85 Minutes

That’s how long it took Matt Carpenter to “hike” Barr Trail up to the summit of Pikes Peak for this year’s ascent. 13 miles, 10% incline, 7400 foot elevation gain ending at 14,110 feet at the summit house.

Me? Ummmmm . . . I made it to the top in a mere 525 minutes WOO HOO! Since my goal was 10 hours and I made it in just under 9, I was a happy camper - er hiker.

My hiking buddy and “Common Moms” teammate, MS, and I started the hike at 0500 this past Saturday in the chilly dark hours of the morning. I even have a blurry photo of the clock (yes that is a.m.) and temp in my car and a picture of my very first, and most likely last, race bib as proof

Our spirits were high, our legs were rested, our backpacks were full, and our headlamps were shining bright when we hit the trail. There were about 400 people doing the hike for the fundraiser - not everyone started at the same time - but we looked like a trail of ants hiking up the trail. I had that song “The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah” in my head for the entire first 90 minutes until it started getting light out! You’re welcome for getting it stuck in your head now, too

We rocked the first part of the trail and got to Barr Camp at 0800. I, personally, was WAY excited about that! The last time I hiked to Barr Camp it took me over 4 hours and I was mad and crabby the whole way because it felt like it was uphill the whole way. This time, the “flat” part actually felt flat and was a great break. I guess that running I’ve been doing since July has paid off. Here we are at 10,200 feet . . . looking happy as clams.

We took a snack break at camp to get a little rest and put some energy in our bodies. Then we waited in line for the bathroom for 20 minutes and FROZE! It was wet and foggy and chilly and if you weren’t moving, it was downright chilly - this coming from the woman who wears a jacket only while snoboarding Ick . . . but, we set back out at 0900 and were excited to work toward the A-frame at timberline.

We hit Timberline - and the first bit of sun - about 1100 and took a tiny break to soak in the sun. We didn’t stay long because search and rescue was getting weather reports that sometime between 1200 and 1400 the snow was going to roll in. So, we headed out on the last 3 miles of the hike, hoping to beat the snow and see some of the amazing views you can only see while hiking above treeline. Bummer . . . clouds came in just as quickly as the sun had appeared It really was disappointing to not see any of the cool stuff, or the summit (grrrrrrr!!!) but we trekked on. Here’s a picture of Mary Susan and the awesome view behind her - fog. There’s also a view of Sadie’s behind - Sadie just stared at her owner and dared her owner to make her hike down that mountain.

The last 3 miles of the hike above timberline are my favorite part of the hike. I don’t know if it’s the fact that there are only 3 miles left, that you can see the summit, or that the beautiful views make it all worth it . . . but I enjoy the hike above timberline. On this particular day, however, it got colder and the fog got thicker . . . and I got sssslllloooowwwweerrr. It took us 45 minutes to go one mile - UGH! The thing that made me WAY happy was that my lungs were not the part of my body slowing me down - it was my legs . . . they were getting sore. My right leg did NOT want to move . . . my hip was killing me - took a good dose of ibuprofen, hung out until it kicked in, and headed back out. But my cardio - YAY - it was good to go . . . made me very happy

We trekked on, I rested often and made it to the 16 Golden Stairs - WOO HOO! Those last 16 switch backs, which at points involve actually climbing over some rocks instead of “hiking,” are a KILLER . . . it’s so annoying because you’re SOOOO close to the top but it takes forEVER to get there.

But, at 1345 in 32 degree temps, I made it up the last step and saw the BEST smile I’ve ever seen from those cheering us on at the end. I got a medal placed around my neck and a tearfilled hug and the biggest thank you ever from a direct recipient of the money we all raised doing this hike. All the complaining the voices inside my head did over that last 1.5 miles of the hike immediately stopped. Oh the hike was so worth it!

MS and I hung out in the warm building and drank some yummy soup while we watched the snow start to fly about 1400. We have no photo of us on the summit. I know. ME! The person who always has a camera with her, has no picture of us at the summit. Reason 1 . . . we were tired and getting up to walk outside was not something we were interested in doing. Reason 2 . . . I don’t think we could have convinced anyone to get up and take our picture. Reason 3 . . . it was snowing out and we were cold. So, you get this picture of us sitting on some chairs in the warm building that you’ll just have to trust me is indeed at the top of Pikes Peak.

Then came the scariest part of the hike . . . the ride down the mountain in the van. Oh. My. GAWD! I’m an aggressive driver, and this guy scared the crap out of me! They’d closed the Pikes Peak Highway to everyone but the van service that was transporting all the hikers down the mountain. They closed it because of lack of visibility from all the fog, yet our driver thought it was completely acceptable to scream up to the hairpin turns, slam on the breaks, fly around the corners, hit 60 THREE TIMES on the way down, AND PASS PEOPLE! If you’ve ever been on the Pikes Peak Highway, you know how NOT OK that is. Everyone on the van was telling him to slow down and saying that the passing was ridiculous. Sheesh . . .

We did make it down safe and sound and a little sorer than when we started, but so very happy that we’d done the hike.

A huge thank you to all of you who donated to my fundraising efforts for the Brain Injury Foundation! I really appreciate it.

Next 14er on the list? Something quite a bit easier . . . Mt. Democrat here we come! It’s been 12 years since I’ve done that one . . . looking forward to doing it again.