The South Riding RV Travels

723

22nd September 2012 - Manitou Springs CO - Pike's Peak 14110ft

The campsite was in Manitou Springs but we still had two miles to walk to the cog railway station. On the way we passed this original cog locomotive.
Before that was the stagecoach although I don't think it travelled up to the summit.
The train arrives to take us up to the summit of Pike's Peak.
There is a waterfall not far from the start which you can just see in the centre of this picture.
This was a short works train in a siding at one of the several passing places on the climb.
There is a family which lives in a house a couple of miles from the start. They can get to Manitou Springs by road but it is a gravel track 17 miles long.
All along the way the aspens were in full colour. It makes for a very attractive landscape.
After about 10,000ft you begin to lose the trees and are able to look out on the surrounding mountains.
There are several lakes of which this is probably the largest. I think the water level is quite low. It has been a very dry year here.
Higher still and almost all vegetation disappears. This is the previous train coming down while we wait in the passing loop.
Some services send a single car along with the twin car unit. Here the single car follows the twin unit in the previous picture.
The cog system to help the trains climb the steep gradient make for complicated points.
Some people climb up to the summit the hard way although these hikers are not on an approved path.
There is a toll road up to the summit but some hardy folk cycle the whole way.
The views from the top are spectacular but it is less clear than I remember it being when we came 5 years ago.
The train rests for 40 minutes while we look around. The trip down will be much easier.
There wasn't as much snow as before but it is still here. It never truly disappears at this altitude.
A rare picture of us just before the train departs.
And just so you know, the summit is at 14,110ft.
Back at the campsite we spotted this fifth wheel with a slideout in the slideout!