August 29, 2019 – Pikes Peak



Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America.

When you enter the Ranger decides if you can driver you vehicle to the top (summit) or if you need to take one of the shuttle vans. We were lucky enough to get a pass to drive all the way to the TOP!

We drove to the summit via the Pikes Peak Highway, a 19 mi road. The road has a series of switchbacks, treacherous at high speed, called "The W's" for their shape on the northwest side of the mountain. It was perhaps the scariest road we have every driven. Hard to believe there is an annual motor race, called the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

There are several visitor centers on Pikes Peak, some with a gift shop and restaurant. These centers are located at the 6-mile and 12-mile markers of the toll road, plus one at the summit itself. When you drive back down the mountain the Rangers are at these locations and check the temperature of your brakes. If they are hot, you are asked to pull over for 20 minutes. Yes we had to pull over and give our brakes a rest.



 The Summit House sells special high altitude doughnuts, frying up to 700 per hour. The doughnuts collapse or go mushy if transported to lower altitudes.