Pikes Peak

Jeremy's office participates in Labor of Love every Labor Day where they perform free dental work.  Since that means we'll never be out of town on Labor Day weekend, I decided to talk my family into something a little closer to home, Pikes Peak.  We have lived here eight years and haven't done this mountain yet and I figured it was about time.  As we drove up the mountain the weather started changing.  By the time we arrived at the top it was so foggy that we couldn't see off the peak at all.  It was also cold (no surprise there).  It had snowed the day before so there was some fresh white stuff still on the peak, but my kids weren't quite ready for the cold weather to return.  

Do you like the snowman balancing on McKenzie's head?

Jeremy was trying to introduce McKenzie to the skill of embracing the cold, accepting it, and not letting it make you shiver.  

We took some pictures with the other three kids quickly before they went and hid back in the car.  

McKenzie stayed out and went exploring with us for a bit.  

We found the old cog railway track.  They discontinued the cog railway this spring, which is too bad because I know one little two year old who would have enjoyed that.  

We also found a plaque to commemorate Zebulon Pike (if it looks like it's starting to slide off the mountain, it is.  There's construction up there now for a new visitor's center.)  

As we walked the fog started to clear and we were able to see out across the valley.  It was just so pretty.  

We drove down the mountain a little bit then encouraged the kids to get out and climb around a bit.  It was still cold, but they had accepted the fact that it wasn't summer up here at 14,000 feet and were willing to play.  

I wish we didn't have to make it back down the mountain and back home, because it would have been fun to linger a bit and do some hiking.  Maybe next time...in another eight years ;)