Author: Rich & Susan

“Top of the world Ma…..!”

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I had to steal the Jimmy Cagney line from the 1949 movie “White Lightning”  (no I’m not that old!…just saw it on TCM!) because it really describes what it’s like standing on the top of Pikes Peak @14,115 ft. It’s COLD! -9, and it’s incredible! You can drive a car up or take the cog train as we did. It doesn’t take long to feel the effects of the high altitude. Walk a few steps and stop to grab a breath of very thin air! It takes this train 1 1/2 hrs .each way to make the trip. 45 minutes at the top is about all us flat landers can take!!

Our ride to the top. One of only three cog wheel trains in the US.

Our ride to the top. One of only three cog-wheel trains in the US.

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At the top! Nearly level with the clouds and you can see the curve of the earth at the horizon.

As luck would have it the day was clear and we could see 5 states. On the other side of the viewing platform you see here was a drop of 3000 ft……straight down!

Looking straight up we are 2,000 ft. from the top where only a few trees survive in a wall of granite
They say you can see 5 states from here on a clear day. We had a clear day!
Susan taking a chance close to the edge!

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This is where the maintenance crew for the railway used to reside when the train was steam-powered! They had one amazing front yard!! By the way, it wasn’t unusual to have 15′ of snow pile against the front door!! NO THANKS!!!

A bridge too far!……

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…..when it’s 1,053 ft above the canyon floor, the wind is blowing at 45mph, and we are about to walk across it!!  Wait! Is it moving up and down in the middle? Why yes it is! The bridge is Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City Colorado. A walk across it will, undoubtedly, put you stomach several notches higher, put a quiver in your voice, and a weakness in the knees!!

It’s a long way across and a long way down!
View across the Rocky Mts.
We made it across!
Just as we were making our way back across a train came through at the bottom.
The Arkansas River at the bottom of the gorge
Every state is represented on the bridge

(Click smaller pics for a larger image)

In 2013, a wild fire swept through the canyon and burned all the buildings at the park and destroyed 13000 acres. The only survivor was the bridge sustaining only minor damage. Everything else was toast!

If you travel Colorado, this is a must! If you are really adventurous, there is a zip line that crosses the gorge and yes you are dangling over 1000 ft. Unfortunately on the day we were there the line was closed due to high wind. Would I have rode the zip line?? You Bet!!! It’s added to the bucket list!

Rocky Mountain High

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Breckenridge Colorado. Elevation 9600 ft. What a view! It’s known for ski resorts and gold rush history. If you are into skiing, hiking, biking, this is the place! We were here in mid and late September and the Aspen trees were in full color. Mother Nature at her finest!2016-september-breckenridge-co_09-25-16_5148

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Hiking for us “flatlanders” is not without its challenges. Especially since we were novices and not used to the altitude!(pant! pant!) Finding the trail head was not an easy task either. Did the directions say “look for the teepee?” Nope!2016-sept-hiking-in-breckenridge-co_09-26-16_5237

Our trail brought us to this abandoned gold mining dredge which last operated in 1922. These things were earth eating machines digging their way through the valley in search of gold. The piles of rocks (or tailings) you see behind are what was discarded after the gold had been separated.

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“click” for larger view

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It’s easy to see why so many love the mountains!

Custer State Park, SD

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High up in the Black Hills is one of South Dakota’s true treasures, the Needles Hwy in Custer State Park. It’s a beautiful place! The road winds for miles past beautiful canyons and spire rock formations. And driving here is a real experience with hair pin turns and rock tunnels barely wide enough to get through! 

september-2016-custer-state-park-wyoming_09-19-16_5043

september-2016-custer-state-park-wyoming_09-19-16_5021Yes, we really drove thru with not a whole lot of room to spare!

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The Needles Eyeseptember-2016-custer-state-park-wyoming_09-19-16_5053The park is home to aprox. 1300 Bison. This guy thought the road side was a good place for lunch! He didn’t seem to mind Susan getting this shot of his good side!!september-2016-custer-state-park-wyoming_09-19-16_5005

The Badlands, SD

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The best way to describe this National Park is that we left earth and landed on another planet! This incredibly harsh landscape, what once was ocean bottom millions of years ago, goes on for miles and miles!2016-september-badlands-s-dakota_09-16-16_4843

The layers you see were caused by the receding waters leaving the beautiful colors and peaks several hundred feet high.

2016-september-badlands-s-dakota_09-16-16_4737Every Turn brought new views!

2016-september-badlands-s-dakota_09-16-16_4718…..and we passed on hiking!!

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

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We’ve seen this in pictures so many times. Billboards, ads, businesses all showing the familiar faces. Even our license plates have George, Thomas, Theodore and Abraham on them! BUT none of these even come close to capturing the awe inspiring feeing of viewing these past US presidents in person!2016-september-south-dakota_09-15-16_4420

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The rope and bag  are being used to bring new crack monitoring sensors to the top which track movement within the rock.

Honest Abe

The view from the top of the Black Hills.

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view through the cave

 

We were lucky enough to capture this mother and baby mountain goat on the rocks a few yard away!

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It took an incredable talent and vision to create this masterpiece in the Black hills of South Dakota. What and incredable day!!