Pikes Peak or Bust (Loveland, CO)

 

We just spent two weeks in Colorado Springs, CO.  We had a somewhat busy weeks.  We took a ride around the Air Force Academy Campus. Sorry no pictures.

This is the scene out our dining room window here in Colorado Springs.

That’s Pikes Peak.

We took a scenic drive and found the Florissant Fossil Beds NM.  These are pictures of petrified Red Wood trees.

Next we went to the Cliff Dwellings.  It was very interesting to see the way these people lived thousands of years ago.  This is a commercial site not public.  While interesting and well kept the so called Museum was one big gift shop.  Very little Museum thingies.

Just north of Colorado Springs is Manitou Springs, home of Pikes Peak and the Pikes Peak Cog Railroad.  The town of Manitou Springs in a great little tourist town with many shops and restaurants.  We decide to take the railway up to the top.  When we started at the bottom, about 6000 ft., It was around 50 degrees.  We were prepared and dressed in layers.  What we were not prepared for is what happened at the top.  The train pulls itself up on a cog in the center of the track.

What we were not prepared for was the weather at the top.  First it was 22 degrees with a wind chill of -9 degrees.  The wind was harsh. Then the ground was covered with ice and snow.  Add to that the altitude of 14,100 feet.  We were both dizzy and sick.  We huddled inside the gift shop at the top until it was time to board the train down the mountain.  Needless to say we did not take many pictures at the top.  The views were magnificent.  Most of the pictures are from the nice warm train.  So in many of the pictures you can see reflections in the glass.  Even with all this it was a worthwhile ride.

Next onto Rocky Mountain NP.

Life is Pretty Damn Good on the Roan Road…