Pikes Peak from the Crags Campground, Fourteener #1 August 4, 2011

August 4, 2011

It had been at least six years since I'd hiked Pikes Peak and I had never done it starting at the Crags Campground. Andre has never hiked Pikes Peak or any other 14,000' mountain in his life. So we started early took Highway 24 to the Crags Campground parking lot and began the ascent. The trail starting from the Crags is approximately 14 miles round trip, as opposed to 26 miles from Bar Trail.

We parked slightly too soon, if we had kept going it would have knocked half of a mile off our trip both ways. When you are on Highway 67 you turn left onto a dirt road that has a sign for the Crags. You take this road for over three miles, you pass a creepy Mennonite camp and then come to a parking lot, you want to pass this parking lot and go to the next one.

We started out in a wooded area and didn't see any signs of life except a woodpecker for at least an hour.


The trail was extremely steep, I kept telling myself it had to level out at some point but it never really did... eventually we blew past several groups of hikers and found ourselves above tree line. The trail was still steep, ridiculously steep, and now the sun was rising over the hill we were climbing and blinding us, then there were the bees... they seemed to be attacking from all directions. I started getting discouraged, but as soon as we made it over this hill, there was a road that leveled out!

The valley/forest we just hiked through


This road leads to the Devils Playground parking lot near the road that people take to the summit.

Finally level trail! Almost to the Devils Playground, Pikes Peak in the background directly behind us.

After reaching the Devils Playground parking lot you cross the road and continue on the left side of the road. Shortly after you pass what is called "the bottomless pit" which is basically a very steep cliff you walk by...
Standing at the bottomless pit

Andre at the bottomless pit


The trail starts to get steep again, we took a break, drank some water, had a granola bar and started off ... Shortly after our break Andre had a terrible, terrible Charlie Horse in his right calf. It was so bad he didn't think he could continue, but he persevered.

Eventually we came to a spot of large chopped up rocks that you have to scramble up in order to get to the top. This was actually a nice break from hiking straight up because you got to use both your hands and feet. And, of course there were Marmots, lots of awesome marmots.






Finally at the top of the pile or rocks we made it! There were hundreds of tourists who had either driven up, or taken the cog up the mountain. There is even a restaurant/gift shop at the top where we each got a doughnut and bought some gatorade for Andre.

Pikes Peak Summit! 14,110'


This hike was very difficult, the trail is clearly marked but it was just steep as heck the whole time. If I had to do this again I would just hike the extra miles and take Bar Trail. Pikes Peak is a must do, but it is an ugly mountain, it doesn't have even close to the views you get from hiking others, and it feels almost discouraging when you get to the top and see all the tourists who drove their vehicles up to the Summit...

Grays Peak and Torreys Peak June 31, 2011: Fourteeners #2 and #3

June 31, 2011

JJ, David, Dad and myself headed west to hike Gray's Peak (Elevation 14,270') and Torreys Peak (Elevation 14,267'). It had been years since I'd hiked a fourteener and the only other one I had ever done was Pikes Peak from Bar Trail. The round trip route length from the trail head for both peaks is approximately 8.5 miles. However because we took my dads car we were not able to make it up the Jeep road to the trail head which added another three miles each way :(

If you are ever going to do this I absolutely advise you bring a 4x4 vehicle or at least something with high clearance so that you aren't adding an extra six miles to your trip. Hitchhiking up this beast of a road is also a valid option.

The trail is clearly marked and well defined when you start out, it is pretty level and wide for about two miles.

A picture from early on in the trail. Grays peak is on the left and Torreys is barely on the right visible behind the hill.



The entire hike is absolutely beautiful, there are rolling meadows, streams, wildflowers, and Mountains everywhere.

Meadow


Flowers


There were also several adorable Pika who randomly chirped at us along the way.


Eventually the trail began to gain elevation and we got closer to both Peaks.

Panorama of Torreys, Dad and David on the right


Looking back on the valley we just hiked through



By this point my Dad and David had given up, I don't think he was hydrated enough and he was getting altitude sickness. JJ and I decided we would continue and try to finish both peaks quickly then meet them back at the car.

Shortly after they headed back the trail became chunks of rock and snow.


You eventually reach a spot where the trail splits, if you want to go to Torreys you want to go right, if you want to reach Gray's and then get to Torreys you go left. We went left and shortly reached the Summit of Grays Peak!

Me on the Summit


JJ on the Summit


Views




In the very back of this one you can see the brown ski slopes of Breckenridge


This is the view of Torrey's Peak from the Summit of Grays.



After a quick break, despite the clouds rolling in we decided to make a break for Torreys and headed down Grays to the saddle between the two. Surprisingly we got a second wind from the break we took and reached Torreys Summit in maybe 30 minutes or so.

Summit!


JJ on the Summit


We didn't have much time to get down, it was barely noon but clouds had been forming for nearly an hour and we could hear thunder in the distance. We scrambled down trying to be careful but I fell on my knee and bruised/ripped it up pretty badly. We still made good time getting back and by the time we reached the Jeep road we decided to try and hitch a ride down. Eventually we found someone with room and they were able to return us to where our dad was parked.

This was a very pretty hike and probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life, I would highly recommend it. You need to be in good physical condition in order to do this quickly enough to beat the afternoon thunderstorms. A good fourteener or two to start with, not too dangerous but not boring like Pikes Peak. :)