Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO
7/6/09
I would have loved to climb this peak. Even if I died in the process, it'd be the equivilent of dying on Mt Everest. Although the trail to the top is only 12 miles long, it has over 7000 feet of elevation change. The highest mountain in NYS is 5300 feet, and even then the elevation change is only half that. Thus I was woefully unprepared for such a challenge on foot, and had to resort to using the road.
It did have a hidden bonus; 45min after I got on the summit a storm rolled in and took away the views. So if I had gone on foot, I would have hiked into a storm at 14000 feet (complete with snow, strong winds, and freezing rain). While I can't say I climbed it, I can say I stood on the summit.
As before, more HDR pictures uploaded.
