Saturday June 15 2024

Saturday June 15

Today the weather was fine so we headed to Pikes Peak to drive our truck to the summit! We pre-booked a timeslot for our ascent which seems to be the norm for most popular venues, and we arrived at the toll road gates just after 10 am. The gates are at 7,000 feet ASL and we were ascending to 14,115 feet ASL over a distance of 19 miles. The ride up was more exciting than I expected, with lots of twists and turns and steep drop-offs with no guardrails! It’s amazing that they let anyone drive themselves to the summit. It seems unnatural to be way up on a rocky peak in a vehicle! Interesting fact; the following day there was a car race (time trial) up Pikes Peak!  Yikes!

Our plan was to drive straight to the top, spend  some time at the summit, then make multiple stops on the way down to take pictures and explore the more interesting areas that we noted on the way up. The summit building was impressive and served as the terminus for the cog railway which departed from Manitou Springs far below. Another fun fact; all the water used in the facility (cooking, washing, bathrooms) has to be trucked to the summit daily…also the waste water, etc. has to be trucked down!

The descent down the mountain was really interesting, stopped at various view points to walk around and take pictures and enjoy the amazing views from high up on Pikes Peak.

Afterwards we headed back to Woodland Park for a coffee then continued to the towns of Cripple Creek and Victor to see Rita the Rock Planter – one of Thomas Dambo’s giant troll sculptures.

Summit building Pikes Peak

Looking north from summit

Cog Railcar

South down Pikes Peak ridge

48% less Oxygen up here compare
with sea level

On one of the trails leading to the summit

Showing off

Mountain goat

Switch backs

Ski tracks in the couloir

Aliens

looking back at Pikes Peak from down the mountain

Rita the Rock Planter

One of Thomas Dambo's creations

Gold mine structure for 
raising miners and minerals.
A dangerous machine!