~6 a.m. on 6/19/10: Starting the trail up to Pikes Peak! The summit is 13 miles from here.
Cog RR. Those people will hit the top hours upon hours before I do. But I get the glory, suckers!
7 a.m. break
"It doesn't look that bad. Let's do this!"
Fellow PA girl!
In the words of Wayne Campbell: It will be mine. Oh, yes, it will be mine.
Best 8 a.m. ever.
We chilled at Barr Camp for a little before heading up the rest of the way. It was seven miles to Barr and six more from there. Not as easy as it sounds. Additionally, what is an "experimental forest"??
Closer and closer to Barr Camp...
Pikes Peak, part II: onward!
Looking up from A-frame.
Looking out from A-frame.
Haha, action shot. "Why don't you want me drinking out of the creek?"
Three more miles from tree line. ...The roughest three miles of my life. I am not exaggerating.
I think I'd be OK with my demise being like this.
Easily my favorite photo from the outing: "baby's first 14er." The little one enjoys a break on our way up. (She also really enjoyed everyone lovin' on her. "Aww! How old is she? ... Wow! What a trouper!")
I didn't count, but I want to say we went through about six snow fields from here on up.
I'm pretty sure she'd never seen snow before. (She's 7 months and came to Colorado in the middle of May from New Mexico...)
One...more...mile.
See that marmot? Its chirp was quite shrill and scared the hell out of both Little Mon and me the first time we heard it.
I told my dog if she caught one she could eat it.
I did it! Take that, 14er.
This might be my most favorite view in the world.
She made a friend on the way down and just wanted to nap. I don't blame her.
Almost back to the bottom and she decided she'd had enough. She's my little mountain dog. 26 miles!
It was a VERY long day. So sore—and so worth it.
