traveling from WV to CO can prove to be expensive. I just checked on flights for over Columbus Day weekend and they were still around $420.00! If I could find one for around $150.00, that would be amazing....although unlikely. I read your Pikes Peak trip report...I'm impressed that you did it all in one day! So congratulations to you too. Oh and thanks for the tip on the guidebook....I'll certainly keep that in mind. Any recomendations on which peak I should do next? I just want to stick with ones and twos for now.
lackerstef	Mt. Bierstadt or Mt Elbert 9/16/2010 5:51pm Elbert or Bierstadt would be great second hikes. Elbert is fun as a beginner since the trail is well maintained yet you will reach the highest point in Colorado by summiting. Congrats on Pikes! The was the peak that got me hooked.
steelfrog	Sherman, DeCaLiBross, Bierstadt, Elbert 12/20/2010 2:31am All would be good. Most scenic of those is Bierstadt. Quandary good too. Ditto on the Roach book.

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