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Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Colorado
Location
The massive mountain called Pikes Peak is located west of Colorado Springs. The lower terminus
of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is in Manitou Springs, a small town on the western outskirts of
Colorado Springs. The lower terminus of the cable-drawn Manitou Incline is just a few yards
from the Cog Railway terminus.
Description
The Cog (i.e. rack and pinion) Railway runs for approximately nine miles from Manitou Springs
to the summit of Pikes Peak.
The summit is over 14,000 feet and with the relatively rapid ascent the lack of oxygen is very
apparent. Also, even in summer, it is extremely cold at the summit. When we visited in mid-June
there were walls of snow well above our heads alongside the short path from the summit station
to the small gift shop.
The whole of the railway journey is extremely scenic and the views from the summit of the
surrounding mountain ranges in the distance are truly spectacular.
There is also a toll road to the summit. This runs from a point on US24 a short distance west of
Manitou Springs. This road is closed in winter. I believe I read somewhere that this is the highest
road in North America. I suspect that this is an unpaved road. We haven't used this road, so
unfortunately cannot provide any further description.
Pikes Peak was named after its European discoverer, the explorer Zebulon Montgomery Pike.
http://www.pikespeakcam.com/
Garden of the Gods at ColoradoSprings, Colorado
Beautiful red rock formations, with dramatic
Pikes Peak as backdrop, on the edge of Colorado
Springs and Manitou Springs. This two-square
mile City Park has been designated as a National
Natural Landmark for its outstanding geology and
scenery.
The Parks' landforms have been shaped by erosion into
sheer cliffs, ridges, and many unusual shapes, including
Balanced Rock, Toadstools and Kissing Camels. The
landscape is a mixture of Southwestern pinyon-juniper
forest, shrublands and prairie meadows. Wildlife
includes falcons, swifts, and doves, which nest in the
cliffs, along with mule deer, coyotes and bighorn sheep.
Also located within the Park is Rock Ledge Ranch
Historic Site, which offers living history demonstrations.
Link
Bob Womack 1890
Cripple Creek, Colorado formerly "Poverty Gulch"
Then
Now
