Pikes Peak - part two

It is hard to see my bike in the shadow but it is there.  There was a really cool part of the trail in which you had to go under some boulders.  In that dark shadow is where I pushed my bike.  On the way down I was able to stay on without putting a foot down though.  :)

After you get past the tourist there are not many breathe-taking views.   Mostly you are buried in trees on an endless climb.  The ascent is not as steep as the switchbacks at the beginning of the trail.  You climb and climb though.  Except in a bit where you make a short descent.  I was worried about getting on the wrong trail.  I had seen from some maps where other trails met the Barr.  But fortunately there were proper signs to guide you along.

A closer look.  You can see I'm at the half mileage point.  I'm only half a mile to the Barr camp and 6.5 miles out of Manitou. 

The Barr Camp looked like an absolutely awesome place to stay. I met the host and hostess of the camp.  If you want to stay there you just need to register online.  I think you just bring your canteen and a sleeping bag and you are set.  They cook your breakfast and send you on your way.  Myself and three hikers stopped and talked for a bit.  This is where I locked up my bike on the advise of the hostess.  She said it would not be enjoyable for myself.  Looking back  I think it was good advice.  I'm not sure if I would have made it to the top pushing my bike.  The extra two water bottles I thought were in my backpack were later to not be found in my backpack.  So I was running out of water when I reached the summit later. 

As you climb out of the treeline the landscape takes a drastic change.  The thick of trees starts to thin.  Boulders appear more and more regularly.  It is rather odd.  

Once at the very top of the tree line you can see the summit just out of reach. 

The picture below is to just give you an idea of what the trail was like at the top.  The gravel is thick.  The noise is all you can hear as you are treading up.  It is not as bad as walking in sand but it is comparable.  The pebbles are larger than sand grains so you get some traction but you do lose a lot because of how thick it is. 

Start of my pan-a-ramic shot. 

Not much else can be said about the climb from the treeline to the summit.  It was just long.  You can see the summit but you've got 4 miles of trekking that just seem way longer than any other 4 previous miles.  Up in this treeless area was were I saw the one only other cyclist the whole trip. At this point I found out I was missing those two bottles of water I so desperately needed and wanted.  There was no fresh water at the Barr Camp.  I could have filled my bottle with creek water and then shat like crazy for a couple days.  My only option was to use my water sparingly and make it to the top.

To be continued...