Getting High In Colorado

I'm about 4 posts behind, so bear with me as I try to catch up!

September  27th, 2013
Overcast, Windy as HELL, and really flippin' COLD!
Lat/Lon 38.8N 105.0W

A few posts ago, I mentioned that the elevation at Jenny and Pete's house was kind of high. (8,500 ft.)

This is Pike's Peak, as seen from Jenny & Pete's yard.  Pike's Peak is 14,110 ft.  There is a road that goes all the up and I really wanted to see what it was like.

Friday was overcast, but we could still see the summit, so we decided to go give it a try.






Heading up the steep climbing road, but still near the bottom of the mountain, was this sign.  Oh, boy!  I'm finally gonna see a 'Squatch.




Further up the road was more Bigfoot info, with this 'cast' below the signage.







The scenery was beautiful.

The aspens were bright!

 The views - spectacular!

Near the top, above the tree line.  This alpine climate looks pretty desolate.

Made it to the top.  WOW!  

We walked over to the edge to take some photos, and I realized I'd left my phone (camera) back in the truck.  So, (not thinking), I jogged back to the truck to get it.  I nearly passed out when I stopped and reached for the truck door.  I couldn't breath!  I mean, I really FELT the thinner air!  It was wild! And this was only 14,000 feet!  I have a whole new respect for those climbers that summit 30,000 ft peaks without supplemental oxygen.  Crazy people!!!

Chawley and Lala

It was so cold & windy on top.  The wind was about 40 mph, and it was 29 degrees!  (11 degrees with windchill.)

Even tho it was cold and windy,  we let the dogs play in the snow little bit.  Nitro had never seen snow before!

A little creative photography on Chawley's part, and I am 'climbing' Pikes Peak!

The sub-alpine climate, (appx. 11,000 ft), was some of the most beautiful landscape I've ever seen.  With the trees,  boulders, and partial snow, it looked like something right out of a Bev Doolittle painting.

Taking a break for some hot coffee.

Little pink glasses on a pretty peach boulder with bright green lichen.

I must say, as beautiful as it was, it was nice to get to a lower elevation.  Jenny's 8,500 ft, seems like a piece of cake after Pikes Peak.


Oh, and check out my cool shirt!