View Full Version : Dayhiking Pike's Peak
Passionphish
07-27-2008, 20:40
My wife and I want to day hike to the summit where we will have someone waiting on us. We have been in Colorado Springs for 3 weeks now. I was wondering if anyone here who has done the summit would give me any advice!
I can't see paying $35 a car just to try it. I want to go prepared and successful. Any knowledge you could give me, how did you do it? what did you take? How long did it take? where did you start? etc...
Thanks Ya'll!
-Passionphish
head down to the mtn. chalet store in downtown co. springs(located on tejon next to jose' muldoons). the nice people there can certainly help you! they can get you directions to barr trail and all the info/prep. you need! good luck and have fun! be very aware of the lightning threat while making your ascent! take some pics and post 'em for us when you get done!
I did the Barr Trail too many years ago to remember any specifics. I don't think you would want to attempt to day hike it up and back in one day unless you are in really, really great shape and are of the Iron Man mind and body set. As best I can remember, it's around 11 to 14 miles one way. On my hike, I did a full gear backpack and spent the night going up right about tree line.
head down to the mtn. chalet store in downtown co. springs(located on tejon next to jose' muldoons). the nice people there can certainly help you! they can get you directions to barr trail and all the info/prep. you need! good luck and have fun! be very aware of the lightning threat while making your ascent! take some pics and post 'em for us when you get done!
Its been years ,so not much help. But I agree on watching out for the lightning. When I lived near there you could set your watch by it.If I remember , Usually about 3:30 in the afternoon,almost everyday.
Good warm up hiking up Gold Camp Rd.
Be prepared for cold, wind, wet.
Good plan for the car down. Checked out the cog down?
sasquatch2014
07-29-2008, 12:53
The time that I did the Barr trail we left very early to make sure that we were up on the summit and down before the daily afternoon T-Storms would roll in. The first about two miles of the trail is like being on a stair master lots of elevation gain then it mellows out and at the end the last 3 miles kicks your butt again with the last mile to mile and a half all above treeline.
Hey Passionphish!!! You made it to Colorado. I'm sooo jealous!. Keep us posted on this trip, I'd love to hear about it. Say hi to your family for me.
Passionphish
07-29-2008, 22:37
Lilred!!!!! Heck yeah girl! I will say hi! How are ya? Spent anymore time on the AT since we last spoke?
DAKS: I be sure to post some pictures! The plan is to meet family at the top and then decide what we will do. Ride down with family or take the Cog. Thanks for the tips on who to talk too! I will be heading down there tomorrow.
The thing I can't get over is the $35 a car just to drive the two hours to the top!!!!! Holy crap.... But if you want it bad enough....
Thanks Guys!
-Passionphish
Passionphish
07-29-2008, 22:43
hehe... great english there... "I be sure..." I have spent way too much time in the south... *sigh*
-Passionphish
hehe... great english there... "I be sure..." I have spent way too much time in the south... *sigh*
-Passionphish
it' prolly' just the altitude getting to you out there!:) have fun!
one other thing i just thought of is water! there used to be water available at a cabin just below treeline, but i heard that was shut off in the last few years due to the drought! be sure and ask the people at mtn. chalet about this!
Passionphish
08-06-2008, 21:29
Thanks! I will!
Two things I remember about the Pike's Peak trail: the pounding it gave my joints and the constant thunder and lightning that followed us all the way down to Manitou. ;)
tom_alan
09-10-2008, 17:13
Go fron the Grags Campground Trailhead on the backside. Only gain 4,100ft instead of 7,400ft ~ althouth it's a class 2 instead of a class 1 total trip is 11.4 miles instead of 25.8 miles.
So. Did you do the deed? Have you gone up Gold Camp Road?
My wife and I did it right after we moved to the Springs in 5.5 hours from Manitou Springs (qualified for the marathon)
A year later we hiked down with our two daughters (took the cog up)
Going up was more fun IMHO
The switchbacks are not a lot of fun....the rest of the hike was quite enjoyable
We started around 5am