Trailride-a-14er 2024: Pikes Peak

This is our maiden voyage of Pikes Peak. It will be an expedition style adventure facilitating an experience for an adaptive hiker to summit America's Mountain with the Trailrider trail wheelchair. This is not an easy hike, and Pikes Peak is a 14,000ft Peak above sea level. Some consider this route more difficult than Mt. Elbert, Colorado's tallest peak. While this mountain is not technical in nature and does not require climbing, there are no easy 14ers, and this not a short route.

We are using the Barr Trail route on 14ers.com. Please familiarize yourself with this route, and reach out if you have any confusion. This is the standard route. Please familiarize yourself with this route and its difficulty.

https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=pikeeast

***Required: Fill out a yearly waiver for 2024 now to save time and trees on the trailhead:

Lockwood Waiver Link

Roles and Tickets:

1. Day 1 Support Team (Trailhead to Camp and Back)- The primary objective of this team is  aiding us in getting to Barr Camp from the Trailhead Saturday. This Team will help us to camp on Saturday, with the option to head down Saturday, or backpack camp (independently) before heading down Sunday. If you decide to stay the night and head down Sunday, you will need to plan to backpack camp completely independently.

Optional but ULTRA helpful: We can also use the help of at least a few independent campers to carry down supplies that we do not need (Most likely sleeping bags) to the cars Sunday morning so the expedition team can travel up light. Email jeffrey@thelockwoodfoundation.org if you are open to carrying down supplies Sunday morning.

***This ticket is not for those who who are going all the way up but you can RSVP for Day 2 Summit support if you plan to go down from camp  Saturday and drive to the summit to assist from the top Sunday. You would have 2 separate tickets with this being one of them.***

Meeting Area/Transport: 7:30am at Manitou Springs High School (next to middle school) for Shuttle or carpool to Barr Trailhead

Meetup Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eZGTB14Mz58xzuUw7

***Biggest Commitment***

2. Expedition Team (Trailhead to Summit)- This team will be planning to ascend from the trailhead to Barr Camp on Saturday, and then to summit Sunday and to come down with the group in the Shuttle.  

Camp Accommodations: This team will need a light overnight setup. The shelters do have beds so this ticket does not require a tent/shelter or sleeping pad. Sleeping bags are essential. Shelters include 2 cabins and 3 lean-to shelters. ***Earplugs are highly recommended***
Meetup Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eZGTB14Mz58xzuUw7

Food and Water: This team will at least be fed a dinner meal at Barr camp by the camp hosts Saturday evening, but you will be required to bring ample snacks, breakfast, and even more snack just in case the Barr camp meals are not up your alley. The camp itself has a creek for water but it will need to be filtered. We expect to have a few filters but if you have one, it may be a good idea to bring it.

Transport: This team will have shuttle transport (7:30am meetup) from the local Manitou Spring High School (next to the middle school) , to the trailhead, and back down to the school from the summit via shuttle.

There are only ~30 bed spots available, so it is essential that if you commit to this ticket, that you attend, otherwise we will lose critical volunteer potential on our summit bid.

Meeting Area/Transport: 7:30am at Manitou Springs High School (next to middle school) for Shuttle or carpool to Barr Trailhead

Meetup Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eZGTB14Mz58xzuUw7

3. Summit Assist Team- This team will drive up to the Pikes Peak summit Sunday, and then hike down to meet our group to help with the final push. This is a great option for those who are only available Sunday but still want to help us finish strong! It is also an option if you want to help us during first day to camp but do not want to stay the night.

If you plan to participate in this way, please RSVP a ticket and also email steve@thelockwoodfoundation.org. Steve will be leading this group down from the summit, and will have more info on potential carpool, parking, ways to reduce/avoid costs, how to prepare etc. 

Transport: This team will very potentially be responsible for its own day pass up Pikes Peak, though Steve may be able to help arrange carpool of those interested if you email him. We may benefit from a few vehicle up there that can also help us bring gear down and free up space in the shuttles. The road opens at 8am, and there is also a time entry reservation that is REQUIRED to enter the road. Link below for reservation.

https://coloradosprings.gov/pikes-peak-americas-mountain/page/tickets-and-reservations

Feel free to come any or all days! Details and contingencies below.

<Saturday: Trailhead to Barr Camp>

We have the Privilege to park at Manitou Springs High School where a shuttle will take us to the Barr Trailhead. We will then ascend the Barr Trail to Barr Camp (~10,200'). Meetup is at 8am at the High School. Departure to the trailhead 9am but could be later. Be prepared to hike over ~6.5 miles and gain approximately 3800 feet of elevation on Saturday. If you are joining us Saturday, we ask that you be at the 2wd trailhead at 8am at the latest. We have the entirety of Barr Camp reserved and can sleep over 30 there. We can also have tents nearby in national forestry land.

Saturday Timeframe Goals:

7:30am      Arrive at Manitou Springs High School
7:45am      Depart to Trailhead
9am          Depart trailhead to Barr Camp
~2pm         Arrive at Barr Camp
Manitou Spring High School (It is next to the middle school):  

Manitou Springs High School Meetup Link:

 https://maps.app.goo.gl/eZGTB14Mz58xzuUw7

Barr Trailhead:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ypp44sudDuNGa3gJ8

Barr Camp Location Below:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3GreYi24ztC2xQvN6

<Sunday: Team to Summit and Down Via Shuttle> 

We will have camp taken down and depart basecamp (~10,200') around 6am (but we will leave earlier if weather necessitates), make our summit bid, and take a shuttle from the summit down to the middle school. If you can only come Sunday, I highly recommend planning to be at Barr Camp before 6am to assure that you catch us on time if you get slowed down by mountain or travel variables. We will plan to leave basecamp at 6am but depending on logistical frameworks, terrain or environmental variables, team health/safety or otherwise, time goals are variable.  If you are hiking from basecamp on Sunday, be prepared to hike from basecamp at 11,800ft to 14,300ft and back to the trailhead at 10,500ft. "Sunday only hikers" will responsible for contacting Steve at steve@thelockwoodfoundation.org so that he can organize the team coming down from the summit to support us on the way up.

Sunday Expedition Team Timeframe Goals:

5am                            Wakeup, breakfast and bio
6-630                          Basecamp check, team prep, and launch
8am                            Distance goal: Team above tree line
Noon                          Summit
1-2pm                        Summit to School

You are welcome to join us any or all days on the mountain but there will be a level of self sufficiency required to do so. Reach out if you have any questions.

Gear and Equipment:

Remember, you need to pack for self sufficiency. Pack as if you would be hiking or backpacking alone. Be prepared and know the route, what you need for each objective (hiking, camping, emergency), and a plan for getting off the mountain. There is SOME cellular service on the mountain. There will be a short opportunity before leaving the high school to collaborate over some shared gear and equipment.

Pikes Peak Gear Requirement List

REI Backpacking List

If you are hiking (not camping) with us:
-Comfortable and preferably waterproof hiking boots 
-Backpack
-3L of water
-Food appropriate to your stay
-High calorie and protein snacks
-Rain gear
-Trekking poles
-Warm layers (no cotton or denim) for the summit and breaks (You know your body)
-Sun protection (screen, glasses, hat)

If you are camping with us Saturday, you will also want to bring:
-Sleeping bag (recommended 20 degree bag)

-Additional Water or filtration (there is often a spring near basecamp but you will need to filter)

-2 pair wool socks & and extra warm layers (no cotton or denim)
-Sleeping pad
- 3 season shelter (If you do not have a lean to or bed reserved
-Head lamp
-Meals and snacks to accommodate your stay (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
-Mess kit (bowl, spoon, camp cup)
- At least 4 Liter of water
-Food appropriate to your stay

 ***Earplugs are highly recommended***

Here is an additional resource for preparation:

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-checklist.html

***Remember, you need to pack for self sufficiency. Pack as if you would be hiking or backpacking alone. If our very experienced, trained and credentialed adventure guides find you to be severely underprepared in a way that puts you or our team in danger, they may not allow you to join us on this expedition. That being said, please reach out if you need help with this adventure. We work as a community to prepare, and we can pair you with a mentor for getting thoroughly prepared for this adventure.***

***Please be prepared to check key details this page before you leave home for the hike. Things can change over the weeks. It can be difficult to get communications out on the mountain, so we try to have all parameters set, but weather can shift, and while we do try to share changes on the mountain with social media, etc, we need our volunteers to be ready, flexible, and following communications.***

Reach out to jeffrey@thelockwoodfoundation.org if you have any questions