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| Hiking | 13.33 Miles |
2,500 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.33 Miles | 6 Hrs 45 Mns | | 1.97 mph |
| 2,500 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This is actually the fourth time I've done this hike, but there are actually several descriptors that encapsulate this hike. This is the first time I've logged this hike under the Pike's Peak description. (The other two descriptors that deal with the same primary routes are "Big Jim Trail" and "Peak 3564 Hieroglyphic Mtn". All three give worthwhile, but similar data for this hike).
Really looking forward to this hike because a) I love the scenery and b) I was hoping for some wildlife. Lately, the best I've seen is a handful of chipmunks. This hike did not disappoint. Got on the trail around 6:30. I was able to watch the sun illuminate Pike Peak with an orange hue as the sun crept above the horizon. Gorgeous! And shortly thereafter I saw a mommy burro with a youngster (a month old maybe?). Tried to get a picture but I wasn't fast enough. And then, within 20 minutes of that, I came across 3 javelina. Sweet! I was able to get a picture of the backside of one of them as they fled through the brush. All this, and I wasn't even two miles into my hike. The wildlife did taper off a bit after that, but the hike did not. Went in my usual way, going CCW on the Walkin Jim and then took the Big Jim Trail up to the top of Pike's Peak. Going in, the Walkin Jim Trail seemed to be more cairned than previously. A little bit of overkill in my mind, but beneficial in some of the interior sections which had minimal use. This was especially true on the Big Jim. I found that the flatter section were harder to make out and the cairns were helpful. The climbing section was more evident since it was "cut" into the side of the hill. In my mind there are two saddles on the way to Pike's Peak. The cairns are there to get you to the top, but they are sporadic and overgrown in quite a few places so the trail isn't as evident. You are very near to the top so there is little chance of losing your way. To simply your climb stay to the right (west) as you climb to the second saddle. From the second saddle it is more of a direct approach as you climb to what turns out to be false summit. At this false summit (kind of a mini-saddle), you'll see Pike's Peak looming directly in front of you. For the least technical approach, fade to the left, using the boulder slope to help in your climb. About 100 yards past the boulder slide there will be a cleft in the rocks and an easy access point to the top. (At the top make sure you note the stick in the rock. This will help guide you when you descend).
I signed the register, when I got to the top. Register was in bad shape. Very few people had signed in since my last visit with Spiderlegs and Jason from almost two years ago. If anyone goes up in the near future the register needs a bigger container. The glass jar being used right now is too small.
On the way down, I did a little off trail wandering hitting the high points that create saddle 1 and saddle 2. Neither was very technical, though the one involving saddle 2 was more climb oriented and involved going through some brush. On the way back, I finished the loop of the Walkin Jim Trail. Someone had recently done a nice job of "ribboning" this part of the trail. I didn't see any ribbons on my way in to the Big Jim Trail (north section) but they were abundant on the southern portion.
Great hike! I didn't see anyone the whole day, but gunshots were a constant companion. Wildlife included chipmunks, lizards, quail, a rabbit, 3 cows, 3 javelina and 10 burros. |
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