Winter Speed Record for Pikes Peak
Steve Bremner on a winter solstice run.
Steve Bremner from Manitou Springs likely set the speed record for the winter ascent of Pikes Peak on January 12, running up the 14,115-foot peak in 3:21:55, from the Barr Trailhead to the summit. Bremner ran down the cog railway to Mountain View, traversed to Barr Camp, and then continued down the Barr Trail, for a round-trip time of 5:35:25, also likely a winter record.
Above the A-Frame on the Barr Trail, near treeline, Bremner followed “winter rules” for his route to the summit, taking the most direct and ice-free line he could find. His distance for the ascent was 9.9 miles (about 7,850 vertical feet), and 21.8 miles for the round trip. The previous fastest known time for a winter ascent was 4:02.
Upper east face. Bremner ran up just right of the prominent snow streak. Photo by Rick Hessek
“I have had the attempt in mind since last winter,” Bremner, 54, said in an email. “I went up in 4:18 last March, then afterwards found out the record for winter was only 4:02, [which] I knew I could beat. My fastest summer ascent was in the Pikes Peak Ascent race of 1999, [starting at] Memorial Park in Manitou Springs: 2:49.”
After scouting the trail to the A-Frame on January 10, Bremner ran during a sunny, warm, and wind-free window two days later. He carried a CamelBak, two bars, two gels, a cell phone, and a few extra clothes (but didn’t need them), and he wore Yaktrax above the A-Frame.
Isn’t that the same guy who ran all 20 Colorado marathons and won some of them? The dude is amazing! And he’s old! 54 I think.
Yup. That’s him. Thanks for reminding us! Here’s a link to an interview with Bremner about his 20 Colorado marathons in 2009: http://tinyurl.com/ycjxt9m.