Pikes Peak, America's Mountain 1

Pikes Peak Introduction

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The most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited mountain in the world behind Japan's Mount Fuji, Pikes Peak forms a stunning backdrop for Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. At an altitude of 14,110 feet above sea level, Pikes Peak is the 31st highest peak out of 54 Colorado peaks. It is the farthest east of the big peaks in the Rocky Mountain chain, which contributed to its early fame among explorers, pioneers and immigrants and made it the symbol of the 1859 Gold Rush to Colorado with the slogan, "Pikes Peak or Bust". The 8.9 mile Cog Railway started operating year round in 2007 weather permitting.

Over a half million people reach the summit house every year by the Pikes Peak Highway, Barr Trail or the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway, paved part of the way, is open year round, weather permitting. Barr Trail is the longest of any trails leading to the top of the 54 mountains in Colorado that are over 14,000 feet, and offers the greatest base-to-summit elevation gain in the state: 7,400 feet. About 15,000 people a year attempt to climb Pikes Peak on foot. The 13-mile trail begins at the base of Pikes Peak in Manitou Springs.

Three notable events take place on the mountain each year. The Pikes Peak Marathon, a 26 mile round trip foot race up Barr Trail and then back down each August, draws thousands of runners from all over the world. The current Pikes Peak Marathon record which was set in 1993 is 3 hours 16 minutes 30 seconds. The second event, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Sunday July 20, 2008 is a race on the 12.42 mile gravel road which starts around the 6 1/2 mile mark on the highway. In 2007 Nobuhiro Tajima set a new record of 10 minutes 1 second. The third event is the AdAmAn Club New Years Fireworks display on December 31 at midnight.   ~ from http://www.pikespeakcolorado.com/GeneralInformation.htm

October 17, 2009.

At the Cog Railway Depot

We made reservation for the tickets.

At the depot

People are dressed for the summit since the trains are not air-conditioned or heated.
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When traveling up Pikes Peak (or any mountain) ascending 1000 feet is like traveling 600 miles to the north. The temperature drops about 3.5 degrees, and different life zones are experienced. So, in general, the top of the Peak is 30 degrees colder than at the station in Manitou. ~from Pikes Peak Cog Railway

It was sunny, clear and warm day high in 60's.

But, at the summit, the temperature will be in 30's.

     

We were seated at the two seaters at the right side of the train.

The right and the left side of the train has totally different views.

People from the 3 seaters are looking out the windows.

Unfortunately fall came too early, and the aspen trees had no leaves left on.

Had our trip been little earlier, we would have seen the beautiful yellow apen trees foliage.

Views from the 2 seaters.

Views from the 3 seaters.

As we go up, rocks becomes smaller and ther are less trees.

Plant and animal life is extensive and varied on Pikes Peak. The mountain encompasses four of the eight distinct life zones that exist in Colorado.

Before you reach the Railway, you are in the Eastern Plains Zone (up to 6,000 feet) which is comprised of wildflowers and grassland and is home to many small animals like prairie dogs and rabbits.

The depot is located at 6,571 feet. The Foothills Zone (6,000 to 8,000 feet) is composed of small bushes and trees such as scrub oak, juniper, sagebrush and pinion pine and is inhabited by raccoons, skunks, various squirrels, deer and an occasional bear and mountain lion.

The Montane Zone (8,000 to 10,000 feet) has various wildflowers and small shrubs, but large forests of pines and Douglas fir, as well as the colorful aspen tree, are predominant. Deer, elk, bear and mountain lions can all be found at this attitude.

The Subalpine Zone (10,000 to 11,500 feet) is less hospitable. Englemann spruce, Douglas fir and bristlecone pine comprise the area’s dense forests. It is estimated that some bristlecone pine trees on Pikes Peak are over 2000 years old.

In the Alpine Zone (11,500 feet and above), tundra composed of tiny flowers, mosses and lichen eke out a cold existence in the short growing season.

The denizens of this windy zone are mainly the yellow-bellied marmot and the bighorn sheep. The marmot hibernates during the winter, but the sheep migrate to lower and more hospitable regions.

Pikes Peak is home to one of Colorado’s largest bighorn sheep herds, and riders on the Cog Railway frequently see many of these magnificent animals.  ~ from  http://cograilway.com/aboutpikespeak.htm

I will soon post Pikes Peak, America's Mountain 2.