Pikes Peak. The name alone invokes memories of 3rd grade where we climbed trees with white rings painted around the trunks signifying “those that climb higher then THE RING risk more than the loss of respect of their elementary associates if they fail”. There was one particular tree in front of Hope School that we named Pikes Peak. You see, this was the tallest tree that we could climb and Pikes Peak was the tallest mountain with the coolest name that we have ever heard, so the two just seemed to go together like slinkys and steps. We felt like monkeys walking on barbed wire ignoring the do gooders, ring painters, warning wishers and parents everywhere who admonish us, “You’ll hurt yourself if you climb higher than the ring.” Years later, I’m the same monkey on a different wire climbing beyond the ring on the real Pikes Peak.
Tree Beard:
I woke up on Friday morning at 5:00 a.m. highly anticipating the ride ahead of me. The plan was to drive down to Colorado Springs, Co locate Old Colorado City, jump in a van with 17 other monkeys and two monkettes, shuttle up the Pikes Peak Highway, pour out of the van in Elk Park and descend, descend, descend into the tourist town of Manitou Springs. The trail starts at 12,000 feet and descends back to Manitou Springs at 6320 feet, almost 6000 feet of descent in about 12 miles, very nice.
Nice Views:
Pikes Peak in the Distance:
The Peak Getting Closer:
Windy and Cold (45 degrees F):
I wanted to go higher but everybody said you need to be a trials rider to ride this:
Group Shot:
As soon as we checked our bikes, our gear, and our fortitude we waited for the monkettes (Melanie and Joyce) who woke up late, missed the van, and had to meet us at the top (not sure who drove them back up for their car, I would have volunteered but I’m married
).
I assume my normal position when I’ve got nothing else to do.
It was apparent as we checked out all of our various rigs that I had the wheels with the most travel. It then became apparent to me that I would, in all likelihood, be in the front for most of the day because I had the most in the rear, and by the looks of things I was long in the front too. So, I would ride fast to get ahead of everybody, hop off my bike, and take pics as riders came down.
Example:
The monkettes showed up road weary but looking marvelous, they checked their rigs, and with one final direction from a Pikes Peak veteran we were on our way.
The trail begins it’s descent above timberline with the ground a hard pumice, loose over hardpack. It has a few large G-outs in the beginning with the first one almost impossible to get down and up due to its crumbling nature, falling over the chasm of the mountain type of thing. The penalty if you screw up (even greater than a Miles “look at the penalty for failure dude”) is too dire here, so everyone walked it. The second G-out’s penalty for failure not as bad so I rode up and over that one but I think everyone else walked it, I think.
Scree hiking over G-out:
What followed is sheer bliss, totally flowly, loose pumice slidy, slightly out of control (at fast speeds) super fun DH through forests, over rock gardens and small creek bridges. It reminded me of some DH riding I’ve done at Mammoth outside of the resort down into Red’s Meadow.
John (good to see the young at heart riding bikes!)
Whoops:
Tim and Tony, my two riding partners once we separated from the main group.
Tony:
Tim:
½ of the monkettes, Joyce as in Re-Joyce!
Why most would choose to ride through the water and not over this bridge is beyond me, I kept saying “Ride the Bridge”. I guess the were fearful of slippery wood but it was quite tame actually.
Eric attempted again but stalled right after the shot, good try though!
I told John to go back so I could get a shot, (demanding little ***** aren’t I?)
Good Try John!
(to be continued.....)
“…an economy where clients are cutting back and they're sleeping with their wives again. THEIR WIVES!!!” - Eugene “Gemini” Spellman