PIKES PEAK
The most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited
mountain in the world behind Japan's Mount Fuji, Pikes Peak forms a stunning
backdrop for Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. At an altitude of
14,110 feet above sea level, Pikes Peak is the 31st highest peak out of 54
Colorado peaks. It is the farthest east of the big peaks in the Rocky Mountain
chain, which contributed to its early fame among explorers, pioneers and
immigrants and made it the symbol of the 1859 Gold Rush to Colorado with the
slogan, "Pikes Peak or Bust".
Over a half million people reach the summit house every year by the Pikes
Peak Highway, Barr Trail or the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The 19-mile Pikes Peak
Highway, paved part of the way, is open year round, weather permitting. Barr
Trail is the longest of any trails leading to the top of the 54 mountains in
Colorado that are over 14,000 feet, and offers the greatest base-to-summit
elevation gain in the state: 7,400 feet. About 15,000 people a year attempt to
climb Pikes Peak on foot. The 13-mile trail begins at the base of Pikes Peak in
Manitou Springs. The 8.9 mile cog railroad typically operates April through
December.
Three notable events take place on the mountain each year. The Pikes Peak
Marathon, a 26 mile round trip foot race up Barr Trail and then back down each
August, draws thousands of runners from all over the world. The top round trip
finishing time is three hours and 16 minutes. The second event, the Pikes Peak
Auto Hill Climb on Saturday in July 1, 2006 is a race on the 12.42 mile gravel
road which starts around the 6 1/2 mile mark on the highway. Rod Millen from New
Zealand holds the fastest time record since 1994, 10 minutes and 4.6 seconds.
The third event is the AdAmAn Club New Years Fireworks display on December 31,
12:00 a.m.
Email: schottc@pcisys.net