July 24, 2025 – Pikes Peak, CO, USA (elevation: 14,115 ft)
This is my story of gradually acclimatizing to high elevation and hiking my first 14er in the easiest way possible.
Colorado Springs Acclimatization
In July 2025 I met up with old friends at Bear Trap Ranch near Colorado Springs. Bear Trap is a Christian camp with truly exceptional food, a gorgeous setting, swarms of hummingbirds, and rules that felt a tad overbearing. Those of us not from Colorado immediately felt the impact of the camp’s 9,100′ elevation, but five joyful days of fellowship and reconnecting gave everyone the chance to acclimate. One member of our group was in a wheelchair, so a few of us got bonus workouts pushing her up the steep terrain between the lodge and another building where our activities were held.
One afternoon was set aside as our “Fun Day,” not to imply that Bible Study and worship weren’t also enjoyable! With future ambitions of Pikes Peak in mind, I wanted to spend that afternoon (July 21) hiking the hardest thing I could find. Camp rules mandated that hikers travel with a minimum of four people per group, so I teamed up with others who felt up for an athletic challenge. Our goal was San Luis Peak, a 10,432′ summit in the Pike National Forest, not to be confused with the 14er of the same name in the Gunnison N.F.
We set off at a casual pace. Having only had a weekend adjusting, the effects of altitude were still obvious. The scenery was beautiful, but our group of five had varying degrees of determination. After a snack and water break at an overlook–still below the timberline–the decision was reached to turn back. Although I was disappointed about not reaching the top and consequently logging my first “Unsuccessful Attempt” on Peakbagger.com, I was grateful that it was a short day hike rather than a major objective that fell through.
Intermission at the Airport
Before the end of our one-week reunion at Bear Trap Ranch, I used my best salesmanship to try and convince my friends to join me in attempting nearby Pikes Peak. Alas, they all had other responsibilities. In the end I bummed a ride with my former boss and his family back to the Colorado Springs (COS) Airport in the wee hours of the morning. After a scare losing my cell phone under a car seat, I bid my companions farewell and hurried along to the rental car office that wouldn’t open for another hour or more.
Initially I requested the cheapest car possible, an electric; however, the lady at the rental counter warned me that was a terrible idea for Pikes Peak. I took her advice and upgraded to a gas-powered car. After dropping another $20 via cell phone ($18 for One Day Adult Admission plus a $2 Timed Entry Permit Ticket), I was on my way. It was a little over an hour and about 1/8 of a tank of gas from the airport to the Devils Playground parking lot at Milepost 16 of the Pikes Peak Highway. Incidentally, the gentleman checking tickets at the entry gate warned me that thundershowers were projected for the afternoon…
Devils Playground to Summit
Devils Playground featured porta-potties as well as the opportunity for a short walk up to what is technically a 13er. The Pikes Peak Summit trailhead was just across the street from the parking lot. It began with very gentle elevation gain. Nothing was steep or challenging until roughly the last mile. Altitude didn’t bother me with the caveat that I was solo hiking with little sense of urgency and took a rest/snack break whenever I felt like it.
Though it required some effort, the hike was easy enough that I thought to myself it might be worth doing it a second time that afternoon to better prepare my body for an upcoming mountaineering trip in Washington. Alas, weather had other plans. It started hailing as I finished the final third of a mile scrambling up rocks to the summit. Then, shortly after asking a fellow tourist to snap an obligatory photo of me at the summit sign, thunder crackled in the distance.
At the visitor’s center I enjoyed an expensive donut and pretzel with cheese. Initially I tried waiting out the weather, hoping to hike back down, but ultimately accepted the offer of a $20 shuttle ride back down to my car.
Epilog and Lessons Learned
- Lightning strike risks are apparently very high for hikers at elevation in Colorado.
- The beauty of the trail exceeded expectations. I was even greeted by a marmot.
- Not all of the trail from Devils Playground is obvious, so follow the cairns!
- The parking lot and circular drive at the summit were so chaotically crowded, I’d suggest that folks either hike or take the Cog Railway instead of driving.
- If I were to do it all over again, I would want to try a more strenuous route such as the Barr Trail. Honestly, for a milestone like my first 14er, this was too easy.