Royal Gorge and Pike's Peak

A trip to the top. This was a real steep climb. The road was blacktop part of the way then gravel and back to blacktop. There is an annual race on this mountain from mile 6 1/2 to the top which is 19 miles total. One vehicle at a time against the clock and the record is 10 minutes and a few seconds. (I think they need to have there heads examined) It was paved only due to the gravel that was being washed into the forest due to the rains. Gully's were deep enough to swallow a Ponderosa Pine.
Valentine rock was one of the sites along the way.
Big Foot was said to have crossed here in 1985 and seen by the land owner. (I think you would have to wait along time to see it.)
This was the most snow we saw at the top. The temperature was 16 degrees the day we were there. The wind was strong and the sun hot if you were right in it.
Appears we are going off the end of the road. This is a sample of the road up and part of the area that is raced. The road was a little wider than 2 vehicles and made a lot of sharp turns. You have the feeling of no protection as there are no guard rails and you are above the tree line.
This was taken out the passenger side of the truck. We were above the tree line here and the forest service says some people find the road so unnerving without guard rails that the forest service has to drive the vehicles back down the mountain.
A couple of looks from a stops along the way down into the valley.

Another shot out the side of the window as we were going up the mountain.
The quick shot of the two of us at the top before heading for warmer quarters.
Royal Gorge bridge and across the valley.
a view across the valley.
A look into the gorge from the tram ride.
A view from the tram across the valley. The tram runs until the wind is about 55 mph then they close it down.
A view of the rocks and gorge below from the tram.

A view of the trolley crossing the bridge. We walked the bridge from the opposite side after taking the tram over.
On the walk back there was an animal enclosure that had a white buffalo as well as other animals.
This is the tram we road as seen from the bottom of the gorge. We took the incline railroad down.A shot of the bridge as see from the bottom of the gorge.
There is s Sky coaster for the brave to ride. It is 100 ft high and 1300 ft over the Arkansas River. Riders reach 50 mph and it closes down at wind speed of 40 mph. NO we did not do it but watched a young couple take the ride.
The Barron's as seen taking the ride. They said they would not do it again, but the enjoyed it.
Various gages for telling the time, year, day and season.
The incline railroad goes 1550 ft down at a 45 degree angle. It takes 5.5 min at 3 mph to reach the bottom.
The railroad tracks to the bottom. It was a great way to see just how amazing the gorge is from the bottom.Try as he might Bill could find no way around the sign. probably just as well since it would have been difficult with a drop of 1550 ft - he would have had to have a small anchor to get the line to the river below.Barb trying her had at playing Edith Ann in this oversized chair.