2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO

While visiting Colorado, the drive up to the summit of Pikes Peak is an experience that you must not miss.  The drive up Pikes Peak Highway starts just off of US highway 24 (N38° 53.805 W104° 58.279) at an elevation of approximately 7,322 feet above sea level.  The drive is exactly 20.2 miles each direction, with a total ascent of 6,788 feet, topping out at 14,110 feet above sea level.  With 40% less oxygen at the summit than down at the base, it is a harsh environment and the average person, on foot, will never be closer to outerspace.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

  

2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Heading up the Pikes Peak Highway Heading up the Pikes Peak Highway	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Drving the Pikes Peak Highway Drving the Pikes Peak Highway	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Headed up the mountain Headed up the mountain
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Caution, Bigfoot Crossing Caution, Bigfoot Crossing	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO A view of the summit A view of the summit	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO A view of the alpine and subalpine zones, note the snow on the mountain side A view of the alpine and subalpine zones, note the snow on the mountain side
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Looking down, approximately half way to the summit Looking down, approximately half way to the summit	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO A mountain view from Pikes Peak Highway A mountain view from Pikes Peak Highway	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO A view of the alpine and subalpine zones A view of the alpine and subalpine zones
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Passing through the subalpine zone headed towards the alpine zone Passing through the subalpine zone headed towards the alpine zone	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Driving through the subalpine zone looking up Driving through the subalpine zone looking up	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO A creek coming down from the alpine zone A creek coming down from the alpine zone
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Looking up the creek bed towards the alpine zone Looking up the creek bed towards the alpine zone	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO A switchback along the highway A switchback along the highway	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Driving through the alpine zone Driving through the alpine zone
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Driving through the alpine zone Driving through the alpine zone	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Driving through the alpine zone Driving through the alpine zone	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Looking down from the alpine zone Looking down from the alpine zone
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Looking down from the alpine zone Looking down from the alpine zone	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Looking down from the alpine zone Looking down from the alpine zone	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Arriving at the summit Arriving at the summit
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Bart at the original Pikes Peak Summit sign Bart at the original Pikes Peak Summit sign	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Bart at the Pikes Peak Summit tourist photo sign Bart at the Pikes Peak Summit tourist photo sign	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Bart at the new Pikes Peak Monument Bart at the new Pikes Peak Monument
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO Elevation profile of the drive to Pikes Peak summit Elevation profile of the drive to Pikes Peak summit