Pikes Peak

In 1806, President Jefferson dispatched Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike with a small party of soldiers to explore the south western boundary of the Louisiana Purchase. The expedition discovered the peak that bears Pike’s name, but they failed to climb it due to adverse weather conditions. It was not until 1820 that the peak was conquered by botanist Dr. Edwin James. At 4,300 metres (14,110 feet) high this is only the 32nd highest mountain in Colorado, so why does it merit a 50 plus DC page? It sits right at the edge of the Rockies giving clear views across both the plains and the mountains and nowadays it is easy to get to the summit. To see the geography of Colorado, a trip up Pikes Peak is a must, provided that the weather is clear.

View east across Colorado Springs from summit

Looking east from the summit, the horizon is flat as a pancake. 2,460 metres (8,075 feet) below you on the flat plain sprawls the city of Colorado Springs.

Pikes Peak

View west from summit

The contrast looking west could not be greater. Here you see you see mountains as far as the eye can see, wave after wave of them like an angry ocean. The view of the Rockies from here is awe inspiring.

Sign at summit of Pikes Peak

Confirmation of the height of the mountain can be found at the summit. Note that although it may be bad grammar, officially there is no apostrophe in Pikes Peak. At Summit House you can buy a coffee that is slightly cooler than usual - the boiling point of water at this altitude is in the region of 95.6 ^oC (204 ^oF).

Crystal Creek reservoir & Pikes Peak from Pikes Peak Highway

You would expect Pikes Peak to loom over the surrounding countryside, but the surrounding countryside is already very high. The City of Colorado Springs sits below Pikes Peak at an elevation of 1,840 metres (6,035 feet), so you are starting off from a point that is already 43% of the way up the mountain. According to popular mythology Lieutenant Pike said that the peak would never be climbed, but the entry in his journal makes it clear that he was actually referring to the chances of his team reaching the summit when ill equipped for the bad weather that they encountered.

View down Pikes Peak Highway from summit

A road to the summit of Pikes Peak was completed in 1888 and in 1891 a cog railway also reach the summit. When we drove up the toll road it was unsurfaced (unpaved) at higher altitudes, but in the good weather conditions it was not particularly difficult to drive. In 2011 the task of paving the road right up to the summit was completed. We planned to drive the paved road in October 2018, but the arrival of unseasonably early snow put paid to that. Be warned that the air is noticeably thinner at the summit and it is a good idea to have spend some days in Colorado to acclimatise to altitude before attempting a trip up Pikes Peak.

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Train at Summit Station, Pike's Peak Cog Railway

Here we have a line that was built for tourists. The Manitou & Pike's Peak Railway Company was founded in 1889 to build a cog railway up Pikes Peak. In June 1891 Pike’s Peak Cog Railway opened with Baldwin steam locomotives powering trains to the summit over an average 16% grade. The steam locomotives have long gone, replaced by the Swiss-made railcars shown in the picture. The cog railway did not reopen for the 2018 season because it was found that much of the infrastructure was in need of replacement, including the railcars. Plans are in hand to address this and the Cog Railway is scheduled to reopen in May 2021. It is interesting to note that the apostrophe in Pike’s Peak is still used by the railway even though it has long since been deleted from the name of the mountain. Click Tab 2 to see one of the retired Baldwin steam locomotives in Manitou Springs with Pikes Peak in the background.