Pikes Peak
7 February 2009
Pictures * Route *
Trip Report
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Pikes Peak from the West Beaver Creek
West Fork Drainage
Date: 7 Feb 09
Climbers: Kevin Baker, Jim Ohl, Rodney Keaney, Dave Gibson
Trailhead: Gillett (CO 67 & 81) with end at The Crags trailhead
Distance: 14.75 miles (8.5 up, 6.25 down)
Elevation gain: 4182’ net
Time: 12 hours and 12 minutes (8:11 up, 0:50 summit, 3:11 down)
This was long winter climb and my first ascent of Pikes Peak in February via a seldom climbed southwest approach.
Kevin, Jim, Rodney and I linked up at 4:45 am, dropped of Jim’s car at The Crags trailhead, and then parked Kevin’s car at the intersection of CO 67 and 81 about 5 miles northwest of Cripple Creek. The intersection appears as the town of Gillett on some maps. We started out at 6:17 am. After 15 minutes of hiking with headlamps, we entered the Pike National Forest. After circumventing what appeared to be private property, we got on a dirt road that led us to Cripple Creek Reservoir #2 which we hiked around on the west side. For the next few miles we paralleled the West Fork of West Beaver Creek, but almost entirely off the trial shown on the Pikes Peak Atlas. Kevin and I did some major wallowing through the trees on the south side of Cripple Creek Reservoir #3 while Jim and Rodney took a much more practical route. Shortly after that I managed to break one of my trekking poles in half and hiked the rest of the way with a single pole. Other equipment malfunctions of mine included my GPS falling off its hook (thanks Rodney!) and my thermos spilling cold “hot chocolate” down the front of me. Actually, that was partly user error.
We crossed the West Fork a few times, but never saw a trail until we were high in the drainage. At 10,900’ we crossed to the east side of the creek and stayed high above it for the next mile. While we had fun climbing some large granite slabs, we eventually were forced to carefully down climb a short but steep snow gully. At 11,400’, the trail became more apparent and we veered east from the creek climbing a gentle snow filled gully to tree line. Jim, Rodney, and I put on our snowshoes for the first time here, but took them off at 12,000’ and didn’t wear them the rest of the way up.
After nearly 6 hours of hiking, much of it bush whacking on snow, we reached tree line with over 2 miles and 2000’ in elevation to go. Our chances of making it down before dark weren’t looking good. However, seeing cars in the distance on the Pikes Peak Highway meant that we’d have some options for the descent. Above 12’800 we short cut the trail a little to the south at the cost of more ups and downs. Aiming for the north ridge of the peak’s summit pile, Kevin and I crossed the Pikes Peak Highway at 13,440’ and then follow the finish of the Crags route to the summit. I reached the summit just before 2:30 pm after 8 hours and 11 minutes of hiking.
We were very happy to find that the Summit House was still open when we arrived. While the last train had recently headed back down, a few tourists who had driven up were still enjoying the summit. The stack bar was closing down but I managed to drop a quick $20 on a chicken sandwich, some drinks, cookies, and of course some greasy Pikes Peak doughnuts. After about 50 minutes of eating, warming up, and relaxing inside the summit house, it was decision time. Jim and Rodney decided to grab a ride back down and kindly repositioned Kevin’s car at The Crags trailhead. Kevin and I headed back down the Crags route leaving the summit at 3:17 pm.
Despite increasing clouds, the weather on our descent remained quite pleasant for above tree line in February. Staying faithful to the original plan, Kevin bagged the summits of Little Pikes Peak (13,363’) and the Devil’s Playground on our way down. Hoping to conserve a little energy, I saved these side summits for another day. We reached the 12,720’ saddle at 5:00 pm with a beautiful sunset coloring the west-facing slopes with an orange glow. On some firm snow, we managed a few short glissades and then followed the well trodden path on softer snow to tree line. Once in the trees with the light fading, the trail became very icy in a few places. I put my snowshoes on for better traction and they served me well for the rest of the way down. After the sun went down, I expected the temperature to drop quickly. However, once out of the wind, I had to remove my shell and gloves as I was surprisingly warm. Hiking through the pines on a soft snowy trail in the fading light of the day turned out to be an unexpended treat. We turned on our headlamps for the final two miles. But with a full moon and an easy to follow trail, we would have been fine without the headlamps. We arrived at Kevin’s car at the The Crags trailhead at 6:30 pm, a little more than 12 hours after starting out. Despite the long haul, which I’m used to when hiking with Kevin, I thoroughly enjoyed this unique way to climb Pikes and the great company along the way!