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)
