Beautiful day, no significant clouds, absolutely gorgeous climb! Very windy for a while above the A frame. Sun had set for the last mile before reaching the summit. I estimate it was about 30 degrees. Had started trail at 7:00 am , rested too long at Barr Camp and didn't make it to the top until late which I would not do again. It was weird to find so many tourists by car on the summit after having not seen but few souls on trail . Took advantage of that and hitch hiked down the mountain, I felt like I deserved a free ride....hehe! (Last ride down with the cog railway is at 4:30 btw)
Route Climbed: Crags Campground TH Date Climbed: 8/19/2000
My partner and I elected to bag Pikes from the Northwest side, avoiding the Barr Trail parade. This was a great 14 miler, we only encountered one other climber on the trail. Upon reaching the Devil's Playground area, we discovered that the day we picked to climb was the day of the Pikes Peak Ascent Run - what a total zoo! The summit was covered in people. It was a relief to get off the top and back down on the trail!
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: July 9, 2000
I left Manitou Springs at 12:30a and arrived at the top by 10:30a. I had two long rests, one at Barr Camp and the other just above 11,000 ft. In addition to being tired, I needed to wait for the sun to start warming up the mountain. The Pikes Peak Manitou Springs Cog Railroad brought me back down.
Why did I climb at night? First, I am not in great shape and I knew I would not do so well in the heat of the day. Second, its better to be operating in the dark when you are fresh. Third, the Cog RR fills up quickly, my best chance to get a ride down was to arrive at the summit early. Fourth, the lightning display over the plains was awesome.
Long, fairly boring day hike timed perfectly so at the summit I could watch obese flatlanders disembark the cog railway direct to eating cheese fries in the cafeteria. All the while I was starving because I didn't pack enough food...came pretty close to dumpster diving...need to ski the couliors on the east side next.
Route Climbed: From Crags Campground TH Date Climbed: 6-27-93
In order to avoid the Barr Trail crowds, and to make the climb shorter, we backpacked up a couple miles from the Crags Campground TH, camped in a meadow, then started early the next morning for the summit as a day hike. What a weird experience to climb a 14er with a restaurant on top and packed with people who had gotten there by train!
Zeke - Jan 16, 2002 7:29 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: August 1998good climb, can even catch a ride on the way down!!
(But dont tell anyone)
Helga - Oct 28, 2001 4:30 am
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: 10.27.01Beautiful day, no significant clouds, absolutely gorgeous climb! Very windy for a while above the A frame. Sun had set for the last mile before reaching the summit. I estimate it was about 30 degrees. Had started trail at 7:00 am , rested too long at Barr Camp and didn't make it to the top until late which I would not do again. It was weird to find so many tourists by car on the summit after having not seen but few souls on trail . Took advantage of that and hitch hiked down the mountain, I felt like I deserved a free ride....hehe! (Last ride down with the cog railway is at 4:30 btw)
odysseus - Aug 22, 2001 11:17 am
Route Climbed: Crags Campground TH Date Climbed: 8/19/2000My partner and I elected to bag Pikes from the Northwest side, avoiding the Barr Trail parade. This was a great 14 miler, we only encountered one other climber on the trail. Upon reaching the Devil's Playground area, we discovered that the day we picked to climb was the day of the Pikes Peak Ascent Run - what a total zoo! The summit was covered in people. It was a relief to get off the top and back down on the trail!
Peter Eliassen - Aug 16, 2001 11:39 am
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: 9/1/95Stay at Barr Camp for a night and finish it in two days, the descent is rather quick!
carp - Aug 3, 2001 5:39 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: July 9, 2000I left Manitou Springs at 12:30a and arrived at the top by 10:30a. I had two long rests, one at Barr Camp and the other just above 11,000 ft. In addition to being tired, I needed to wait for the sun to start warming up the mountain. The Pikes Peak Manitou Springs Cog Railroad brought me back down.
Why did I climb at night? First, I am not in great shape and I knew I would not do so well in the heat of the day. Second, its better to be operating in the dark when you are fresh. Third, the Cog RR fills up quickly, my best chance to get a ride down was to arrive at the summit early. Fourth, the lightning display over the plains was awesome.
Jim Clarke - Jul 24, 2001 9:11 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: 7/22/98Long, fairly boring day hike timed perfectly so at the summit I could watch obese flatlanders disembark the cog railway direct to eating cheese fries in the cafeteria. All the while I was starving because I didn't pack enough food...came pretty close to dumpster diving...need to ski the couliors on the east side next.
mconnell - Jul 17, 2001 12:24 pm
Route Climbed: Many of them Date Climbed: 1970's-presentGrew up in C. Springs, climbing the Peak many times in all seasons. Now I use the west side for training.
theplugger - Apr 8, 2001 1:51 pm
Route Climbed: From Crags Campground TH Date Climbed: 6-27-93In order to avoid the Barr Trail crowds, and to make the climb shorter, we backpacked up a couple miles from the Crags Campground TH, camped in a meadow, then started early the next morning for the summit as a day hike. What a weird experience to climb a 14er with a restaurant on top and packed with people who had gotten there by train!
Jerry Thomas - Apr 6, 2001 8:52 am
Route Climbed: Craggs Campground Date Climbed: 6/3/2000Not as long as the Barr Trail, pretty easy walk-up.
kilimanjaro1 - Mar 21, 2001 8:22 pm
Route Climbed: Barr Trail Date Climbed: 7-14-99Long day hike.. camped at Barr cabins