Third time's the charm! Almagre south summit with Lindsay, Sarah and Kera

While I made the saddle last time from North Cheyenne Cañon, this time going from Gold Camp road and FS 379 was a success! The columbines are blooming.

Lindsay, Sarah, and Kera joined me. We ran up out of the clouds. Here's Kera and Sarah just above the cloud level.

And Lindsay with clouds behind. 

The clouds in the small treeline moraine where the reservoir used to be were really neat!

Here is a summit photo to the west and north, the south face of Pikes Peak with wispy clouds.

The view to the west and south, with Molly Kathleen Gold Mine just barely visible where the cloud level is.

There's the summit! 

Lindsay and Sarah with more clouds ahead.

Summit photo with Lindsay and Sarah!

The radio towers.

And here's me in the sunlight with clouds behind.

Here is a glance of Mount Rosa near Frosty's Park on our way down, almost to the car. 

What a fantastic day! I want to thank Lindsay, Sarah, and Kera for going along with me, and Lindsay for driving! My car wouldn't have made it up that Gold Camp washboard!

Almagre Mountain with Bailey, Doug, and Kathy

Hello friends! Today I finally was able to get back to Almagre Mountain to adventure! I've been waiting on this summit since last October when I did a solo trip up alongside a frozen North Cheyenne Creek. Kathy, Doug, and Bailey joined me. We went up from the parking lot to Seven Bridges  (622) and then Pipeline  (668) until Nelson's Camp and then up the gully trail. After crossing 701, I somehow managed to get us lost for a little while as I forgot where the wash continued. I should have continued directly upward at this intersection. While we were finding our way from 701, we took a photo by this waterfall which Kathy accurately named "a waterfall on a detour." Myself, Doug and Bailey by the waterfall: 

After messing around and scrambling a little (sorry guys), we came upon this old mine shaft! 

We knew the trail would likely be near to here, and Doug found the proper wash soon. The Colorado wildflowers are in bloom in the high country.

Here is a photo of Kathy coming up to the top of the wash and where the short scramble ends:

And here is the retaining wall for the non-existent reservoir at the top.

Instead of a reservoir, we came into a large moraine. It feels like such an alien landscape, above the treeline, with the Almagre radio towers marking the south summit.

We crossed the moraine and then up to the saddle between the north and south summits. Here is Kathy near the top of the saddle:

And the view at the saddle to the west was fantastic! You can see all of the south slope of Pikes Peak and the southern watershed and reservoirs. I could get a clear view of the summit house atop Pikes Peak, AND an awesome view of the last couple miles of the Cog tracks past Windy Point. And there was this cyclist up there - wow!

Here's our saddle summit photo! We didn't quite tag the official summits, but getting to the saddle was enough for today. Doug, myself, Bailey and Kathy:

And the view down to the east was somewhat hazy today.

Overall though, I absolutely cannot complain about the weather nor the views! This was a great day to do this. We ran back down the road 379A, to the junction with 379, and then down trail 668 from Frosty's Park - for about 18 miles total  (bonus mileage due to my small navigational error). Thanks to Kathy, Bailey and Doug for coming with me. Adventures are more fun with friends!

AdAMan Rock with Lindsay

I admit, I was so excited for the Incline club runs to begin at 7am instead of 8am, that I didn't even check the weather this morning. Turns out, high winds and wind chill, along with possible lightning storms, were all in the forecast. So much for the summit bid via Barr Trail that I was counting on!

Lindsay and I found out at Barr Camp that the road up Pikes Peak was closed, so not only was a summit out of question, but going up Elk Park was also out.

We decided to go to AdAMan Rock - a small outcropping about a half a mile out from Barr Camp along the Elk Park Trail.

The wind on the outcropping told me two things. First of all, a summit today wouldn't have been a wise idea. Second, I really needed a haircut. Myself and Lindsay at AdAMan rock:

The views down to the east are worth the very short scramble!

And the view to the west:

Overall I was pleased with 16 miles roundtrip today. We were 2:15 to Barr Camp from Memorial Park, which isn't my fastest this season but it also isn't too slow! I've been on the Pikes Peak summit three times this year already, plus Elk Park once, so my fourth summit will have to wait.

I'm also gauging interest for an Almagre summit for next Sunday. I hope that many of you can join me.