Wilderness Adventure - Day 2
Today’s entry will be a little longer, and hopefully a little more interesting than yesterday’s (unless you were a big fan of the Alan shot), for the simple reason that we weren’t simply driving in a car all day. We actually got out, saw some stuff, and did some things today.
Started off, well, slowly, as it took both of us a while to get up and running. Did I mention yesterday that this hotel room has a bit of a funky smell? I didn’t? Well, I’m mentioning it now. Like many hotel rooms, it has a particular odor that fortunately blends into the background within a few minutes… but when you first walk in? Whew.
After getting on the road, we set out on our agenda for the day… Pike’s Peak, and then Garden of the Gods. A little background on Pike’s Peak. It’s 14,110 feet tall, had been climbed numerous times by Ute Indians prior to Americans arriving on the scene, and is inexplicably named for Zebulon Pike, who failed to reach the summit in 1806. The fact that it was named for a man who failed to ever reach the top struck Alan as very â??Simpsons-ishâ? and he declared â??Climbing Pike’s Peak embiggens every man.â? If you don’t get it, just Google Simpsons and embiggens. You’ll come up with something, I’m sure.
There are several reservoirs on the way up, and the scenery is pretty damn nice. Judge for yourself.
Despite implied promises, we never did have an encounter with Sasquatch. 
The road that went all the way to the summit was close (due to inclement weather and significant snow) but we did get a little over 13,000 feet up, and then proceeded to act like idiots, and climb up another 6 or 700 feet to the highest peak we could get to, even by foot. We were definitely still below the very top, but not by more than 2 or 300 feet. Pics from the Peak…
At the very top, we met a couple from South Africa making a â??Snow Elephantâ? and some guy who must have been bionic, as he did not seem to be affected by either the cold or the thin air… both of which were affecting me.
After heading down, and from all we could see looking back up the mountain… missing a pretty impressive storm, we headed to Garden of the Gods, which is a City Park in Colorado Springs, completely free. Some truly amazing rock formations. It was getting late, and the aforementioned storm was moving in, but I did manage to get a few shots from the Visitor’s Center. I think we’re going to try again in the morning.
Well, certainly after today, I don’t know how often I’ll have an internet connection, but I’ll keep writing, one way or another, and they’ll get posted when they get posted.
Kayley: Did you say Utes?
Matt: Yeah, two Utes.
Kayley: What is a Ute?
You know… like, small children.
As in:
My friends and I were very foolish when we were Utes, we are much wiser (and more learned) now.