One of the biggest advantages of training for the Colorado Trail is that we live in Colorado. Some of the best training hikes in the country are right in our backyard, including Pikes Peak, standing tall at 14,115 feet.
There are two popular hiking routes:
Backside: 13.5-mile round trip with approximately 4,400 feet of elevation gain.
Front side: 12.6 miles to the summit with roughly 7,500 feet of climbing.
We’ve now completed both, but the front side is definitely the bigger challenge.
Two years ago, I wasn’t sure I could make it to the summit from either side. Our daughter, Emily, believed I could. She encouraged me to give it a try and hiked the front side with me that first time. Every time I reach the summit now, I still think about that day and how grateful I am that she gave me the confidence to try.
With long climbs and high elevations ahead of us on the Colorado Trail, Pikes Peak is about as close to perfect training as we can get.
So, on Sunday, we got up in the wee hours of the morning and drove an hour to the trailhead, joining a handful of other hikers quietly setting off in the dark with headlamps lighting the way up the back side of Pikes Peak.
Even though we’ve hiked this route before and have plenty of experience at high elevations, we were not prepared for just how cold it was. The wind was howling at over 30 mph, which made it unseasonably cold. At times, the gusts were strong enough to throw off your footing, and we had to lean into them just to keep moving. Reaching the summit felt especially rewarding. The cold and wind stunted our desire to stop for photo opportunities.
One of the unique things about Pikes Peak is that, despite being a rugged fourteener, there’s a road to the top along with a visitor center serving hot drinks, snacks, and fresh donuts. Our tradition —we always celebrate with a bowl of chips and queso and a cup of coffee while sitting by the windows, taking in the view.
With the strongest winds concentrated near the summit, we decided to hitchhike down to Devil’s Playground before continuing on foot. We were picked up by a friendly couple visiting from Kansas. We ended up swapping trail stories during the drive, another reminder of how friendly the outdoor community is. We learned that several years earlier, the driver had trained for and completed the Pikes Peak Ascent, the annual running race that climbs the mountain from the front side. It’s always fun meeting people who share a love of the mountains.
…another reminder of how friendly the outdoor community is.
From Devil’s Playground, we picked up the trail and hiked the rest of the way back to our car without battling the windiest section a second time.
It was another great day in the mountains and exactly the kind of training we needed. Every hike like this builds our endurance, strengthens our legs, and reminds us why we love this journey. Now we’re looking forward to getting back on the Colorado Trail for the next segment of Project 491.
~ Moose
6th Decade Adventures 