Oct. 14, 2000
The route from Crags Campground is 11.5-12 miles and 4,100 feet round trip. >From south Denver, the drive via Colorado Springs and Divide took about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Kevin and Diana Craig, Lee Hendrick, John Streeter, and I left Crags Campground at 8:30 AM and strolled to the summit, arriving at 12:30. We lucked out with a clear, cool day, especially compared to last weekend's freezing fog and drizzle. Temperatures ran 35-40 F with a fairly strong wind that had us all layered in wind gear, including gloves and hats. There were only a few remaining patches of snow, and the trail was essentially dry all the way.
>From the campground, the trail splits into routes to the Crags outcropping/picnic area and to the summit. Only a few minutes after the USFS sign-in register, stay on the right braided trail. On the way up, we followed a faint trail down and across a shallow gully and up the other side. On the descent, we learned that we should have hiked just a few minutes longer over a small rise and we would have seen the summit trail split off to the right and across a first class log bridge over the gully. Other than some confusion on my part when we crossed the Pike Peak toll road, the route is well worn and easy to follow. The dust from the surprisingly constant traffic was the worst hazard on the trip. At the summit we celebrated my last Fourteener and took the obligatory photos. Lee and Kevin brought mini-bottles of champagne - wow, that carbonated stuff really hits you fast at 14,000 feet! We enjoyed a break inside the Summit House, along with the ever present tourists, and purchased hot drinks, snacks, and a six-pack of their world famous doughnuts (that aren't supposed to rise at that altitude). The trip down was cold, and we were above treeline for another couple of hours. We arrived back at the trailhead 4 hours later.
Great times and lasting memories come from celebrating happy trails with good friends!
Doug Cook