Escape to the Wild (Day 6 – Fear)

This morning we decided to attempt the drive up Pikes Peak before we left for Denver.  At 14,115 feet above sea level, it’s not the tallest mountain in the Rockies, but it’s definitely the most-visited.  Named in honor of explorer Zebulon Pike, who tried and failed to climb the mountain in 1806, Pikes Peak is one of 53 fourteeners in Colorado.  The drive takes about an hour to reach the summit, taking you along a winding and twisting road with sheer drop-offs, as you climb over 5,000 feet from the base to the top.  For two people that are afraid of heights, this was one of the worst ideas in the history of the world!

But I was determined not to stop until we made it all the way.  So, we kept driving…mile by snowy mile.  The temperature dropped 25 degrees along the ascent.  When we finally made it, I had to unpack my winter gear from my suitcase so I could walk around.  Unfortunately, my wife got altitude sickness and was forced to remain in the car, so I explored the summit alone.  The wind was unbelievably strong, and I thought for sure they were going to close the road.  But it didn’t matter, because we had made it.

The trek down didn’t take nearly as long, as my wife channeled her inner Mario Andretti, and we raced down the road taking switchbacks on two wheels.  All-in-all, we spent about two and half hours on the mountain.  We headed to Manitou Springs for lunch, stopping at Marilyn’s Pizza for a couple of greasy, gigantic slices of pizza.  While there, we chatted with the teenagers working in the restaurant.  One of them was telling us that the population of Colorado had increased dramatically over the last couple of years.  The rise in people was due to the legalization of marijuana.  Ironically, the crime rate in Colorado was on the decline during that same period.  When my wife inquired as to why, one of the guys replied, “I guess it’s because everyone is chillin’ now.”  I guess that makes sense.

After that, we headed back to Denver to meet J, R, and E for dinner at 3 Margaritas.  It was a nice evening of visiting, reminiscing, and enjoying our friends…topped by a tour of R and E’s new house.