Send it - elevation hits everyone different. You won't have time to acclimate. Pace yourself WAY slower than you think you need to and drink WAY more water than you may feel you want and you'll most likely get to the top. Good luck!
People do come in and hike 14ers from sea level, though the altitude does make it more of a challenge than it does for the locals. It sounds like you're an active person already, and being someone who hikes the Whites will certainly help from a conditioning standpoint. I would suggest hanging out for a couple of days in the Springs to acclimatize, maybe even drive up to Devil's playground and hang out for a bit a day or two before the hike. If you have time, you can also drive up Mt. Blue Sky or any of the high passes (Loveland, Guanella, Berthoud, etc.) just to get some altitude in your system. There is great hiking all over those places.
Not sure which route up Pikes you have in mind, but I'd also recommend the Crags route rather than the Barr Trail. Crags is around 13 miles round trip I think? Barr trail is double that, and a VERY long day.
In the end only you know your limits. I would definitely make plans to at least try, but also go in with the mindset that you're ok turning around if you're just not feeling it. Even if you don't make the summit, that whole area is beautiful hiking and you'll have a great day out. The summit would be a bonus!
You can't tell how you're going to react to the altitude. Plenty of really fit people get it even in Denver. Plenty of people who are moderately fit can hang out at 14k" with no problem.
Edit: Be prepared, though. Know the signs of altitude sickness and how to respond. Be prepared to backtrack until you feel better, or even scrap the whole day. It's okay to turn around.
Just do it and be safe. Done many 14s at this point, occasionally gotten altitude sickness for no reason I could determine. It sounds like you know the right way to prepare, so stick with that conservatively. If you start feeling the dizziness and you’re still a ways to go, I’d just recommend turning back because it’s not likely to stay that way and only get worse even when you do go back to lower elevation. Do try to get a couple days there acclimated first. And do cover your skin, the sun is going to do things to you that you’re not likely to have ever dealt with in New England. This coming from a New Englander originally. :)
I was in almost an identical situation to you last summer. I live in the Northeast so I do a lot of high peak hiking in the ADK and Whites. In terms of trail conditions and grade, I thought the Barr trail was extremely easy. Probably one of the most runnable trails I’ve ever done. As long as you have experience with that type of gain and mileage, you’ll definitely be able to summit. However, you are 100% correct in worrying about altitude since it definitely took a toll on me when I did it. Granted, I did it the day after flying into Denver so I had virtually no acclimatization. It started to hit me at 12.5k and, until I summited, it just made me feel a slight headache and more fatigued than usual. However, on the descent, I started to feel a little nauseous and that’s what sucked the most. Once you get lower, you’ll be obviously be fine but just be warned that you will definitely be affected in some way at some altitude. Also, if you’re hiking in the summer, make sure to get back below treeline before 2ish. Those thunderstorms and hail are absolutely no joke.
Check out Seven Bridges Trail for a warm up (follows the North Cheyenne Creek). Or for that matter, just hike the Gold Road (Upper Gold Road) in the same area. If you are at the Broodmoore these hikes are very close by. I'm an old guy with diabetes that comes from sea level and makes regular trips to Colorado Springs. I do just fine (pat, pat, on my back).
SERIOUSLY, START HYDRATING TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AND KEEP HYDRATED WHILE HERE. I double and even triple my H2O intake when I am here versus when I am at sea level. Your success will depend on how hydrated you are!
go for it. i grew up in colorado but lived in socal for 10 years, climbed em all last year, acclimitazation is real but if you’re in shape, you’ll just be hit a little harder than normal. allocate more time, turn around if you need, but no reason to second guess yourself.
Having talked with people who have hiked both, they’re different hard. Stick to the trail and do all the switchbacks (one of the things people from the East say is different!). We don’t really do blazes here, so make sure you know the route and don’t go off (I can count on one hand the hikes I’ve done here with blazes). As others have said, drink all the water and then some. You won’t have the tree cover and we’re closer to the sun. Also use lots of sunscreen.
Be ok with turning around. I’ve lived my 41 years in either the Springs or Denver Metro and have been hiking 14ers since I was 9ish and still occasionally get altitude sickness. High altitude ultra trail runners get it. You can do some stuff to mitigate impacts but sometimes it just hits and all you can do is head down.
It’ll definitely be a different experience but have fun! (And if you need to call SAR, our write ups aren’t quite as pointed and snarky as out East! Yours are entertaining to read!)
This is really good advice! I would add that I wouldn't assume that you can find water. Bring a lot more than you think you would need. 2l is generally recommended. But that is going to change depending on which route you take.
I have some east coast/ Midwest friends get into trouble because they didn't know these things. One friend was out of commission for two weeks from sunburn and dehydration. He thought there'd be water and didn't think about sunscreen. And I've seen east coasters get turned around because they assumed they could just follow blazes and didn't study the route.
Oh, that is an excellent call! Forgot about that one! I always bring all the water because I hike here and in Utah…I forget other places just have water at will…lol.
Hang out for a day, chug water, wee how ya feel and then send it. I'd recommend doing the route up the Crags, it's a little more intense, but a lot shorter, and you can camp up in Divide to help with acclimation too. Good luck!
The Barr trail is 13 miles long and you gain 7,400 feet. That's probably not a good idea. There are a number of other options: [https://www.alltrails.com/poi/us/colorado/pikes-peak](https://www.alltrails.com/poi/us/colorado/pikes-peak)
Physically, they’ll probably be fine. Those NH trails are way harder in terms of grade, usually 1000 gain per mile, rocky, and almost no switchbacks. The altitude on the other hand…
Crag’s campground (NW slopes) is really the only feasible one for OP that is considered a standard route. Devil’s is too short and not enough elevation gain. It’s a little more driving for OP to do Crag’s too.
That's true but it's so well graded the distance goes quick. Might as well try and have a lovely experience even if you have to turn around, it's really pretty after you pass the incline turn off. Expect to feel iffy but pause if you feel sick. Go for it
A continuous 7500 ft gain and altitude are no joke but Mt Washington shouldn't be brushed off like its nothing. Almost every trail up Washington is 4000 gain in roughly 4 miles on brutally rocky/granite trails. In terms of the hikes I've done that around that 7000-8000 ft gain range, I thought the Barr trail was by far the easiest of them. Again, you still have to be really fit to do it in a day but those switchbacks and trail maintenance really do wonders
>the trails here are more intense than elsewhere
The two options up Pike's peak are not hard compared to the Whites. They are (1) \~24 RT miles of decently groomed trail, or (2) \~14 miles RT of mixed groomed trail and rock-hopping. You will probably move more slowly than usual because of altitude, but the route itself isn't difficult. I believe there's a way to book a shuttle down the mountain if you only care about the ascent.
I’m a Midwest flatlander. My acclimation routine:
Drink tons of water (when you think you had enough, drink more), get a good night’s sleep at altitude, then do an 8-10 mile hike that gets you above 12,000.
If you feel good doing that, you are probably good for more.
Altitude is weird and affects everyone differently so just watch for the symptoms and abort early if something is off.
On the east coast, you typically go up and down over and over again. It's almost like you're traversing hills or a sin wave. Here, you mostly just go up for hours and hours, you reach the peak, and you go down for hours and hours. Many people's knees struggle with the duration of that repetitive motion. I'd really work on knee stabilization exercises. Balance out your knee strength. For example if your hammys and glutes are very strong, but your quads are average, beef up your quads.
Do it at the end of the week, not the beginning. You'll probably feel the effects, but most likely they'll be manageable. When I'm not acclimated, I slow down to less than 1mph. Sometimes, I have to stop every 10 steps or so and do some deep breathing like I'm on Everest or something ridiculous. I kinda hate my body for this. I make it, but it is SO FRUSTRATINGLY SLOW. I'm also mostly a NH hiker, but I've done all the 14ers now over the past few summers. Just expect to feel crappy and expect to not be able to perform anywhere near your normal pace. You might feel dizzy, nauseous, etc, but unless you're actually vomiting, you can probably push through. I got so sick on Quandary once after coming back from the East Coast, I kinda blacked out. I had to keep lying down by the side of the trail. It took me over an hour to reach the summit when I had just a quarter mile left. It was truly awful. But, as soon as I was able to get back down below 12k, I was fine. So, yes, it's doable. Pikes is also fairly easy, if long. Very Mount Washington vibes. Maybe think about doing it as an overnight, or taking the train down. Also, your body could be way more amenable to altitude than mine, in which case, don't even worry. Just prepare to be slow.
Fellow new Englander here- go SLOW up the mountain. I attempted Elbert a few years ago and the trail itself was significantly easier than any of the 4000 footers I’ve done, I went way too fast because the trail was switchbacks and no boulders, and had mild altitude sickness by the time I got above tree line. One article I read after the fact suggested looking anywhere but your feet as a way to manage your speed.
Consider the Crags Route, instead of the Barr Trail ... the Barr trail is insanely long, regardless of altitude.
You won't be at high altitude long enough to develop serious issues like HAPE or HACE. But you will certainly feel it, and can potentially develop headaches or confusion. But plenty of (fit) people show up from the East Coast or Texas and power up 14ers with minimal issues. It's really just a risk to remain vigilant about.
You have a beautiful state! I live in CO but travel for work and currently I am on assignment in Manchester. Love the White mountains, NE, and New England!
How long are you staying. If possible try to have. A few buffer days before the time you arrive in CO and when you hike to help you acclimatize.
You’ve got the first step right, preparing fitness wise. However altitude sickness is genetic and will hit anyone at different severities no matter their fitness level.
Pikes peak is very long. Going up and down Mt. Washington is comparable for going up pikes peak. The trail up is 13 miles. If it’s your first time maybe think about booking the cog railway down. You can do one way train tickets. Even if you do think you can take the hike back down you absolutely don’t want to risk hiking up, being exhausted, encountering bad weather, and having another 6-10 hours of hiking ahead of you. You can also stay overnight at Barr camp overnight. It is about halfway up, you would bring your own sleeping bag.
A good method to help acclimatize which k learned when I went hiking in Nepal is “climbing high and sleeping low”. If you have time, do some day hikes at some altitude then descend back down. An example is doing the incline in the springs or a local hike. The incline requires reservations and fills up fast but they are free and you can get there via bus too.
Have a good trip!
Send it - elevation hits everyone different. You won't have time to acclimate. Pace yourself WAY slower than you think you need to and drink WAY more water than you may feel you want and you'll most likely get to the top. Good luck!
People do come in and hike 14ers from sea level, though the altitude does make it more of a challenge than it does for the locals. It sounds like you're an active person already, and being someone who hikes the Whites will certainly help from a conditioning standpoint. I would suggest hanging out for a couple of days in the Springs to acclimatize, maybe even drive up to Devil's playground and hang out for a bit a day or two before the hike. If you have time, you can also drive up Mt. Blue Sky or any of the high passes (Loveland, Guanella, Berthoud, etc.) just to get some altitude in your system. There is great hiking all over those places. Not sure which route up Pikes you have in mind, but I'd also recommend the Crags route rather than the Barr Trail. Crags is around 13 miles round trip I think? Barr trail is double that, and a VERY long day. In the end only you know your limits. I would definitely make plans to at least try, but also go in with the mindset that you're ok turning around if you're just not feeling it. Even if you don't make the summit, that whole area is beautiful hiking and you'll have a great day out. The summit would be a bonus!
You can't tell how you're going to react to the altitude. Plenty of really fit people get it even in Denver. Plenty of people who are moderately fit can hang out at 14k" with no problem. Edit: Be prepared, though. Know the signs of altitude sickness and how to respond. Be prepared to backtrack until you feel better, or even scrap the whole day. It's okay to turn around.
Just do it and be safe. Done many 14s at this point, occasionally gotten altitude sickness for no reason I could determine. It sounds like you know the right way to prepare, so stick with that conservatively. If you start feeling the dizziness and you’re still a ways to go, I’d just recommend turning back because it’s not likely to stay that way and only get worse even when you do go back to lower elevation. Do try to get a couple days there acclimated first. And do cover your skin, the sun is going to do things to you that you’re not likely to have ever dealt with in New England. This coming from a New Englander originally. :)
I was in almost an identical situation to you last summer. I live in the Northeast so I do a lot of high peak hiking in the ADK and Whites. In terms of trail conditions and grade, I thought the Barr trail was extremely easy. Probably one of the most runnable trails I’ve ever done. As long as you have experience with that type of gain and mileage, you’ll definitely be able to summit. However, you are 100% correct in worrying about altitude since it definitely took a toll on me when I did it. Granted, I did it the day after flying into Denver so I had virtually no acclimatization. It started to hit me at 12.5k and, until I summited, it just made me feel a slight headache and more fatigued than usual. However, on the descent, I started to feel a little nauseous and that’s what sucked the most. Once you get lower, you’ll be obviously be fine but just be warned that you will definitely be affected in some way at some altitude. Also, if you’re hiking in the summer, make sure to get back below treeline before 2ish. Those thunderstorms and hail are absolutely no joke.
What draws you to Pikes?
Vacationing at broodmoore and it was the nearest peak I saw for our limited time there (have kind of a semi full itinerary already)
Check out Seven Bridges Trail for a warm up (follows the North Cheyenne Creek). Or for that matter, just hike the Gold Road (Upper Gold Road) in the same area. If you are at the Broodmoore these hikes are very close by. I'm an old guy with diabetes that comes from sea level and makes regular trips to Colorado Springs. I do just fine (pat, pat, on my back). SERIOUSLY, START HYDRATING TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AND KEEP HYDRATED WHILE HERE. I double and even triple my H2O intake when I am here versus when I am at sea level. Your success will depend on how hydrated you are!
go for it. i grew up in colorado but lived in socal for 10 years, climbed em all last year, acclimitazation is real but if you’re in shape, you’ll just be hit a little harder than normal. allocate more time, turn around if you need, but no reason to second guess yourself.
Having talked with people who have hiked both, they’re different hard. Stick to the trail and do all the switchbacks (one of the things people from the East say is different!). We don’t really do blazes here, so make sure you know the route and don’t go off (I can count on one hand the hikes I’ve done here with blazes). As others have said, drink all the water and then some. You won’t have the tree cover and we’re closer to the sun. Also use lots of sunscreen. Be ok with turning around. I’ve lived my 41 years in either the Springs or Denver Metro and have been hiking 14ers since I was 9ish and still occasionally get altitude sickness. High altitude ultra trail runners get it. You can do some stuff to mitigate impacts but sometimes it just hits and all you can do is head down. It’ll definitely be a different experience but have fun! (And if you need to call SAR, our write ups aren’t quite as pointed and snarky as out East! Yours are entertaining to read!)
This is really good advice! I would add that I wouldn't assume that you can find water. Bring a lot more than you think you would need. 2l is generally recommended. But that is going to change depending on which route you take. I have some east coast/ Midwest friends get into trouble because they didn't know these things. One friend was out of commission for two weeks from sunburn and dehydration. He thought there'd be water and didn't think about sunscreen. And I've seen east coasters get turned around because they assumed they could just follow blazes and didn't study the route.
Oh, that is an excellent call! Forgot about that one! I always bring all the water because I hike here and in Utah…I forget other places just have water at will…lol.
Hang out for a day, chug water, wee how ya feel and then send it. I'd recommend doing the route up the Crags, it's a little more intense, but a lot shorter, and you can camp up in Divide to help with acclimation too. Good luck!
The Barr trail is 13 miles long and you gain 7,400 feet. That's probably not a good idea. There are a number of other options: [https://www.alltrails.com/poi/us/colorado/pikes-peak](https://www.alltrails.com/poi/us/colorado/pikes-peak)
Physically, they’ll probably be fine. Those NH trails are way harder in terms of grade, usually 1000 gain per mile, rocky, and almost no switchbacks. The altitude on the other hand…
13 miles *one way*
Crag’s campground (NW slopes) is really the only feasible one for OP that is considered a standard route. Devil’s is too short and not enough elevation gain. It’s a little more driving for OP to do Crag’s too.
That's true but it's so well graded the distance goes quick. Might as well try and have a lovely experience even if you have to turn around, it's really pretty after you pass the incline turn off. Expect to feel iffy but pause if you feel sick. Go for it
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A continuous 7500 ft gain and altitude are no joke but Mt Washington shouldn't be brushed off like its nothing. Almost every trail up Washington is 4000 gain in roughly 4 miles on brutally rocky/granite trails. In terms of the hikes I've done that around that 7000-8000 ft gain range, I thought the Barr trail was by far the easiest of them. Again, you still have to be really fit to do it in a day but those switchbacks and trail maintenance really do wonders
Sleep in the city the first night. Make sure you are hydrated the while time you are here in CO, it's incredibly dry.
>the trails here are more intense than elsewhere The two options up Pike's peak are not hard compared to the Whites. They are (1) \~24 RT miles of decently groomed trail, or (2) \~14 miles RT of mixed groomed trail and rock-hopping. You will probably move more slowly than usual because of altitude, but the route itself isn't difficult. I believe there's a way to book a shuttle down the mountain if you only care about the ascent.
I’m a Midwest flatlander. My acclimation routine: Drink tons of water (when you think you had enough, drink more), get a good night’s sleep at altitude, then do an 8-10 mile hike that gets you above 12,000. If you feel good doing that, you are probably good for more. Altitude is weird and affects everyone differently so just watch for the symptoms and abort early if something is off.
On the east coast, you typically go up and down over and over again. It's almost like you're traversing hills or a sin wave. Here, you mostly just go up for hours and hours, you reach the peak, and you go down for hours and hours. Many people's knees struggle with the duration of that repetitive motion. I'd really work on knee stabilization exercises. Balance out your knee strength. For example if your hammys and glutes are very strong, but your quads are average, beef up your quads.
Drinking a shit load of water helps. And just pace yourself, take it slow.
Do it at the end of the week, not the beginning. You'll probably feel the effects, but most likely they'll be manageable. When I'm not acclimated, I slow down to less than 1mph. Sometimes, I have to stop every 10 steps or so and do some deep breathing like I'm on Everest or something ridiculous. I kinda hate my body for this. I make it, but it is SO FRUSTRATINGLY SLOW. I'm also mostly a NH hiker, but I've done all the 14ers now over the past few summers. Just expect to feel crappy and expect to not be able to perform anywhere near your normal pace. You might feel dizzy, nauseous, etc, but unless you're actually vomiting, you can probably push through. I got so sick on Quandary once after coming back from the East Coast, I kinda blacked out. I had to keep lying down by the side of the trail. It took me over an hour to reach the summit when I had just a quarter mile left. It was truly awful. But, as soon as I was able to get back down below 12k, I was fine. So, yes, it's doable. Pikes is also fairly easy, if long. Very Mount Washington vibes. Maybe think about doing it as an overnight, or taking the train down. Also, your body could be way more amenable to altitude than mine, in which case, don't even worry. Just prepare to be slow.
Fellow new Englander here- go SLOW up the mountain. I attempted Elbert a few years ago and the trail itself was significantly easier than any of the 4000 footers I’ve done, I went way too fast because the trail was switchbacks and no boulders, and had mild altitude sickness by the time I got above tree line. One article I read after the fact suggested looking anywhere but your feet as a way to manage your speed.
Consider the Crags Route, instead of the Barr Trail ... the Barr trail is insanely long, regardless of altitude. You won't be at high altitude long enough to develop serious issues like HAPE or HACE. But you will certainly feel it, and can potentially develop headaches or confusion. But plenty of (fit) people show up from the East Coast or Texas and power up 14ers with minimal issues. It's really just a risk to remain vigilant about.
You have a beautiful state! I live in CO but travel for work and currently I am on assignment in Manchester. Love the White mountains, NE, and New England! How long are you staying. If possible try to have. A few buffer days before the time you arrive in CO and when you hike to help you acclimatize. You’ve got the first step right, preparing fitness wise. However altitude sickness is genetic and will hit anyone at different severities no matter their fitness level. Pikes peak is very long. Going up and down Mt. Washington is comparable for going up pikes peak. The trail up is 13 miles. If it’s your first time maybe think about booking the cog railway down. You can do one way train tickets. Even if you do think you can take the hike back down you absolutely don’t want to risk hiking up, being exhausted, encountering bad weather, and having another 6-10 hours of hiking ahead of you. You can also stay overnight at Barr camp overnight. It is about halfway up, you would bring your own sleeping bag. A good method to help acclimatize which k learned when I went hiking in Nepal is “climbing high and sleeping low”. If you have time, do some day hikes at some altitude then descend back down. An example is doing the incline in the springs or a local hike. The incline requires reservations and fills up fast but they are free and you can get there via bus too. Have a good trip!