Great report, Jim! I think the elves will reward you with a front pager! The Y is truly one of the classic couloir climbs in CO and we caught it at the right time this year. I'm surprised Cooper doesn't have it in his new book. Looking forward to more couloir climbs with you guys in the future. I'm disappointed though, where's the Lightning Point summit shot?
Thanks Kevin! Lightning Point is in the bonus slideshow linked at the top of the page. The summit shot was anticlimactic, so I chose an action shot going up the crux instead
As I watched from the deck, your headlamps slipped into the early morning darkness beyond the foot bridge at Barr and I began to live something of the adventure at hand, abeit vicariously. Having about all I can deal with getting up to Barr in the winter, the opportunity to share through your posting has really been a treat. Thanks! Fantastic fotos. And thanks for the honorable mentions. a.k.a. "hot chocolate Bob"
You're the man, Bob! Thanks for being a great host! Hope to see up there again sometime.
PS: We gave Brian $2 to cover our tab from Friday night...our word is our bond! haha :-)
Jim - great report thanks for posting! I had a fantstic time climbing with you guys. You were too kind not to mention that I really whimped out taking the Cog all the way down to my car in Manitou - no regrets on that one. :-)
SomeNone - you went way beyond the call of duty brewing that coffee at 4am! The duct tape worked great on my pole. Thanks for being such a great host.
Hello, I hope it is not against site etiquette, but I wanted to say that I truly enjoyed reading your report and I find the scenery amazing. As someone who has only ascended Pikes Peak via the standard route, this is a route I'd like to try. I wanted to ask you if this route is accessible during the summer when there is no snow at all on the summit, or if this is too steep or dangerous to climb in warmer months?
Thanks, Foxfulness, I'm glad you enjoyed our story! The north side of Pikes is beautiful, but I would stay away from the couloirs during the summer months. They are steep and full of loose rock and it's hard to enjoy the scenery when you feel like a bowling pin. Save the couloirs for a snow climb. A trip up Rumdoodle Ridge would be a good alternative during the summer months that takes you into the Bottomless Pit and gives you a great look at the North Face as you ascend. shknbke has a great report for Rumdoodle here: http://www.summitpost.org/pikes-via-rumdoodle-ridge-10-down-2-to-go/669792 Check it out!
shknbke - Apr 21, 2008 9:47 am - Voted 10/10
a great one to start on!Great report, Jim! I think the elves will reward you with a front pager! The Y is truly one of the classic couloir climbs in CO and we caught it at the right time this year. I'm surprised Cooper doesn't have it in his new book. Looking forward to more couloir climbs with you guys in the future. I'm disappointed though, where's the Lightning Point summit shot?
HokieJim - Apr 21, 2008 11:17 am - Hasn't voted
Re: a great one to start on!Thanks Kevin! Lightning Point is in the bonus slideshow linked at the top of the page. The summit shot was anticlimactic, so I chose an action shot going up the crux instead
SomeNone - Apr 21, 2008 9:16 pm - Hasn't voted
ya' done goodAs I watched from the deck, your headlamps slipped into the early morning darkness beyond the foot bridge at Barr and I began to live something of the adventure at hand, abeit vicariously. Having about all I can deal with getting up to Barr in the winter, the opportunity to share through your posting has really been a treat. Thanks! Fantastic fotos. And thanks for the honorable mentions. a.k.a. "hot chocolate Bob"
HokieJim - Apr 21, 2008 11:07 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: ya' done goodYou're the man, Bob! Thanks for being a great host! Hope to see up there again sometime.
PS: We gave Brian $2 to cover our tab from Friday night...our word is our bond! haha :-)
Hoot - Apr 21, 2008 9:37 pm - Hasn't voted
Y Climb?!Jim - great report thanks for posting! I had a fantstic time climbing with you guys. You were too kind not to mention that I really whimped out taking the Cog all the way down to my car in Manitou - no regrets on that one. :-)
SomeNone - you went way beyond the call of duty brewing that coffee at 4am! The duct tape worked great on my pole. Thanks for being such a great host.
HokieJim - Apr 21, 2008 11:23 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Y Climb?!You were the smart one! I think each one of us said "I wish I had gone all the way down with Hoot" somewhere along that trek down from Barr.
Sorry I couldn't save your Tangerine Gatorade slapshot down the Y. I guess I'll never make it as a professional hockey goalie :-)
Boriss Andean - Apr 22, 2008 4:07 am - Voted 10/10
Excellent trip report!You guys had a perfect weather. Congratulations!
HokieJim - Apr 22, 2008 2:36 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Excellent trip report!Thanks Boriss! I wish we could find days like that every time out!
Foxfulness - Feb 8, 2012 6:34 am - Voted 10/10
Beautiful pictures and thorough reporting!Hello, I hope it is not against site etiquette, but I wanted to say that I truly enjoyed reading your report and I find the scenery amazing. As someone who has only ascended Pikes Peak via the standard route, this is a route I'd like to try. I wanted to ask you if this route is accessible during the summer when there is no snow at all on the summit, or if this is too steep or dangerous to climb in warmer months?
HokieJim - Feb 8, 2012 10:51 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Beautiful pictures and thorough reporting!Thanks, Foxfulness, I'm glad you enjoyed our story! The north side of Pikes is beautiful, but I would stay away from the couloirs during the summer months. They are steep and full of loose rock and it's hard to enjoy the scenery when you feel like a bowling pin. Save the couloirs for a snow climb. A trip up Rumdoodle Ridge would be a good alternative during the summer months that takes you into the Bottomless Pit and gives you a great look at the North Face as you ascend. shknbke has a great report for Rumdoodle here: http://www.summitpost.org/pikes-via-rumdoodle-ridge-10-down-2-to-go/669792 Check it out!