We started our adventure on Friday morning (July 1, 2011) at 9:00 AM, with full packs and plenty of enthusiasm. (Thanks to the Wilson's - who dropped us off at the trail head). We chose to use Barr trail to get to the top of Pike's Peak. Barr trail is 7 miles to Barr camp, half way to the top of Pike's Peak. The first 3 miles are pretty difficult switchbacks. The next 3 miles take you on a fairly level and easy section, and the last mile is rocky, narrow and hard!
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| Ready to go at the trail head |
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| Nikki with her gear |
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| Tanner with his gear |
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| Caravan up the mountain |
Our group consisted of our family, the Warby family (Amy, Nathan, Byron, Preston, Landon, & Miranda), and the Fry family (Darrin & Aliese). Right from the start Matthew and Miranda (both 6) were having a rough time - we stopped to rest often!
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| Tanner taking a break on the way down |
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| Pike's Peak view |
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| Tired kids! |
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| A break near the start of the trail |
We finally made it through the first 3 miles around 1 PM. We stopped at "No Name Creek" to filter water, refill our bottles and have lunch. Shortly after that our group split into 3 groups (based on ability & speed) to continue the hike.
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| Garrett tending his blisters |
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| Shady rocks at "No Name Creek" |
Amy, Miranda, Matthew & Jen were the last/slow group. We finally made it to camp around 5 PM (an hour after everyone else). Matt's poor little legs just didn't want to go any father. We would hike to goals to keep him moving (to the next big rock, fallen tree, etc.). There were plenty of bribes involved in making it to camp as well. After Garrett set up camp, he came back down the trail for us. When Matthew saw Garrett, he ran, crying, into his arms. Garrett carried Matt the last quarter mile into camp. It was probably the most touching moment of the day. I was so proud of Tanner (carried a 20 pound pack) and Nikki for working so hard to get to camp; neither of them ever complained!
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| Setting up camp. The white tent is Tanner's brand new birthday gift from Grandma & Grandpa Fry! |
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| Nikki & Matt hanging out in the tent |
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| Garrett and Matt at camp |
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| Nathan's rendition of what we will all look like after this hike! |
The Barr camp caretakers (who were amazed that our little's made it to camp at all) told Garrett that the second half of the hike (6 more miles to the peak) was even harder than the first half and to plan 1 hour more to get to the top the next day. This was very concerning as it had taken our little people 8 hours just to get to camp. We decided, as a group, to hike back to the bottom the next day and then drive to the top.
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| Playing pirates! |
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| Breaking camp |
The next day we headed back down the way we came, which proved to be the smartest choice as Matt had an even harder time. We again split into 3 groups, with Garrett, Matt & I in the back. About a mile from the bottom, Garrett went ahead to meet the Chambers family who were bringing us our vehicles. Matt was having a hard time, so every 100 feet or so I carried him. Making it to the bottom with my 25 pound pack and 40 pound son was one of the hardest things I have ever done!
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| Taking a break on our way down |
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| Everyone at the bottom waiting for Jen & Matt |
We drove to the top of Pike's Peak; 14,110 feet! Most of us ended up with altitude sickness! Everyone enjoyed a world famous doughnut, we took our "we made it" picture, and headed back down the mountain. On the way back down it started to hail (pea to dime sized), and we were grateful that we weren't hiking in that storm.
