Since moving to Colorado Springs in the Fall of 2022, I have rediscovered my passion for pushing myself in the mountains. Over the span of my first year in the area, I conceptualized a series of challenges culminating in about 720 miles and ~335,000ft of elevation change to celebrate everything the Pikes Peak region has to offer. It is called the Pikes Peak (Type 2) Fun Bundle (Pikes Peak Challenge was already taken). In short, the challenges are :
1) The Incline Sandwich (Incline-Cameron Cone-Incline): 15 miles, 16,350ft of elevation change
2) The Cheyenne Canyon Skyline Marathon: 26 miles, 12,000ft of elevation change
3) Barr 2 Craggs 2 Barr (B2C2B) traverse: 39miles, 24600ft of elevation change
4) 3 giants (Rosa, Almagre, Pikes) loop: 50miles, 24266ft of elevation change
5) Ring the Peak Double (Run & MTB): 2x(68miles, 18,000ft of elevation change)
6) Pikes Peak Perculator (Run, MTB & Road Bike up & down Pikes Peak): 105.2 miles, 43,200ft elevation change
7) Pikes Peak Trifecta: 130 miles, 40,000ft of elevation change
8) Pikes Peak Infinity Loop: 108miles, 22,000ft of elevation change
9) Manitou Incline (run) Everesting: 30-60miles, 59,000ft of elevation change
10) High Drive (bike) Everesting: TBD
Completed
Challenge 3: The Barr 2 Craggs 2 Barr (B2C2B) traverse
A 9pm start at Barr Trail head makes for some spectacular sunrises once going down to Crags on the other side
In September of 2023 I attempted the Barr 2 Craggs 2 Barr (B2C2B) traverse for the first time, connecting the east and west side trailheads of Pikes Peak. It was actually on this effort that I conceptualized most of the other list, to keep myself busy. I fell short on that day, quitting on the second summit. In July of 2024 I reattempted this challenge, and I managed to turn obstacles into ways, completing the route in 18 hours. This is a monster challenge consisting of two consecutive Pikes Peak summits, 40 miles and 22,816ft of elevation change. It is the perfect front range smokefest. I have captured my lessons learned and growth during this challenge here.
Challenge 2: The Cheyenne Canyon Skyline Marathon
This marathon course is based on the 17.1 mile Cheyenne Canyon 6 Peak Skyline course. Starting from my house and reaching the course through Bear Creek Trail and High Drive adds the approximately 10 miles to make this an epic marathon adventure. For some additional spice, this has become the final run portion of my annual Memorial Day Murph workout for the last two years. I first attempted this challenge on Memorial Day 2024, falling a bit short but having a great time in the canyons with some old friends. I revisited in 2025, completing the course.
Partially Complete
Challenge 6: The Pikes Peak Perculator (Run/Roadbike)
Having completed the run/hike up and down Barr trail a few times (including as part of the B2C2B effort), in 2025 I finally made it up Pikes Peak Hwy on the road bike. With a measely 10-28 cassette, this was one of the hardest things I have ever put myself through. Think twice about your gearing! I plan on tackling the mountain bike portion up the Barr trail in 2026.
You may not be able to see it, but I am dying inside
Challenge 5: Ring the Peak Double (MTB)
I completed the Ring The Peak MTB portion for the first time in June of 2025 as prep for my Pikes Peak Trifecta later that year. While I had to abandon the Trifecta that summer due to a freak injury, I really enjoyed getting to ride (almost) the entirety of the trail in preparation. The Trifecta challenge dictated a CW direction, and I am glad I had to hike-a-bike up some very steep, very technical trail rather than having to ride down it. Significant construction near Catamount Reservoir meant I could not find the Ute Trail connector to make it back to Barr Trail head, instead opting for a newly constructed (was not on the map yet) fire road network that ended up at Mile 7 parking lot on Pikes Peak Hwy. I hope to the run this trail as part of the Pikes Peak Infinity Loop project in 2026.
Yet to attempt
Challenge 1: The Incline Sandwich
The Incline Sandwich is one of three challenges in the Fun Bundle that does not actually involve summiting Pikes Peak. It is however the perfect challenge for those who have done the Manitou Springs Incline a few times and are looking for their next adventure. It consists of doing an incline ascent, a Barr trail descent, intercepting the Cameron Cone trailhead, ascending and descending the Cameron Cone trail back to the start of the Incline, and going up the Incline once more, finishing with a Barr trail descent. It is a unique challenge in that when you divide the total elevation change in feet by a thousand, you get a number larger than your total mileage. That is steep! In fact, this is the steepest challenge of the bunch, so even though it does not involving going up to 14,115’, it is a total butt kicker.
Challenge 4: The Three Giants 50 Miler
This 50 miler course is based on the 44 mile Mt Rosa, Almagre Mountain, and Pikes Peak loop first published by Russ Iverson in 2020. It combines the summits of the 3 tallest peaks in the Pikes Peak region, including a south approach from Almagre to Pikes Peak. Intercepting the course at Bear Creek Trail from my front door and back adds a total of ~6 miles, making this an epic self supported 50 miler.
Challenge 5: Ring The Peak Double
As the name implies, the Ring The Peak (RTP) trail circumnavigates Pikes Peak and makes for an epic adventure (and you guessed it, this is one of the other challenges that does not summit Pikes Peak). This challenge will however test both your run/hike legs as well as your mountain bike skills. The challenge is to do the RTP both on foot and via bike (you can do them in the same direction or opposite directions). At 68miles long, this is a serious undertaking.
Challenge 6: Pikes Peak Perculator (Run, MTB & Road Bike up & down Pikes Peak)
The Pikes Peak Perculator challenges you to summit America’s Mountain via three different modes of transport. It involves 1) a run/hike up & down the Barr Trail (25 miles, 15,440ft of elevation change), 2) a hike-a-bike up Barr Trail and mountain bike decent down the Pikes Peak Plummet course, and 3) a ascent & descent on road bike via the Pikes Peak Highway. Obviously you can do these ascents/descents spread out on different days over many weeks or months, but bonus points if you can do all three on three consecutive days.
