In the Colorado mountains

The Days Inn at Pueblo was fine. The room was clean and quiet. They offered a typical hotel continental breakfast of cold cereal and waffles. We grabbed some toast and peanut butter and got on the road around 7 AM. Rather than taking I-25 north to Denver, we decided to stay on US 50.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Our first stop was at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Mary had been there as a teenager and thought it was a stop we would enjoy. This land was donated to the city in 1909 with the provision that it become a park that is free for all visitors and that no intoxicating beverages shall be manufactured, sold or dispensed. We drove around the loop, stopping to take photos of some of the many views, especially of balanced rock. After the drive, we circled back to walk through the central garden where interpretative signs explain the geology of the area. The red sandstone features were pretty in the early morning light. We saw one mule deer grazing near the walking path that appeared to be very accustomed to tourists.

Steve & Mary at Pikes Peak Summit

On the short drive to Pike’s Peak, we saw hot air balloons taking off and got gas for $3.99, about as cheap as it comes in the west. We saw gas in the area for as much as $4.39.

We had to reserve an entrance time and pay the fee for Pikes Peak to control the number of vehicles at the summit parking area. Pikes Peak is operated by the city of Colorado Springs. The entrance fee is $15 per person plus a $2 parking fee at the summit. Our scheduled time slot was between 8-10 AM, and we arrived shortly after 9:00. A pleasant employee met us at the entrance telling us to stop at the checkpoint about halfway up the mountain to assess drivers’ ability to continue to the summit’s 14,115-foot elevation. He also informed us that there is a brake checkpoint on the way down the mountain where the temperature of brakes would be checked. On this day, neither checkpoint was open when we passed.

At the Summit Visitor Center

On the drive up the mountain, we saw a yellow-bellied marmot and two eagles over the Crystal River Reservoir. It was stressful driving up and down the mountain as there were no guardrails on the edge of the narrow, winding road.

The view from the top was hazy, and it was very cold and windy. The guides and online reviews all recommended the donuts at the top of the mountain, but we found them to be so-so cake donuts. We later saw that Pike’s Peak is on the list of over-rated attractions, and we would concur. We were glad that we went today, but it isn’t a place that we would revisit.

Petrified Tree Stump

Once down the mountain, we peanut butter and Ritz crackers for lunch as we drove west on US 50/24. At the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, we purchased an Interagency Senior Annual National Park pass for $20. We walked through the visitor’s center, got Mary’s passport stamp, and then walked the Ponderosa and Petrified Forest loops. The fossils at the park are huge, petrified ponderosa pine tree trunks that surrounded a lake 37 million years ago. Many pieces of the petrified trees were scavenged by early 20th century travelers. Some are now under canopies; many are in the open. We saw an Albert’s squirrel and gopher as we walked.

Leadville, Colorado

Leaving the monument, we took US 50 to Leadville, Colorado, one of three highest incorporated cities in the United States. We learned that the town was formed as Oro City following the discovery of placer gold in 1860. Prospectors reported being hampered by a heavy dark sand in the stream that impeded the collection of gold. Later prospectors learned that this sand is an ore of silver and lead. After the gold played out, the city was renamed Leadville where silver and lead mining continued. Having a population of 15,000, it was the world’s largest silver mining camp by 1870. Later the area was mined for zinc, molybdenum and other minerals. We walked along Harrison Street, looking at historic architecture and learning about Horace Tabor, who owned many of the mine claims and was the town’s wealthiest citizen.

On leaving Leadville, we connected with I-70 in Avon, Colorado, and enjoyed the sights of the road down the mountain to Glenwood Canyon. This has always been one of our favorite stretches of road. The narrow canyon requires several tunnels as well as stacking lanes of I-70 through narrow gaps.

We stopped at Arby’s in Glenwood Springs. Steve had a turkey gyro, and Mary had a homestyle turkey bacon sandwich without the ranch dressing. We were happy to stop for a rest and the meal. We arrived at the Grand Junction Super 8 at 8:30. Many hotels were full of weekend travelers, but the large room was clean and quiet.