In
the summer of 2006, Mike Reeder was hiking the Section 16 trail with Al Pierce
his father-in-law and reminiscing about training hikes to Barr Camp before the
annual AdAmAn climb. Al was 90 years old and his last climb with the club to
the summit of Pikes Peak had been at age 79. His eyes lit up as they talked and
laughed about their adventures. Finally, Mike asked him if he would like to go
to Barr Camp again, he hesitated and said "I don't hike very fast anymore
so it would take all day." They started out early the next Saturday on a
warm, sunny, beautiful day. They made their way up the trail pausing at the top
of Mt. Manitou for a drink and the Experimental Forest for a snack. After
reaching Barr Camp, they stopped for lunch and Al fed the Grey Jays pieces of
crackers from his hand. Neal and Teresa Taylor were the caretakers at Barr Camp
at that time, this is a picture of Al with Theresa, one of his favorite
"girlfriends!" |