Barr Trail

My coach mentioned that he lived in Colorado Springs for a while and suggested Barr Trail. I have to say that the Barr Trail remains to this day the hardest single day physical endurance thing I have done.

I lived in the Denver area for 4 years in the late 90’s I was active with hiking in the summer, skiing in the winter. I did a few 5k’s and 10k’s too, but that was not my priority at the time.

I had hiked several other  14'ers (14,000 foot mountains) in Colorado and my friend and I decided to do Pikes Peak via Barr Trail. Barr trail is a 25 mile long out and back trail that goes from the base in Manitou Springs to the top of Pikes Peak with a 7000+ foot elevation gain. Some people take the option of riding the train down from the top, or catching a ride. We chose to hike up and down.

A long day even with as in shape as a couple of mid-20's guys. It was always a death march for me above 13,000 feet. Take 6 steps, catch my breath, repeat until you get to the top. Of course this was made worse after 11 miles and 6k vertical already done by that point. I remember passing a woman who was wearing helium balloons because she was doing the hike on her 40th birthday. Finally after reaching the summit, I remember running back down the trail to get back below the tree line as a thunderstorm was about to roll through.

One thing I learned in my 4 years living in Colorado is that they take their endurance sports to a whole 'nother level. With the pikes peak marathon up Barr trail, to the Leadville 100, to the triple bypass 100+ mile bike over 3 mountain passes, it is kinda crazy out there.

Maybe someday I will surpass that Barr trail hike effort with a half or full ironman, but it remains a very strong memory even 20 years later.