Visiting Pikes Peak

 

Hi and welcome back for another first-time adventure, visiting Pikes Peak, "America's Mountain." To get here, my 5½ hour trip put Winnie through her paces once again. Reaching a record 11,400 feet in altitude, I maintained a safe speed ascending and descending sometimes taking as much as ten minutes (per mountain) to accomplish while negotiating switch-backs and curves and making sure I didn't overheat my brakes. Looking over the right side of the road was not an option. With ears clicking and jaw dropping views, I traveled through the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Parks,  along and around the Gunnison River, and the Pike and San Isabel National Forest. (Links for more information are in red) Yet, Pikes Peak is another 3,000' higher at 14,115 feet. Thankfully, I won't be driving the 19 mile roadway which is subject to closure due to weather conditions. Calling 719-385-7325 gives up to the minute conditions. Some tips given to drivers include: have a full tank of gas. The round trip of 38 miles will use 80 miles of fuel. Speed limit is 25 mph. And, drive down the mountain in low gear to prevent brake failure.

Mount Antero along SR-50 named in honor of Chief Antero of the Uintah band of the Ute people.

Mount Princeton

The Pikes Peak RV Park  is right along the business route 24 (Manitou Avenue). The heart
of the town is about a mile's walk. Running through the town and behind the
campground is Fountain Creek. Winnie is backed to the edge.

   

Lots of new memories being added. Note the US map; only 9 more states on the mainland to visit.

With each sticker I apply (they don't know the word "decal" in Colorado), I think of Dr. Seuss:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  You're on your own. And you know what you know.

 And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”

― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

And tomorrow, it will be Pikes Peak:

“You're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting,

So... get on your way!”

― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

From Manitou Springs one would guess this beautiful sight to be that of Pikes Peak.
Rather, it's Mount Mary or Mary's Mountain, 9,856 feet in elevation.

From the free shuttle to the Pike Peak Cog Railway, I took some shots passing through Manitou Springs.

I glanced up Capital Hill Avenue and caught a quick glance at
The Miramont Castle; a better photo from the Internet follows.

Built in 1895 by a French priest and his mother, its been passed through different owners. Now
the 30-room Victorian furnished museum is available for weddings, banquets and special events. 

This is a jewelry store (like the famous Diamond Mine in Poughkeepsie)
If it were mine, I'd have actual vault door welcoming patrons.

My Sunday morning breakfast at Uncle Sam's Pancake House was French Toast...

...but this "Winter Special" had a layer of Hazelnut spread between slices.

Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Inspiration for "America The Beautiful
(Stock photo from Internet)

Saturday morning I walked the mile to Memorial Park where the free shuttle #33 would take me up the train depot. If you've never been to Pikes Peak, some interesting facts and history can be found HERE. The 19 mile trip averaging 5 mph with steep grades up to 25º would take about an hour. Fortunately, the day was clear and mild with the temperature at 47º in Manitou Springs. At the summit it was also clear with temps more like 20º with a wind chill around -2º. For history and photos  of my adventure, view The Cog Railway

This Cog Railway is the highest in the world.

Both cars were completely filled. My seats, Row 4 Seat E was a window seat;
the same seat for the return trip.

Our engineer waiting patiently for folks to find their seat.

His view from the driver's seat. I should have asked him what purpose
the steering wheel serves. When you view the video, the link for which
I added below, you'll notice that we're on the older model train AND
the trip in the summer would be more enjoyable.

Daniel was our conductor. His microphone for the PA conked out on him.
Poor fella had to repeat his messages every row through two cars.

Our journey, no stops.

Last night I watched A video on what to expect: What follows are some of the photos (not the 100 I took) that impressed me.

The amazing action of heating and freezing of any water in crevices.

Ginormous (big) boulders loomed far above...this one, kinda close.

...precariously waiting for Nature to do its thing.

You had to be there to appreciate what 'being up in the world' really means

Eventually, we were above the tree line.

The original Summit House built in 1873.

Today, brand new and packed with everything Pikes Peak.
Here in the Gift Shop, I picked up a hat and hoodie.

The Cafe. And those doughnuts? Delicious. Like everything else, a tad overpriced.
40 minutes is all you had before boarding for the hour long descent.

(oh...and I haven't shaved since leaving CA)

Lots of snow on the ground and the temps to go with it.

Sunday I had purchased tickets for a tour of Cave of the Winds. This also proved to be another one of those "Wow" adventures. And it's yet another "accidental discovery". The ancient Apaches spoke of a cave near Manitou Springs where the Great Spirit of the Wind resided. Two brothers, George and John Picket, were the ones whose candles flickered near a crevice in the rocks and the rest is history which can be read about from the link above. "Slim Jim," manager and himself a spelunker, was our guide. As for photos, lots taken, few shared.

Winnie visits the Cave of the Winds about 1½ miles from the campground.

Lots of activities for the kids; height requirements for some.

You can even get yourself strapped in a seat and zipped off over the 

canyon below. 

Slim Jim begins the tour that lasted about 45 minutes. Each of the 15 large
 openings or "rooms" had a name that resembled the natural formation.
The 1/2 mile of concrete walkways had 196 stairs.  

Original explorer's ladder from an opening 25' above.

"Bacon" stalactite

Knobstone or "Cave Popcorn" formed from splashing water or water
that seeps through cracks but does not drip away.

Everyone knows the differences between stalactites and stalagmites...but

...I've also seen stalagpipes and...

...a stalaglight.

After the 90-minute tour on my way back to the campground, about a mile down the road, I decided to stop in to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. I debated this one. I checked it out on line and there was some controversy as to whether this place was fake or just a tourist trap. Read the article and decide for yourself.

The ancient ruins of the indigenous people, the Anasazi who lived about 1,200 B.C.
But are these reconstructed replicas and not original?

Lots of tourists and one reason why I didn't venture forth to explore for myself.

The Horno

The Gift Shop is built right into the surrounding rock structure.

I was fortunate to squeeze those two trips into one day for it was when I returned to the campsite and checked my laptop that I learned of the pending "blizzard conditions" that would extend from Denver south and eastward. I am just 75 miles south and didn't want be greeted in the morning with such traveling conditions. The Dodge City KOA is 5½ hours, about 300 miles away. I made an immediate decision and laughed at the fact that I wasn't "getting outta Dodge" but getting to it to beat a snowstorm. So, at 3:30 p.m. I packed up and rode east along route 50. To be continued....