We rolled out of bed early Saturday morning, 2 am to be exact, mentally prepared to start our adventure up Pikes Peak, later I would wish that we would have went to bed 4+ hours earlier as fatigue from lack of sleep would be a factor to our ailing bodies. We arrived at Barr Trail head and set off at exactly 4:15 am, head lamps in place lighting our way through the 1st couple miles up Barr Trail. The air was crisp and cool and it was dark, pitch black with a hint of blue coming from the glow of the moon. As we started our accent of 12 miles we said a prayer and went on our way. Tara, Mike, Teri, Courtney, Dek, the dogs (Boucho & Eho de Boucho), and myself...
10 hours later and Tara and I made it to the summit at 2:15 PM, beating away fears of not being able to complete the task, mental and physical exhaustion. We did it. No one else but us and the will to keep pushing through the physical and mental pain - we did it. Along the way we met strangers that had a word of encouragement that was truly a blessing to help us along our path to help us during those times when we wanted to give up. The last 3 miles was just me and God and his strength, without Him I couldn't have made it.
There were times that I would think to myself that this was not going to be possible for me that I would have to turn around and give up. But I would only give that voice a second or two to live and then I would kill it and push on, feet dragging, mind feeling faint - He was with me. The first 9 miles were great and fun and then the last 4 this was the gut check time, that gut check calling of those that can and those that couldn't.
I can truly and honestly say this was the most grueling, back breaking, tiring, fatiguing thing I've ever done physically. At mile 3 I thought I re-injured a broken bone in my foot - at mile 12 I knew that I had and could barely place pressure on it, at mile 2 I hated that I brought that much stuff in my backpack - at mile 12 I could barely walk and grasping at times to keep myself up, stupid idiot for carrying so much I would think...
I'm proud of Tara and myself and our accomplishment together, she is my champion. And for her and I, we're starting to train again to be better prepared for the next journey up Pike. I'm extremely proud of those that hiked with us... you guys Rocked! And especially to Mike and Teri Dyer - you both are an encouragement to me and your will power and strength to do this time and time again is something to admire.
Pikes Peak Mountain - 14,110 feet - We climbed her. //enoch
In the mountains there are only two grades: You can either do it, or you can't. (Rusty Baille)
The beautiful city view from Barr Trail...
Mike & Teri and their dogs...
Me...
Tara and I - feelin' Great!...
Something magical about this shot...
Mike and the TP strapped to him... cracked us up....
Barr Camp - midway point...
Nearing tree line - 10,000 ft
Starting our last 3 miles...
Yep 88 Years Old! There were people 3 times my age RUNNING past us... I'm so not worthy!
There was still a hint of snow here and there...
The left image is a cliff called "Cirque" - 1,500 ft drop. That's as close as I wanted to get.
The 16 Golden Steps... nearing the summit... they're more like 32 big rock steps though...
We're exhausted...
We made it... Kenzie was up top waiting for us... (Pike one of the only few mountains you can drive, take a train, or hike up.)
We did it! Can't wait to do it again... maybe in September...
14 comments:
I got teary eyed reading this!!!! That is sooooo awesome! HUGE kudos to all of you! It reminds me of the time when Al and I hiked with our bikes up a 5 mile trail in Big Bear (thinking we could bike it - yeah, right!). I felt the same emotions you did - but you had 7 more miles on me! LOL AWESOME JOB!!!!!!
You guys rock! Love the sunrise pics...beautiful! Congrats on your accomplishment!
YAY! The photos are amazing! Good for you and your wife to make the treck together as a team! :) AND, even after 12 miles, your wife doesn't even look like she broke a sweat! Congrats on your accomplishment. :) You guys rock!
Very awesome! Sounds grueling but so much fun... How about Mrs Roberts... 88 yrs old, 14 ascents, that is a life well lived!!
wow wow wow. u guys are amazing!!! way to go!!
thanks you guys - it was grueling but so well worth it.
YAY! Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment! I can't show your blog to my husband for a few days because this will make him want to drag me up there. =)
Fantastic pictures too Enoch, you rocked this!
car? train? hmmmm....ha! can't drive up when you can experience that beauty on a touchy/feely basis! that hike looked AWESOME!!! your images are killer and whoa what a view!
LOOKS like alot of fun not to mention some awesome captures. Love wrighting with light. "A MOMENT IN TIME"
DuDe this is crazy! I hiked up that big mountain in Hawaii and like to have passed out. And it was nothing to what you did.
Great shots man.
Wow, I probably would of passed out! The shots are incredible!!! I love that the clouds are pratically kissing your camera! Awesome job with the hike and captures!
Ummm hellooooo.....wow!!
You guys seriously rock! You would have had to call the paramedics on my @ss after the 3rd mile.
Hope your foot is okay now?
Love all your photos! Simply beautiful.
Honey, It was 13 miles we did... Don't skimp us out of a mile. We worked hard for it. Our first marker was after we had already did one mile (the 12 mile marker)...
Love you...
these are AMAZING! i would have loved to have seen this in person but your images are crazy great.
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