One more time on the Peak! October Elk Park with Sharon

Last year in October, Sharon and I did a summit of Pikes Peak on October 21st. There was minimal snow last year at this time, but we started at 6am and it was still quite dark.

This year, we went one weekend earlier in October, which was the 13th, and we did Elk Park instead of the top. We also started at 7am instead! It was more comfortable to be starting with the sun, and knowing we wouldn't have to make the full summit, especially since the snowstorm. (Although we saw several groups setting out for the summit along the way).

Even at 7am, it was quite cold until the direct sunlight began to warm up Engelmann Canyon.

Most of the aspen leaves, which were so beautiful over the last few weeks, had fallen off since the hard freeze with the snowstorm. But almost all of the snow on Barr up until Camp had melted off, and the groundcover in the forest was still exceptionally green from the wet spring and summer we had.

The thick mossy carpet at the base of this aspen.

It was nice to stop in at Barr Camp and see Zach. He had no news for us as far as Elk Park trail conditions, but he'd seen several cyclists coming from that way and assumed the conditions were pretty good.

Just a dusting of snow in front of the cabin at Barr Camp.

They were pretty good, as we discovered. There were a few patches that don't see much sunlight that had some snow buildup already, but the snow was soft powder that wasn't too slippery. We also saw several more cyclists coming downhill.

Sharon in the meadow on Elk Park trail. 

The places where there was a bit of powder. Not full winter conditions yet!

Even though we were just a bit too late for the aspens, the views of the mountain from Elk Park trail are always set to impress!

I'd really like to come back here and do some of these harder-looking scrambles on the ridgelines approaching the northeast side of the Pikes summit.

The meadow before the Oil Creek Tunnel split.

The sign says "Oil Creek Tunnel .5 (to the right); Barr Trail 4.5 (to the left)"

The last steep climb after the Oil Creek Tunnel split leads to treeline.

Soon we reached the treeline where all of my really favorite views appear! As most people who have run with me before know, I like to spot different mountains and become as geographically knowledgeable about the area as I can be. This helps me in several practical ways. First, as I become more familiar with each mountain and valley, it keeps me oriented correctly, and less likely to get lost on adventure runs. Second, my ability to translate map-to-nature improves, and navigation in new places becomes more quick and intuitive. 

Can you spot the cyclist that just passed us, headed down around the bend? 

The view northeast from the Elk Park trail. Severy Creek is below flowing through the meadow, with an unnamed knoll to the right in the foreground. Ormes and Blodgett Peaks make their appearance in the central background. 

The view north from Elk Park. You can see so many 14ers from here! Not sure if the quality of compression will allow you to see much, but in this photo, Bierstadt and Evans are to the far right in the background.

We did it! Myself and Sharon at the top of Elk Park trail. 

Finally we topped out on Elk Park on this beautiful day. Another refreshing day in the mountains completed!