Once can reach the parking lot at the summit, which lies at 14,420 feet or a bit over 4340 meters above sea level. A fair altitude yoCou might say, but less than three hours away by Ural, there's also the road up Pikes Peak: America's Mountain.
You can drive all the way to the summit of Pikes Peak as well, and I've done so with all my motorcycles over the years.
Conditions were very crowded at Mount Evans, I attributed it to it's recent opening for the season and the fact there'd been a foot race on the mountain that morning; the race had closed the road to motored traffic until 11AM.
Got there at 12:30 after a 10AM departure from home. Once I got clear of the usual congestation at the fee station, it wasn't too bad in terms of crowds and cagers. Note: If you tell the attendant you're just going up to the summit and back down without "stopping", you don't have to pay the entrance fee. It's a Colorado Highway you see; now if you park at the summit or use any of the fee areas, then yes you have to pay.
I turned around just short of the summit (been there before many times) as I could see if was just jammed with cagers and crowds. Here's the pictures I took as Scarlett and I made our way back down, usually stopping at the apex of the several hairpin turns.
Approaching Summit Lake
Summit Lake
12 comments:
What.A.View. I want to ride up there one fine day. And gladly pay the fee. It does make sense to me in order to maintain and conserve this scenic beauty.
As a tourist, it would be only fair for you to pay the fee....as a citizen of Colorado, not so much for me as taxes already are used to maintain this road....since it's a Colorado highway.
Great images and a fun ride! Oh, a national parks pass will also get you in without the fee!
Thanks Motoventures, a national Pass will be one of the things I get once I retire....the question right now is when.
Beautiful photos! And the snow is looking especially nice to me right now...
It was in the 50s at altitude RichardM, Fiona's missing FD mounting stud has been replaced so she's Fully Mission Capable (FMC) again!
Such a pretty view from up there. I feel like a broken record, but gorgeous photos Dom.
Thanks Trobairitz....though I have had recurring thoughts that shots of nearby destinations like Pikes Peak and Mount Evans are indeed becoming a "broken record" from me.
There's only so many safe spots to pose one's rig....I try for new angles but usually end up with more of same.
Here's the stats I collected for a posting I never published:
Pikes Peak: 11 times
Mount Evans: 13 times
Loveland Pass: 23 times
Berthoud Pass: 10 times
Trail Ridge Road in the Rocky Mountain National Park: 11 times
You see what I mean?
Note, landscape shots, I find for the most part, sterile and boring without a foreground object to frame them....people for instance. I get the impression my rigs are becoming commonplace and boring.
what to do? not sure.
I find a stone to take back for under the firepit. They look especially good wet.
Definitely not broken record 'from' you; maybe 'for' you? Get a pet or bobblehead. Some kind of "totem".
Felt weird to go ride on FDay but seeing stuff like this makes makes it more normal.
Thanks Chris Spy, for your comments.
Totem eh? I've met riders with such items lashed to their motorcycle...sometimes a good luck charm, sometimes because they were "gifted" it by someone else (WTF Chuck comes to mind).
Love the pic with the peaks in the back. Great texture. Also he Summit Lake photo is great.
Thanks BeemerGirl
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