Darlene Bartel backpacks up Barr Trail
By TERRY BEBERMEYER
Staff writer
What do you do for entertainment in the summer time in Hillsboro? Well, if you're Darlene Bartel, you look elsewhere for more challenging activities — such as hiking up a major mountain in Colorado.
Bartel, science teacher at Hillsboro Middle School, explains, "My sister read about four sisters who were planning to hike up Pikes Peak via the Barr Trail. She asked me what I thought about doing the hike, and I said, 'Let's do it.'" So in early July they set off for the Colorado mountains and what they describe as an "incredible experience."
It all started with planning and training eight months prior to the trip. Bartel, a more experienced hiker from working in Yosemite National Park in years past, and her sister Phyllis VanHorn from McPherson worked out in their local exercise centers, as well as walking hills close to where they lived. Their partner, Amelia Patrie, their cousin from York, Neb., joined the training in December.
The challenge the trio encountered was trying to train at an altitude of 1400 feet for a hike at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. Bartel used to hike every weekend and has been on previous hikes of 15 to 20 miles a day. Although in her past hikes the altitude was not as high as the hike they were planning, Bartel said, "I knew what to expect. But this was a new experience for Phyl and Amelia." They decided to focus on building their strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardio stamina. They also planned to arrive in Colorado a couple of days early to acclimate themselves to the climate and altitude, which proved smart since none of them experienced any problems with the altitude on the hike.
The hike, itself, took 12 hours total, spread out over a two day, six-hour per day time frame. "We hiked for about six hours each day, taking many short rest breaks along the way," Bartel reported. They also took frequent pauses to take pictures of the spectacular scenery that the Barr Trail offered.
The Barr Trail that the threesome followed is a 12.6 mile path. It is well-used, and having a more arduous ascent than Mount View Trail, the other hiking trail, it passes through the Pike National Forest. A little over halfway up is the Barr Camp that consists of a 1920's cabin with no electricity and no showers. There, one has the option of renting an indoor cabin space, renting a three-sided A-frame shelter, or pitching a tent.
Bartel and her cohorts opted to make reservations in advance to stay inside the Barr Camp cabin, to avoid having to haul a tent up the trail.
The camp also provided an all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner, activities such as horseshoes, badminton, volleyball, and even a well-stocked library. In the evening, campers could gather to visit, read, or play games.
The second half of the trip was more work due to the rockiness and steepness of the advancing trail, as well as the effects of the higher altitude. Although the weather was warm and clear at the lower elevation, closer to the summit, the hikers experienced cooler, breezier weather, the temperature dropping into the 40's and even some light snowfall. Even then, though, a long-sleeved shirt was all it took to keep them comfortable as they kept up their steady pace.
"The incredible scenery of the tundra was better than I expected. Since they'd had a wet spring and summer, the wild flowers were beautiful," said Bartel.
One would think that reaching the summit of the mountain would, no doubt, be the peak of such a trip; however, Bartel said, "Without a doubt, the camaraderie between Phyl, Amelia and me was the best part of the trip. We all enjoyed the physical and emotional challenges of setting a goal and working to meet it."
Bartel added, "We didn't make a back up plan — we didn't want the option not to make it." Having planned ahead of time to make the trek on foot up the mountain, but not down the mountain because of added difficulty, and knowing the uncertainty of cellphones, they had made arrangements for VanHorn's husband to meet them at the top. They just trusted that everyone would make it, that they would be where they were supposed to be at the right time, and that nothing would go wrong. And nothing did — everything went off without a hitch.
Bartel concluded, "It was an incredible experience, and I would encourage anyone interested to check it out."
Incredible journey — maybe. Incredible experience — definitely. It was a trip of a lifetime for the three hikers, one they will never forget. The threesome are already planning their next hike.
