To be honest, I signed up for the benefit climb up Pike's Peak last Saturday because my buddy Bill did. I have been staring at that ol' mountain for more than 30 years now without ever having climbed her. I figured it was about time.
The Pike's Peak Challenge is a benefit for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Prevention. I knew that soldiers were coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with brain injuries. I have bumped my head pretty hard a couple of times, including once when I exited a car head first and broke my neck and another time when I came flying over a rise at Copper Mountain and saw below me nothing but moguls. I seriously thought I was going to die then, and sustained a pretty good concussion. So I did have a bit of interest in the cause.
Mostly, though, I just wanted to hike, so I signed up. A couple of friends (thank you Sandy and Chris), and Bill helped with the required sponsor money. I chipped in a little extra through our business. Bill named our team Positive Altitude. We hooked up at the start and were on the trail at 5:10 am this past Saturday morning.
The Barr Trail starts in Manitou Springs, and 13 miles and 7400' in elevation gain later it tops out at the summit. The weather report said to expect rain and/or snow. We didn't care. Up we went.
The hike was awesome. We were treated to a beautiful sunrise, with fog below us and the mountain lit by sun and the peak covered with a cloud. As we climbed the fog closed in around us, and it would occasionally part to show us the peak above. Mostly we hiked in the fog. It was cool.
More than 500 hikers participated. El Paso Rescue volunteers were at aid stations along the way. Everybody was helpful and encouraging. But really, it wasn't until I had reached the top that I began to understand just what all was going on.
First were the Pom Pom girls, three ladies waving their pom poms and cheering us on. They were awesome. At the finish line two ladies waited with our medals. As they hung mine over my neck I was thanked for participating and given a big hug. The lady doing this was a TBI survivor. I was touched. We were pointed into the shelter house for hot soup and snacks.
Later I hung out and watched people finish. The volunteers were amazing. Through the fog and the wind and the cold they persevered, treating each finisher like someone very special.
As I listened to the conversations around me I realized I was seeing TBI survivors, their families, and their friends. I talked to a man in his 20's whose 4 year old son had fallen on concrete and suffered a brain injury. He hiked for his son. There was a team of 38 from Ft. Carson. I found myself getting a little choked up with emotion. I found myself cheering each finisher.
I had started out just wanting to finally climb a mountain I have looked at for a very long time. I ended up proud to have participated in a great event for a very important cause. I was proud of finishing but humbled by those around me. I was part of something very important.
Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the Pike's Peak Challenge. Team Positive Altitude will be back. Want to join us? Please do!