Started just before 4am and summited just before 10am. Then the rain, hail, lightning moved in..... VERY scary at Devil's Playground! The thunder/lightning was right on top of us. We did everything right by getting an alpine start and summiting long before noon, but the mountain had other plans for us. Oh, and the forecast was for a bluebird day with temps in the 80's! Next morning, Pikes was covered in snow...
MissH - Jun 7, 2015 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2015
Spring?
Stormy weather, mashed-potato snow, postholing crotch high in places made for frustrating and tiring hike. Definitely worth it.
ericd - Jun 7, 2015 12:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2015
Crags NW approach
Crags NW approach allowed us to wake up at a reasonable hour in Denver to climb. Started at 7am, summit at 1pm, down at 6pm. Nice trail till tree line (at 11,800') then increasing post-holing (up to our calfs) in places. Warm day, rain storms with a little wind, but could of been worse with the notorious lightening inside the playground. Face protection ideal for the ice pellets/exposure.
Winter ascent. The best way to get this peak if you don't like crowds.
telemarkdude - Oct 12, 2012 3:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 1998
Nice Ski Tour
Done this route numerous times. It's so much better than hiking through the crowds on the Barr Trail. Favorite time is Spring on tele skis; coming down the bowl from Devil's Playground is a blast!
We camped the night before and summited Pikes and the Devils Playground on Saturday.
jamesmh - Nov 30, 2008 11:26 am Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2008
I'd like to try this route when the road is closed
I had a really fun time on this hike, even though the wind was pretty wicked after getting up to the road crossing. I found the road super obnoxious. I think that some EF! action is warranted to get this road, ummmm, "closed"... let tourists take the cog RR and cut off the steady stream of SUVs that detracts from the experience of this mountain. I guess next time I'll try a different route. Lovely hike, though, and a great view!
James_W - May 25, 2008 8:56 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2008
Beautiful May Day
Ended my vist to the ridges on the north and east side of Pikes on this trail, very well marked.
Kenneth.alone - Apr 16, 2008 2:22 am Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2007
Sweet
This was 50th climb of this route! And my 61st time to summit pikes! maybe i hold some sort of record?
rpace - Sep 2, 2006 5:58 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2006
Pikes Peak 1
I have never done Barr's Trail, but this seems like a much better alternative.
jake_the_snake - Aug 11, 2020 8:10 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2020
Pikes Peak RunRan the route in ~5 hours
walt_ - Feb 11, 2019 10:45 am Date Climbed: Oct 3, 2018
Pikes on a very. windy. day.Crazy wind on the ascent. Fairly pleasant on the descent. Climbed up alone and hiked down with another solo hiker. Was good to be pushed on my pace.
Boorman - Apr 15, 2018 7:22 am Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2018
Windy!Conditions weren't too bad, just a lot of powdery snow drifts but the wind, to be expected, was brutal.
CORDILLERAORIENTAL - Nov 27, 2016 5:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2016
Summit from The CragsStarted just before 4am and summited just before 10am. Then the rain, hail, lightning moved in..... VERY scary at Devil's Playground! The thunder/lightning was right on top of us. We did everything right by getting an alpine start and summiting long before noon, but the mountain had other plans for us. Oh, and the forecast was for a bluebird day with temps in the 80's! Next morning, Pikes was covered in snow...
MissH - Jun 7, 2015 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2015
Spring?Stormy weather, mashed-potato snow, postholing crotch high in places made for frustrating and tiring hike. Definitely worth it.
ericd - Jun 7, 2015 12:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2015
Crags NW approachCrags NW approach allowed us to wake up at a reasonable hour in Denver to climb. Started at 7am, summit at 1pm, down at 6pm. Nice trail till tree line (at 11,800') then increasing post-holing (up to our calfs) in places. Warm day, rain storms with a little wind, but could of been worse with the notorious lightening inside the playground. Face protection ideal for the ice pellets/exposure.
mattdalman - Sep 24, 2014 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2014
Good routeCamped at Crags Campground and had a great solo climb.
alpineair - Oct 29, 2013 2:05 pm
Good route.Winter ascent. The best way to get this peak if you don't like crowds.
telemarkdude - Oct 12, 2012 3:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 1998
Nice Ski TourDone this route numerous times. It's so much better than hiking through the crowds on the Barr Trail. Favorite time is Spring on tele skis; coming down the bowl from Devil's Playground is a blast!
belexes - Sep 11, 2011 5:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
Pikes Peak & Devils PlaygroundWe camped the night before and summited Pikes and the Devils Playground on Saturday.
jamesmh - Nov 30, 2008 11:26 am Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2008
I'd like to try this route when the road is closedI had a really fun time on this hike, even though the wind was pretty wicked after getting up to the road crossing. I found the road super obnoxious. I think that some EF! action is warranted to get this road, ummmm, "closed"... let tourists take the cog RR and cut off the steady stream of SUVs that detracts from the experience of this mountain. I guess next time I'll try a different route. Lovely hike, though, and a great view!
James_W - May 25, 2008 8:56 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2008
Beautiful May DayEnded my vist to the ridges on the north and east side of Pikes on this trail, very well marked.
Kenneth.alone - Apr 16, 2008 2:22 am Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2007
SweetThis was 50th climb of this route! And my 61st time to summit pikes! maybe i hold some sort of record?
rpace - Sep 2, 2006 5:58 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2006
Pikes Peak 1I have never done Barr's Trail, but this seems like a much better alternative.