Friday, June 22, 2012

My First Fourteener

  I've lived in Colorado for 37 years
and I finally got to the top of my first fourteener. 
Running man and I went to Manitou Springs, Colorado
 last weekend for a little R and R. 

We stayed at a beautiful restored inn called the Cliff House.
  It was a beautiful inn 
and we had a lovely room, 
but why are there wires coming out of the toilet? 
 
  An electric toilet seat warmer.  
Those Toto toilets are something else.

  Manitou Springs is the base for the cog railway 
that will take you to the top of Pike's Peak. 
 
 It was sunny at the bottom, 
but very cloudy and cold at the top.
30 degrees in June.
 
 Occasionally the clouds would break and reveal a landscape below.  
 
 
Did you know Zebulon Pike never made it to the top?

 Did you know that Pike's Peak was the inspiration for
 the song America the Beautiful?
 Katherine Lee Bates penned the song 
as she rode a burro to the top and back in 1893.

There are running races to the top, 
car races,
and of course hiking, 
but the railway was my way to climb my first fourteener.
At the top
there is little oxygen,
 a large tacky gift shop,
 and proof that I made it.
 Until Next Time-



10 comments:

  1. Many years ago, we visited that area. We tried driving up Pike's Peak. Reached a certain point and the car would not go forward any longer. So we never made it to the top.

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  2. That is such a beautiful place! I was born in Colorado...I hiked to the top of 3 of the fourteeners...the most memorable was Mount Uncompahgre...it was gorgeous up top!

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  3. It doesn't matter how you got to the top, you got there!

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  4. I like the way you climb 14ners:)

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  5. I can remember driving to the top when I was little with my folks. My mom always sat all puckered up all the way to the top!

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  6. Good for you, anyway is okay... Love Colorado!!!!! We have stayed at the Broadmore in Colorado Springs many times....Beautiful state!

    Hugs, Carolyn

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  7. Cool!That looks like an adventure!!

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  8. What a great trip - and post!
    All info I will make use of.
    Thank you!!

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  9. Hi Kyle - I've just found your blog and have enjoyed reading some of your older posts. Hubby & spent a couple days in Fort Collins earlier this month - absolutely LOVE that place! I'm a quilter and a rug hooker - so nice to meet you!

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