Pikes Peak Cog Railway and the Garden of the gods

Wednesday, 17^th June

What a beautiful day!!! Alisons contribution

I had been looking forward so much to the trip in the cog train up to Pike’s Peak. Although, I anticipated this experience with excitement, I was not disappointed or let down. In fact I wished the day would not end!

I prayed that the early morning mist would lift and it did. Pikes Peak train starts in Manitou, a picturesque, heritage town. The hanging baskets were delightful, decorating the railway station. Soon after we started to climb, the John Ruxton Creek was tumbling down at great speed. So much water –a significant sight to `water starved’ Mallee/Wimmera residents. The steep slopes of the canyon are lined with pine and aspen trees in between huge boulders. The granite in these rocks is called Pikes Creek granite found no where else in the world except in Missouri . Created through the same up push through the earth’s surface and weather wears the surrounding `soil’ down leaving the tors exposed, as our own Granite Rocks. These boulders are gigantic. Up, up we went – from the starting height of 6,530 feet, on up to 14,115 feet. We were armed with water and oxygen!! I was concerned for Dad/Ian ( having COPD). He managed very well. We arrived above the tree line and reached for our warm jackets/jumpers. The temperature at the top was 34F with a chill factor 30F. Nearing the top, the rocks changed from brown to white – `What are those rocks? I asked. Snow was the answer! I laughed. The tundra grass grows 1 to 3 inches in 100 years. The trees don’t grow because the perma frost is only 3 feet under the ground and is frozen all the time. When we arrive we stepped out and the cold was biting but the light headedness indicated that the altitude effected us all – step carefully, walk slowly. After eating and having hot cocoa/coffee we took photos and descended. Just as we were leaving a marmot appeared, a little squirrel size animal with a yellow thick coat running between the rocks.

Will the brakes hold? – 3 sets of brakes. The cog system is a separate line between the rails and enables the train to climb a 25% ascent – amazing. We enjoyed chatting to a couple from Arizona going up and coming down. Ian, comment from Guide if the 3 brake systems let go, they still have Colorado Springs at the bottom , Go figger. may bend the buffers a bit at Manitou

After the train trip, we drove around to the Garden of the gods. This is a beautiful park with outcrops of red rocks formed in amazing shapes. The information centre overlooks magnificent scenery with snowed topped Pikes Peak towering in the background. We drove around the lush green park dotted with gigantic red rocks and I longed to drive around again.