Well, so much for leaving the cold temperatures of New England. The temp dropped to 35 degrees last night and hovered around 39 degrees until 11am. The mountain outside of our window was shrouded in clouds until around noon.
The good news is that it is suppose to warm up to the high 60’s later today. We’ve been told that the best weather in Colorado is September!
As the weather cleared we decided we would take the Pike’s Peak Highway to the summit of Pike’s Peak. As the day progressed the blue skies and sunshine were beautiful to see. The ride up to the summit is 19 miles with 157 switchbacks. It is the most visited mountain in North America and forms a stunning backdrop for Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. More then half a million people reach the summit each year. With an altitude of 14,110 feet above sea level, Pikes Peak ranks 31st among Colorado’s 54 mountains in the 14,000 foot range. It is not free to get to the summit either by the Cog Rail or the highway. The highway is a toll road and the charge for the two of us was $24.00.
We were extremely fortunate today because it was the first day that the highway was cleared to the summit. The ride up is spectacular and sometimes nerve-racking because of the extreme switchbacks and lack of guard rails in most places.
Aside from that it ranks right up there with the beauty and awesome views we experienced when we drove the Beartooth Highway in Montana.
Temperature at the foot of the Mountain
There was a lot of information on the side effects of the thin air at 14,000 feet. Disorientation, lightheadedness and feeling faint to name a few. True to advertised both Ron and I felt a little out of it as did the people around us. Everyone seemed “off” bumping into one another and looking vague. Ron even thought he was holding on to me in this photo. Although he was joking around we really did feel the effects of the thin air and elevation.
The ride down was even more spectacular with better views of the Colorado Rockies.
Halfway back down the mountains we stopped for a picnic lunch. This was the view from our picnic table, including the hot guy in the picture.
Well our three hour round-trip had to come to and end with another great experience in another beautiful location in this spectacular country we call home. In fact when Katharine Lee Bates made it to the top of the summit she was so inspired by what she saw she wrote the lyrics to the song “America the Beautiful.”
Some interesting Pike’s Peak Facts:
In June 1929 Bill Williams of Rio Honda, Texas pushed a peanut to the top of the peak with his nose. It took him 20 days from the foot of the mountain to the summit. In the process he wore out 170 pairs of pants, a dozen pairs of cotton gloves and three pairs of shoes. There was no discussion on the durability of his nose.
In the 70’s a resident of the town of Cascade claimed that he spotted Bigfoot. A film crew traveled to Cascade and spent several days watching for the big guy to no avail. To this day, people report sightings. Because the Cascade Bigfoot may cross the road at any turn a Bigfoot Crossing stands near mile marker three.
How Pike’s Peak got its name:
In 1805 President Jefferson sent 27 –year-old Lt. Zebulon Montgomery Pike and 22 enlisted men into the wilderness to explore the southwestern portion of the Louisiana Purchase. There was urgency to Pike’s mission because Spain hotly disputed the proper location of the United States boundary and Jefferson was anxious to establish a military presence.
In mid-November 1906, Pike first sited the Rockies from the south and referred to them as the “Mexican Mountains.” Pike’s Peak towered above its neighbors so Pike decided to climb it.
After several failed attempts Pike retreated from his planned ascension then he and his men were captured by Spanish soldiers and taken to Mexico. Pike died at age 34 during the War of 1812 and is buried in New Jersey. He may not have reached the Peak’s summit or even it’s base, but he was the first American to describe the mountain. Hence Pike’s Peak.
Our next stop was the home of Santa’s Workshop, North Pole, Colorado.
It was at the entrance to Pike’s Peak Highway and wasn’t a place we would normally stop to visit but it was free for those over the age of 60. We fit the bill so stopped in. It was a cool place so we road the Merry-Go-Round and Ferris Wheel.
Manitou Springs boasts several natural soda springs that are naturally carbonated. There are fountains throughout the town set up for drinking or for filling water bottles. Ron tried the water and liked it but then he likes Alka-Seltzer which it what the water tastes like. UGH!!!!!!
Fountain of Soda Water.
Town clock with fountains on each side.
Manitou Springs is a beautiful town with great architecture. It has many elements reminiscent of old New England mixed in with the Southwest styles of the area.
After a great day we headed back to the CG. The temp was 68 degrees with bright sunshine. Later we had a spectacular view of the valley below us and the lights shining from the city of Colorado Springs. Viewing the city from our vantage point reminded us of flying over major cities at night. A view we have always loved.
Tomorrow we head out to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Canon City.
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