Sep 3: A quick return to Chama, NM - 1

I had unfinished business down in Chama, so set off from Denver early to Manitou Springs to ride the 10:00 cog train to the 14,115-ft summit of Pikes Peak. Considering that NZ's highest mountain, Aorangi Mt Cook, is 'only' 12,200 ft asl, one does find oneself a smidge breathless up there. When I was flying, you NEVER went above 10,000 ft unless your aircraft was pressurised or you had a supplemental oxygen supply.

Now, the mountaineers who scaled Mt Cook, only had to ascend around 9,700 ft, since The Hermitage Hotel is already at 2,460 ft. Regarding the ascent of Pikes Peak, Denver is at 5,280 ft (not for nothing is it known as The Mile-High City), Colorado Springs, to the south, is at 6,033 ft, and the lower terminus of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Manitou Springs is at 6,571 ft. So the train 'only' takes you up 7,544 ft to get to 14,115 ft. Believe me, though, you're a bit breathless even walking from the carpark to the terminus!

Because the Front Range landforms around Pikes Peak are themselves at such an elevation, you're not really aware by visual observation of the great height to which you're ascending. And because the 'lowest' location you can see from the summit is Colorado Springs (6,033 ft), once again, the perception of your own elevation is reduced. Pity the hazy atmosphere on the day, as we're told that when it's clear (is it ever?) you can see wind generators on the Kansas state border (with binoculars), which is about 163 miles away! There is great info and images here;
https://www.cograilway.com/about-us/cog-history/
and here;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikes_Peak_Cog_Ra…

From Manitou Springs, I headed down to Pueblo and a wee village called Walsenburg, where I turned up into the Front Range to North La Veta Pass (9,413 ft) and down into Alamosa (7,543 ft). From there, it was down (on the map, not in elevation!) across flat country to Antonito (7,888 ft) and once more across La Manga Pass (10,230 ft) and almost immediately, Cumbres Pass (10,022 ft) and into Chama (7,825 ft) for the night. A breathless 12-hr day, with about 7 hrs driving.Read more