Mountaineering – Pike’s Peak

Sharon & David Ascending Pikes Peak
Our High Point, ~12,500 ft with 60+mph wind gusts and -17dF temps!

Tom Ascending Pike's Peak
Tom, our enthusiastic leader!

All night, the wind shook Barr Camp. Sometimes, the windows would rattle. We woke up fairly early and then headed into the main part of the cabin for breakfast. I love the walnut & fruit oatmeal they make-YUM!

Around 9am, Sharon, David, Tom (leader), and I headed out for an attempt to climb Pike’s Peak. (Linda decided she didn’t want to go for it, and headed home). Dennis planned to meet us on our descent. It was -13dF when we left and very gusty; conditions which we hoped would change for the better.

We got to the A Frame around 10:30am and took a short break. David stored his snowshoes, and I futzed with my layers. It was very cold. I don’t remember being that cold before. Ever!

We left for the summit around 10:45am. David and I soon discovered we shared the same cold related problem: our eye protection was freezing due to the condensation from breathing. How frustrating. With body toppling gusty winds, it was hard enough to stay vertical without additional vision obscuration. We hiked until around 11:30am, where we collectively (but independently) came to the conclusion that we should turn around.

For me, it was a relief. I could only see out of my left lense, I kept getting blown over, and my left hand was a popsicle (until Tom risked freezing his digits and opened one of Sharon’s hand warmers for me). Thanks Tom and Sharon!

When we got back down to A Frame, the top of Pike’s Peak was lost in spindrift & a very nasty looking cloud. We all sighed relief we had not decided to ascend. We met Dennis shortly thereafter and headed back to camp.

When we arrived at camp, our hosts were doing chores. It was laundry day, so we watched Teresa stir a tub of boiling water and clothes using a device which was around several generations prior to my existence. It looked like a workout! Normally, I would have wanted to participate (help!) but I was totally drained from the -17dF cold we experienced during our summit bid.

We all sat around the embers and waited for a log to catch flame. It took a couple of hours, but we passed the time with interesting conversation. Some of us napped.

Dinner came; more spaghetti and delicious garlic bread. Psyched to be eating that again, YUMMY! Later, I had no problem falling asleep. We were thinking to try for the summit in the morning, but I was doubtful the wind would die down…it got nasty again that night!

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