Four weeks 'til Pikes Peak

In exactly four short weeks, I will be crashing on my sister's futon in Colorado Springs, resting up for our 3AM wakeup call for the 2011 Pikes Peak Challenge! 

This event is a 13.1 mile hike to the summit of Pikes Peak, one of America's most iconic mountains. Funds raised by hikers benefit victims of traumatic brain injury, through the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado. An important cause, and the hike is a beautiful tribute. 


This will be my second time participating in the Pikes Peak Challenge, and my second ascent of the mountain. I'm really looking forward to it!


My posts from last year's training and event:
Stepping it up for the Pikes Peak Challenge
The Final Countdown (training outline for final 16 days leading to hike)
Pikes Peak Challenge: A little humor, and those famous donuts
We made it!
Pikes Peak Challenge Recap: Part 1
Pikes Peak Challenge Recap: Part 2


While training for last year's hike, my main goal was to get fit in general. I was transitioning out of a more sedentary lifestyle, and trying to wrap my brain around what was necessary for conditioning my body for the hike. I ended up doing a lot of walking and jogging, but not much else. Once I was actually completing the hike on the day of, I quickly realized that strength training and some agility training would have greatly helped me navigate the rocky and steep terrain.This time around, I have focused mainly on running (thanks, marathon training) but clearly need to get aboard the strength training and agility exercises train. I've got four weeks to make this count, and am going to figure this out asap. More on the specific training plan to follow!


My overall mood for this year's hike is excited / laid back, now that I know what to expect. Last year, I was nervous / excited... also freaking myself out, reading stories of horrific accidents in Yosemite on Half Dome (which does not at all compare to Pikes Peak, it's way more dangerous), and the high risk of lightning strikes (which can honestly be said about any mountain of the same elevation). I panicked about my gear, driving my sister crazy with questions like "Annie, will I need technical fabric underwear?" I distracted myself with funny stories about Pikes Peak, like the famous donuts served at the summit house.


I've got my work cut out for me, but am so, so excited to get back on the trail.


You do the talking: Do you like hiking? There aren't many rigorous trails in SE Wisconsin, but there's one super hard one that I can't get enough of (TWSS!), it's my favorite. It's the black loop at the Lapham Peak Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest, for you locals.


Have you ever visited Pikes Peak? 
A fun story: One of my favorite bloggers, Kath, has a special connection to the mountain. Her mother wrote a book, Purple Mountain Majesties, about the woman who visited Pikes Peak and wrote the poem that inspired "America, The Beautiful." Neat, huh? When Kath blogged about the book, I left a comment and her mother was so sweet to respond. This year, I'll carry a copy of her book in my pack and take a photo with it at the top!

(source)

Side note: In researching a link for Half Dome (Yosemite National Park, California) I came across a remarkable essay from Gina Bartiromo, who survived a fall from the cables and recovered from TBI and other injuries. Her story is truly incredible and inspiring!

Pikes Peak Challenge Recap: Part 2

Where did we leave off? Ah yes, the trailhead of the Barr Trail.

Shortly after taking this photo, we scanned in our race bibs at 5:18AM. I was at a slight advantage, being from Milwaukee and thus having my internal clock set at Central Standard Time, aka it felt like 6:18AM to me :-)

It was ridiculously dark outside!

We scurried up the trail and it was INTENSE. Though I had on my headlamp, the trail was completely dark...

This would be me, stumbling up the trail.

... and I quickly became aware that this hike was not going to be any walk in the park.

The Barr Trail is no joke... steep switchbacks, seemingly endless, and all before sunrise! I did fine, but immediately felt the effects of the altitude and was instantly winded. I didn't do much whining (it was all in my head), but remember mentioning "I think my lungs are bleeding. I taste blood" to my teammates.

Adding to my anxiety, several parts of the trail did not have a railing installed. I was kinda nervous about the steep dropoffs and narrow passages, and annoyed by the jerky hikers who insisted on passing others there instead of waiting until a wider section of the trail. Not cool.

See, it was intense. I made sure to keep swigging water from my Camelbak, and had a couple Shot Bloks. We took a few breaks. Oh, and kept up morale with goofy photos every few minutes.

Before I knew it, we had completed nearly 3 miles. Hooray! At about the same time, the sun started to rise, providing us with a gorgeous view.

One of the things that was great about our group, was that we took every opportunity to take photographs. What else would one be compelled to do when hiking through such beautiful terrain?

The views just kept getting better and better. HA.

Soon, we caught our first glimpse of the summit!

So close, yet so freakin' far away.

At that point, the view was breathtaking. Both in its beauty, but also in the fact that I couldn't believe that within the same day, we'd make it to the top! The concept made my lungs burn.

We continued up the trail, which was getting rockier (bouldery-er?) and trickier. Morale was high and we were having a great time, moving at a decent pace.

The first trail marker! Just 7.8 miles to the Pikes Peak Summit...

About halfway up, we finally made it to Barr Camp!

After waiting like 20 minutes in line for this...

...we filled up our Camelbaks and water bottles, and hit the trail for the final 6.5 miles.

The sun was out and the steepness picked up, so we quickly shed our outer layers.

Every now and then, we'd catch another peek of the Peak, which was starting to feel a closer in range.As we started to approach the timberline (about 3,000 feet below the summit), we passed through remains of the Dismal Forest. The eerie-looking trees had burned in a massive forest fire around 1910. The scenery, along with the ever-increasing altitude, made for a surreal feeling.

And finally... Timberline!!!

Here, I was feeling crappy (lightheaded, kinda headachy, lethargic) enough to ask for 'just a hit' of oxygen. The doc took my pulse, and told me I was doing great. I opted for a snack break instead.

A vermin friend tried to give us the bubonic plague... we said 'nah, not today.' As we took our break, I tried not to look up... a daunting view if I've ever seen one!

Just 3 miles to the summit. A piece of cake, right?

We got started again and thought the trail was super different, with loose gravel and a super steep grade...

... and after about 100 feet of that, we realized that we had lost the trail. Duh!

We did laugh at the situation and take a moment to soak in the view.

Then, onward and upward... literally.

TO BE CONTINUED, YET AGAIN...