The Barr Trail, albeit busy, was a wonderful hike. We backpacked up to Barr Camp the first day and day hiked up the next. Great hike...the top is a little anti-climatic as you have to find the summit in the middle of a parking lot, but that's the way it goes.
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: 8 May 2004
Climbed solo, one-day from Barr Trailhead. Reached Barr Camp after 2hrs 20min...summit after 7hrs 15min. I was fifth to summit that day and followed everyone else's route straight up the East Face which was soft and fairly deep. Strangely, nobody else was using snowshoes.
Route Climbed: Northwest Slopes Date Climbed: June 2002
My second time to summit (on foot), first time to descend on foot. I recommend this route over the Barr Trail, by far. Driving up the road is enjoyable too, if you're not into hiking.
Route Climbed: Northwest Slopes Date Climbed: December 14, 2002
We hiked on bare ground for much of this hike, which was a surprise to me at the time. I didn't know Pikes gets so little snow. A trip report is available here.
The trip was worth the look on the faces of the geriatrics crew piling off of the train with ice hanging from the beard and an axe in hand!!! The Care takers at the camp were all over the dognuts that we took back from the summit!
Route Climbed: From Manitou Springs Date Climbed: July 1988
Long hike, I was pretty tired after this one even though I got to catch a ride back down to my car. Would never have made it back down in day light w/o the ride.
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: September 2, 1997
Flew from Boston to Colorado to visit a friend. We hiked Rocky Mountain National Park and then met up with another friend to tackle Pike's Peak. It was so inspiring, I moved to Colorado for a year before returning to Boston.
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: 12 October, 2003
After an unsuccessful bid earlier in the summer, returned with my dad for attempt #2. Got an earlier, but still late start of 8.26 from the trailhead.
.
We were making decent time, but at the 12,700 ft-sign, my dad said he was tuckered out, & would prefer to wait for me. Kept going, summiting at either 16.24 or .25, depending on what the real high point is.
What a circus on top of the mountain! Over 100 people, a cafeteria, a train, & a gift shop??!! I bought into it, though, getting a pretzel, lemonade, & a couple of souvenirs.
Departed from the mileage sign @ 17.19, meeting up with my dad shortly above the 12,700 ft-sign (he'd started up again). Most of the descent was in the darkness, & we got to see a mostly full moon, & the city lights below (though I certainly wouldn't want such an experience on most peaks, it was cool this time). Got back to the TH @ 22.40.
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: September 1, 2003
What a great start to Sept! We backpacked through fog & drizzle & spent the night at Barr Camp. We reached the summit around 11am the following day, which was sunny & clear. This was the most i was ever physcially challenged--with the 7,000+ elevation gain. It was intense, but so worth it...for my 4th time on the mtn (twice on the cog & once on the hwy before). The day was perfect w/out a storm in sight. The summit was very crowded since it was Parent's Weekend at the Academy & the whole Academy seemed to be on the mtn...so avoid Labor Day weekend on the Peak if you don't want to be overwhelmed.
Route Climbed: West slope via Devils Playground Date Climbed: September 1, 2003
We only had time for the quick route up Pikes, which was not all that rewarding since the trailhead starts at around 12,900 feet. It was cold and there were patches of fog drifting all around us, which made it a fun and surreal climb. We descended the peak with a group of mountain goats, very cool. This is a great mountain, too bad there are always so many tourists.
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: August 17, 2003
Pikes Peak Marathon. Summit in 3:28:21; back down in 1:57:32 for a total time of 5:25:53. 75th out of 801 runners. I surpassed my expectations by 30 minutes on each leg. Awesome race. Must-do marathon. Perfect weather. Sunshine kept the morning from being too cold. Cloud cover kept the afternoon from getting too hot.
Route Climbed: Crags through The Devils Playground Date Climbed: July 19, 2003
a few up hill grunts which gives this hike a class 2 rating. a nice hike to get pikes peak under your belt. this route is much less popular than the normal 26 mile class 1 barr trail. wonderful views. however a huge disappointment to do all that work, hit the summit and see a parking lot full of cars and buses... stay away from the restaurant food, pack in a sandwich and buy extra water and/Gatorade up top. i had their hamburger which was awful..
Great mountain! Although we drove to the top, (not my choosing) the altitude and view was great. The weather was pretty bad on the way up, so there were only 20 at most on top. Sprinting is tough at 14000+ feet...
DaveC - May 21, 2004 9:17 pm
Route Climbed: crags (W) Date Climbed: aug 02my final 14er for the grand slam, actually 55th at the time. uneventful, but satisfying.
sbkelley - May 12, 2004 3:02 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: July 2001The Barr Trail, albeit busy, was a wonderful hike. We backpacked up to Barr Camp the first day and day hiked up the next. Great hike...the top is a little anti-climatic as you have to find the summit in the middle of a parking lot, but that's the way it goes.
bc44caesar - May 9, 2004 11:31 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: 8 May 2004Climbed solo, one-day from Barr Trailhead. Reached Barr Camp after 2hrs 20min...summit after 7hrs 15min. I was fifth to summit that day and followed everyone else's route straight up the East Face which was soft and fairly deep. Strangely, nobody else was using snowshoes.
Larry V - Apr 18, 2004 4:16 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Slopes Date Climbed: June 2002My second time to summit (on foot), first time to descend on foot. I recommend this route over the Barr Trail, by far. Driving up the road is enjoyable too, if you're not into hiking.
RyanS - Apr 12, 2004 12:32 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Slopes Date Climbed: December 14, 2002We hiked on bare ground for much of this hike, which was a surprise to me at the time. I didn't know Pikes gets so little snow. A trip report is available here.
coloradoiceclimber - Apr 10, 2004 3:38 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: May 2001The trip was worth the look on the faces of the geriatrics crew piling off of the train with ice hanging from the beard and an axe in hand!!! The Care takers at the camp were all over the dognuts that we took back from the summit!
Chris - Mar 22, 2004 10:08 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: August 1989Wow, what a long day and a big first mountain to climb. Did this on a whim while in Colorado for a bike race.
pphlux - Mar 19, 2004 11:25 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: May 2002Hiked this in two days with a camp at Barr camp.
Not too bad, but the inital swtichbacks were killer with all the gear I
had. Probably almost 60lbs worth, since I brought snowshoes and
some technical gear since I had intended to do the north face
couloirs, which had _NO_ snow in them!
Will probably come back here and do it in one day. Its really
neat to ascend so far in a single day. The only climb which
compares is Blanca in this regard.
UPDATE: Came back, here's the trip report of the one day ascent.
hhsilleck - Jan 9, 2004 7:27 pm
Route Climbed: Barr trail Date Climbed: September 2000Long but doable day hike from Manitou.
meepers - Dec 27, 2003 8:47 pm
Route Climbed: Barr camp trail Date Climbed: december 26 2002Nice little hike. Barr camp is a "must do" for the day hiker.
repelmen - Dec 18, 2003 12:11 pm
Route Climbed: From Manitou Springs via Barr Camp Date Climbed: Aug.10,84This was my first peak expirence at age 16.
Erik Beeler - Nov 30, 2003 2:02 pm
Route Climbed: From Manitou Springs Date Climbed: July 1988Long hike, I was pretty tired after this one even though I got to catch a ride back down to my car. Would never have made it back down in day light w/o the ride.
demo1427 - Nov 26, 2003 5:19 am
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: September 2, 1997Flew from Boston to Colorado to visit a friend. We hiked Rocky Mountain National Park and then met up with another friend to tackle Pike's Peak. It was so inspiring, I moved to Colorado for a year before returning to Boston.
jeffgun - Nov 15, 2003 1:39 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: Summer 2000Cilmbed this with my father as a benefit for people with brain injuries.
Diggler - Oct 13, 2003 12:27 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: 12 October, 2003After an unsuccessful bid earlier in the summer, returned with my dad for attempt #2. Got an earlier, but still late start of 8.26 from the trailhead.
.
We were making decent time, but at the 12,700 ft-sign, my dad said he was tuckered out, & would prefer to wait for me. Kept going, summiting at either 16.24 or .25, depending on what the real high point is.
What a circus on top of the mountain! Over 100 people, a cafeteria, a train, & a gift shop??!! I bought into it, though, getting a pretzel, lemonade, & a couple of souvenirs.
Departed from the mileage sign @ 17.19, meeting up with my dad shortly above the 12,700 ft-sign (he'd started up again). Most of the descent was in the darkness, & we got to see a mostly full moon, & the city lights below (though I certainly wouldn't want such an experience on most peaks, it was cool this time). Got back to the TH @ 22.40.
mtnhappy - Sep 2, 2003 8:31 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: September 1, 2003What a great start to Sept! We backpacked through fog & drizzle & spent the night at Barr Camp. We reached the summit around 11am the following day, which was sunny & clear. This was the most i was ever physcially challenged--with the 7,000+ elevation gain. It was intense, but so worth it...for my 4th time on the mtn (twice on the cog & once on the hwy before). The day was perfect w/out a storm in sight. The summit was very crowded since it was Parent's Weekend at the Academy & the whole Academy seemed to be on the mtn...so avoid Labor Day weekend on the Peak if you don't want to be overwhelmed.
CanopyBoy - Sep 2, 2003 9:40 am
Route Climbed: West slope via Devils Playground Date Climbed: September 1, 2003We only had time for the quick route up Pikes, which was not all that rewarding since the trailhead starts at around 12,900 feet. It was cold and there were patches of fog drifting all around us, which made it a fun and surreal climb. We descended the peak with a group of mountain goats, very cool. This is a great mountain, too bad there are always so many tourists.
395guy - Aug 20, 2003 4:49 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: August 17, 2003Pikes Peak Marathon. Summit in 3:28:21; back down in 1:57:32 for a total time of 5:25:53. 75th out of 801 runners. I surpassed my expectations by 30 minutes on each leg. Awesome race. Must-do marathon. Perfect weather. Sunshine kept the morning from being too cold. Cloud cover kept the afternoon from getting too hot.
ogonzoo - Jul 21, 2003 7:49 pm
Route Climbed: Crags through The Devils Playground Date Climbed: July 19, 2003a few up hill grunts which gives this hike a class 2 rating. a nice hike to get pikes peak under your belt. this route is much less popular than the normal 26 mile class 1 barr trail. wonderful views. however a huge disappointment to do all that work, hit the summit and see a parking lot full of cars and buses... stay away from the restaurant food, pack in a sandwich and buy extra water and/Gatorade up top. i had their hamburger which was awful..
yronman - Jul 18, 2003 2:51 pm
Route Climbed: -none- Date Climbed: June 2001Great mountain! Although we drove to the top, (not my choosing) the altitude and view was great. The weather was pretty bad on the way up, so there were only 20 at most on top. Sprinting is tough at 14000+ feet...