Aeonscope | Pikes Peak Hike

Pikes Peak Hike

At 14,110 feet above sea level, Pikes Peak, is not a mountain to be hiked by the faint of heart. It requires adventurers that are in good health, have previous hiking experience, and are prepared to deal with rough terrain and potentially rough weather. Kate and I up for the challenge and hope you are too! We are organizing a hike up this mountain and have put together the following details for those interested.

Schedule

Saturday (August 25th) - Leave the Manitou Springs trailhead for Barr Camp (7 miles).
Saturday (August 26th) - Round trip from Barr Camp to Pikes Peak and back (12 miles). This will be the most strenuous of days but once we leave Barr Camp there will be very little opportunity to camp so we need to make it to the top and back the same day.
Saturday (August 27th) - Leave Barr Camp for Manitou Springs (7 miles).

Map

The following is a map that marks the route we will be taking:

Some route statistics:

Manitou Springs Trailhead - Elevation: 6,600 feet.
Barr Camp - Elevation: 10,200 feet, Distance: 7 miles (from trailhead).
Timberline Shelter - Elevation: 11,500 feet, Distance: 10 miles (from trailhead).
Pikes Peak Summit - Elevation: 14,110 feet, Distance: 13 miles (from trailhead).

Things You Need

You will need the following, at least:

Cap/Hat
Sunglasses
Warm clothing. If you have the kind of clothes that can transform from warm to cool then all the better. For example, I have pants where the legs zip off at the knees into shorts. Pack light. Maybe two shirts and pants. Maybe less.
Waterpoof Bags/Rain Clothes - I generally use ziplock bags for protecting electronics, food, or other items that are not H2O friendly. As for your body, you might want a lightweight, waterproof windbreaker. It will also help keep you warm at higher elevations as thunderstorms are very common in the afternoons and appear, like clockwork, around 4pm.
Hiking Shoes - Make sure they have some wear, are reliable, and have been broken in. Otherwise, blisters for you.
Sun Screen - Getting sunburned on the first day of a three day hike will make for an unpleasant experience so pack it. I use Bullfrog — not too greasy, goes on clear, 30 spf.
Backpack - A comfortable backpack is rather important for hauling your stuff. Make sure it fits well and adjustable at the shoulder and waist. Should sit comfortably on your hips where it can absorb most of the weight.
Tent - Goes without saying.
Sleeping Bag - A 10+/- to 20+/- bag would be good. Warmer the better as you never know when you’ll need it. It is generally easier to cool down than to warm up, so error on the warmer side.
Wet Wipes - Small, compact, and always handy for all kinds of sanitizing situations.
Flash Light - A small, compact light will save you from stumbling around in the night. Even better if you have the hands free, LED, head strap kind.

Things That We Will Supply

Barr Camp Reservations - We need to secure a spot at the camp. We will take care of this.
Food - We will supply the food. Feel free pick up additional items or offer suggestions though.
Cooking Equipment - I have everything that is necessary for cooking. If the group grows large, then I might need someone to bring extra equipment but otherwise I have you covered.
MedKit - I have a medical kit that covers the basics, short of surgery.

Lodging

We have space for out-of-towners to crash at our place (assuming the party does not grow too large) prior to hitting the trail. Otherwise, it is your tent at Barr Camp.

Additional Information

Pikes Peak - Contains information about the mountain, history, statistics, hiking information, etc.
Barr Camp - Where we will be camping. Definitely give this site a read. Lots of good information about the camp, the mountain, weather info, hiking info, etc.

Registration

To join the fray, leave a comment. The sooner the better. It costs $10 per person to camp at Barr Camp. There are cancellation fees for those who might back out so be aware before you commit.