Up at 5:45 after a fitful night in the hotel, hope I sleep better tonight. On the road and down to the Arkansas River near Canon City (just up the road from the Supermax prison at Florence). Got to swim once, unplanned, coming out of the Class IV Three Rocks rapid; we slid over a pour over at an angle that knocked Sean (in front of me) out of the boat, and I thought I could control myself, but I fell backwards too. Pulled back up into the boat coughing…a real triumph. Rest of the trip went find though, with some good-natured inter-raft feuds just before the take-out.
Bus to the Pike's Peak cog rail. Napped a
little on the way. The railway up reminded me of why I love northern Colorado so much: the breathtaking canyons, rocks, waterfalls, pines and aspens. Think I could convince Mary to retire out here? At the summit (14,115'), did OK, felt just a little light-headed but walked around for a half hour just fine. Of course, that's without a pack on. Down again, with less of the mildly amusing, mildly annoying jokey conductor's announcements, and to dinner--Famous Dave's BBQ catered at a community center. Ate too much again. Back for as much sleep in a real bed as I can get.
Fighting a low-grade headache most of the afternoon/evening. Some sunburn but nothing fatal. Only 5,080 steps today, 2.40 miles, given how much sitting we did. Total 20,659 and 9.76mi before even showing up at Philmont tomorrow.
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| On the cog rail, magnificent forest |
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| These look like Disney fake rocks, but they're not! |
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| Looking back into the valley and the city of Colorado Springs |
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| Just leaving the treelike, and looking up the steep rocky slope |
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| Yep, that's snow near the summit! |
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| Yellow marmots, frequently seen trackside near the summit |
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| Mid-July and snow... |
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| View down the steep sides of Pike's Peak from the summit |
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| Snowfields and rocky ridges at the summit |
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| The boys exploring the summit (summit house to the right) |
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| Re-approaching the tree line on the descent |
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| The town of Manatu Springs, with these rock formations towering over the town |
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| View from the summit of Pike's Peak to the south, and a gold mine in the middle distance |
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