At the end of the ranching conference we went to Pikes Peak.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikes_Peak )
It looms over the city and we could see great views of it from our hotel and during our adventures during the week.
You can drive 18 miles all the way up to the tip top.
(one gust of wind, Ruby got cold…and she was done for the rest of the time.)
(the building at the tip top of the mountain…visitor center, eatery, restrooms, ranger station)
(airplanes are so much closer when you are half way up in the air to them)
(The song, America the Beautiful, was inspired by the writer on top of Pikes Peak. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_the_Beautiful )
About half way up the mountain the road gets super, super curvy. There are no guard rails. Matt did very well driving, but at times I was a nervous wreck. At times it looks like you are going right over the side while you are turning in the hairpin curve.
At the top, it is windy and much colder. On the particular day we went, it was about 21 degrees at the top. Ruby was cold the whole time. Some people get altitude sickness while going up or walking around on top.
After being up there for about ten minutes, Matt and I got a little light headed and dizzy feeling.
Pikes Peak was very pretty and awe inspiring. It was well worth the trip.
