Holy Crags!

Yesterday Chris and I both ended up having the day off so we decided to go for a "little" hike. We decided since we have already done Barr Trail to the top of Pikes Peak, that we should do the Crags trail which is the backside of Pikes Peak. Good god were we in for a tough day! It is definitely one of the prettiest hikes that I have ever done, but also THE hardest.

Oh, hello 4200ft climb in only 6.7 miles! Now, I understand that 4200ft is quite a bit of elevation change. However, in my mind when I compared it to the 7000ft change from Barr Trail I thought that 4000ft would not be so bad. WRONG. There were certain sections that were so steep I felt like I could stick out my tongue and lick the dirt! Once we crested the first peak, it made it all worth it. SUCH an amazing view!

This was taken about half way up the first peak.

A little further up we sort of "lost the trail". ( I blame Chris for this one!) We ended up having to scramble up some very loose sand/gravel until we found the trail again. Minus the ample amount of gravel I kicked into my shoe, it was actually kind of fun! We debated scrambling up the rocky patch that the switchbacks went through but decided against it.

The sandy patch and where we debated taking a short cut!

The switchbacks.




The switchbacks were, in my opinion, the hardest part of the whole hike. (This was the dirt licking section I mentioned! haha) These pictures don't do it much justice but trust me, it was steep!

Once we got through the switchbacks the trail continued up but at a much lesser grade as we passed the Devil's Playground. Inviting, right!? It was actually a really awesome canyon that we both agreed we would like to hike (or run) one day. After we crossed the Pikes Peak Tollway, we again  found ourselves going straight up! My quads were absolutely screaaaaaaming at me! I silently rejoiced when Chris said he was starving and wanted to stop and eat.

Devil's Playground

Our lunch time view!

Past our fantastic lunch spot, the trail sort of ended and we had to look for and follow man made caims that marked the trail. To throw a little cherry onto the already hellacious cake, the final climb was a pile of boulders that covered the side of the peak. Although it was tough, it was pretty fun to finish the hike with some climbing!

Thanks, Nature!

Alas, we made it to the top! As tough as the trail was and how ready I was to be done, it's always a bummer when it's over. Well, I was done with the hike at the top because we had a minor detour that made the hike a little longer than expected and I had to get home to babysit. So as Chris hiked back to the truck, I got to ride the good ol' Cog Rail with the screaming babies, smokers and ill-prepared persons back down the mountain. It sort of ended up being a blessing in disguise because I had to follow the hike with a 22 mile run today!

It was a tough two days for the legs but I wouldn't take a single second of it back!

Some other pics from throughout the hike: