24.07.29 Colorado Springs- Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, Big Foot & Manitou Cliff Dwellings

 2024.07.29   KOA Holiday-Colorado Springs- Our site was ok but the amenities needed cleaning and updating. We didn't use any of them.

 

2024.07.30  Pikes Peak

Reservations are required to drive your personal vehicle to the summit from May 26 – September 30.

Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. The ultra-prominent 14,115-foot mountain is located in Pike National Forest. It's the 39th highest peak in the USA. 

Exploration: In 1806, Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike was sent on an expedition to explore the new Louisiana Purchase territory, including Pikes Peak, which he named "The Great Peak". Pike and some of his men attempted to climb the mountain in November 1806, but turned back due to heavy snow. Pike swore this mountain would never be climbed by man.

 In 1820, botanist Edwin James became the first person to reach the summit, and American explorer Stephen Harriman Long named the mountain "James Peak" in his honor. The mountain was later renamed "Pike's Peak" in 1890 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

Tourism: In 1915, the Pikes Peak Highway was built to promote tourism in the area, and the first Pikes Peak Hill Climb Race took place shortly after. The famous race, known as "The Race to the Clouds", is challenging due to the road and changing weather conditions. 

By the mid-20th century Pikes Peak had been conquered by tourists from all over the world – by car, motorcycle, bicycle, train, mule, horse, and on foot. The spectacular view from the summit inspired Katherine Lee Bates to compose the famous lyrics to America the Beautiful in 1893.

Today, Pikes Peak is one of the most visited mountains in the United States and has modern facilities for tourists, including a road and cog railway to the summit.

Colorado Springs by nature is a very arid area and rely on the mountain lakes on Pike's Peak for their water supply.  There's limited uses that are allowed in these lakes like kayaking and fishing. 

The remains of Pikes Peak's first Summit House. Built in 1882, this building was first used as a weather station. Hardy signalmen lived here year-round, tracking the summit's weather conditions. When the signal station closed in 1888, this building became the peak's first summit house, catering to the mountain's many climbers. Visitors could enjoy a hot meal, buy souvenirs, and telegraph friends and family about their trip to the peak. Today, the entire summit above 14,000 feet is a National Historic Landmark.

The temperature is 30° cooler than at the base and very windy!

This is a section of the cog railway for the trains from Manitou Springs.

We had the cinnamon Sugar Donuts!

One of the most-visited mountaintops anywhere in the world is also home of world-famous delicious donuts, the only ones in the world made above 14,000 feet. Because they’re made specifically at this altitude, if you try saving them for after you leave the summit, you’ll be very disappointed by donuts that have lost their fluff. Donut aficionados will be pleased to know that the doughnut-making machine did make its way into the new building. But at 1,500 pounds, it was so large it had to be brought in before the doors were framed.

We had to stop so Al could climb this rock. He was blocked from going all the way to the top.

We stopped for a picnic lunch on the way back down the mountain.

Heart Rock

One of the more well-known sightings of Bigfoot on Pikes Peak were witnessed by an 11 year old boy and his 9 year old brother. The boys said they spotted the creature moving swiftly through some tall grass. The bigfoot creature, upon realizing it had been spotted, took off in the opposite direction of the children. Interestingly enough, the bigfoot never tried to threaten, harm, or consume the children as a snack.

Bigfoot or Sasquatch?

In North America, Sasquatch and Bigfoot are used interchangeably. The name Bigfoot originated in 1958. According to the History Channel, a reporter from Eureka, California published an article about loggers discovering enormous, 16-inch human-like footprints they attributed to a large, mysterious creature they believed was causing all sorts of mischief on-site. The reporter compared the mystery to the lore of the Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas.

The name Sasquatch originates from the Halq’eméylem word sásq’ets. Halq’eméylem is the language of the First Nations peoples of the Pacific Northwest (present-day British Columbia and northern Washington State). The word supposedly means “hairy man.”

A Legend Is Born

The tale of a giant, hairy man-like creature roaming the landscape is much older than the grainy VHS clips that were so popular in the 1980s. Sightings are also a global phenomenon. Notable outlets like the BBC have spent a significant amount of time delving into the lore across the pond and sharing somewhat credible stories about alleged encounters with Bigfoot. Wikipedia even reports that Bigfoot images have been painted on the walls and ruins where early indigenous peoples once lived. It seems that wherever humans live, there’s always a hairy mystery monster dwelling nearby in the shadows. Bigfoot is a big deal — always has been, always will be.

Where to Find Sasquatch

In North America, Sasquatch likes to hang out in the PNW (Pacific Northwest). Cool temps, lots of water and, most importantly, lots of trees! The ‘Squatch is definitely more of a cold weather cryptid. It makes sense a creature rocking a massive pelt might prefer avoiding prolonged exposure to heat. Sasquatch reports aren’t restricted to Canada, Washington, Oregon and California, however. Maine also has a lot of reports, as do many portions of the northern United States spanning coast to coast. That includes Colorado, if you’re wondering.

Across the world, you can find Yetis, Sasquatch’s stark white cousins, living it up (literally) in the Himalayas. A Yeti can also be referred to as the Abominable Snowman. Like Sasquatch, the latter name is more casual. It is a lot scarier than Bigfoot, though.

Yeti sightings occur on the Asian continent in the Himalayan mountains. Yetis seem to have fewer sightings than Sasquatch. We suspect that’s because they blend in better with their environment and because most humans don’t want to live where they can barely breathe.

Famous Southern Colorado Bigfoot Sightings

You can find a lot of websites dedicated to cataloging Bigfoot sightings in every possible location. Yes, most of the sites look like they were designed in 1998. However, they offer a wealth of data, including who saw the cryptid and under what circumstances. Here are a few notable “Class A” sightings recorded by the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization:

Teller County Bigfoot Sightings

In 1977, hikers reported seeing the creature west of Pikes Peak. Since this is designated a Class A sighting, it means the hikers were able to see the creature clearly and identify it as an unknown animal.

In 1981, the BFRO reports that a miner saw the creature while working the late shift.

In one of the most credible Teller County reports, a hunting guide saw the cryptid in Pike National Forest in 1998.

El Paso County Bigfoot Sightings

Bigfoot has even deigned to descend to our lower, more populated elevation over the years. In fact, El Paso Country beats Teller County’s Class A sightings 6-5. It’s not much of a lead, but it counts. The BFRO reports a number of sightings around Fort Carson in particular.

1986 — Bigfoot was sighted during a nighttime Marine training exercise near Fort Carson. This was likely near the training site located along Highway 115 which means a stray ‘Squatch may have wandered along the Arkansas River and gotten off course.

Lest you think these reports are the result of soldierly pranks, a trucker reported a Bigfoot sighting in 1999 near Fort Carson. Like the training exercise, BFRO notes the sighting was at night.

In 2001, BFRO has cataloged a sighting by a tourist on Pikes Peak. Looks like those Bigfoot crossing signs are posted on the Pikes Peak Highway for a reason!

Of the 16 sightings reported across the Pikes Peak region, a whopping 11 have been deemed as very credible, which means this area commands 10% of the Colorado sighting reports. Not too shabby!

Celebrate Sasquatch Day

National Sasquatch Awareness Day is on October 20, 2024. The day celebrates the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film, which was captured on October 20, 1967.

RESOURCES

A Google Search of Bigfoot and Sasquatch delivered numerous sights to explore. Here are a couple that I looked at.

Big Foot Field Researchers Organization

PBS-Uncovering the Enigma: Sasquatch Sightings

YouTube also has some short videos dedicated to sightings. I didn't find anything credible enough to post here but you might! Go ahead and take a look! It kind of sucked me in to the research.

 

We just had to stop for The North Pole and Santa!

My Video Below!

RESOURCES:

Pike's Peak Visitor Center

COG Railway- Pike's Peak

Colorado Springs

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 Manitou Cliff Dwellings  

THE MANITOU CLIFF DWELLINGS ARE COMPRISED OF ANCESTRAL PUEBLOAN RUINS THAT DATE BACK 800 TO 1000 YEARS OLD.

The 40 room site was originally located near McElmo Canyon, which is in the southwest corner of Colorado. The process of relocating these cliff dwellings began in 1904 and was completed in 1907 when the preserve was opened to the public. Virginia McClurg, the original founder of the Colorado Cliff Dwellers Association, hired William Crosby and the Manitou Cliff Dwellings Ruins Company to begin this process. They wanted to preserve and protect the Ancestral Puebloan architecture from looters and relic pot-hunters.

Over a several year period, the stones were collected, packaged, and finally moved by oxen to Dolores, Colorado. There, they were loaded and shipped by railroad to Colorado Springs, and finally brought to Cliff Canyon by horse and wagon.  Crosby’s men then faithfully reassembled the dwellings in dimension and appearance to those in the four corners region, instead they used a concrete mortar in 1907 as opposed to the adobe mud/clay mortar the cliff dwellers used.  This preservation process allows individuals to walk inside and tour through our dwellings. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings is a preserve of these ancient dwellings, here to protect them for future generations to visit.

My Video Below

Below is a video from YouTube with more information you might enjoy.

 

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2024.07.31  Garden of the Gods 

The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado has a history that dates back millions of years and includes many different groups of people who have visited and used the area:

Prehistoric people: Archaeological evidence shows that people visited the area around 1330 BC.

Native Americans: Many tribes, including the Apache, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, Lakota, Pawnee, Shoshone, and Ute, camped in the area around 250 BC, likely attracted by the wildlife and plant life. Local stories say that the tribes considered the area sacred and would lay down their weapons when entering.

Many explorers and fur trappers visited the area and in the 1700s, and one Frenchman named Wll. Ketner carved his name and the year "1731" into a rock in the park.

Captain Zebulon Pike led the first American expedition to the area in 1806.

Surveyors M. S. Beach and Rufus Cable: In 1859, these surveyors were exploring the area while looking for a place to start a townsite called Colorado City. Beach suggested the area would be a good place for a German beer garden, but Cable exclaimed that it would be "fit for the Gods to assemble" and named it the Garden of the Gods.

Charles Elliott Perkins: In 1909, Perkins donated the land to the city of Colorado Springs with the condition that it would remain a free public park forever.

We did a Trolley Tour and our guide was excellent. Wild Bill was an excellent narrator. He pointed out everything in the Garden of the Gods park as well as that Cheyenne Mountain has a mile deep tunnel inside and was used by NORAD up until NORAD was moved 6 miles from there. Now the tunnel and cave is used by Space Force.

 

Balanced Rock

Owners of the Garden of the Gods Trading Post Terry Haas and Tim Haas, Sr.  I wonder if they are shirt tail relatives since my Grandma Hornung was a Haas?

These are displays of wildlife in this region.

He mentioned that many weddings take place at the arch. He has seen a lingerie wedding

And a furry wedding.

 

He said if you see a squirrel and stop to take a photo, then everyone must stop to take the photo.

My video of the Garden of the Gods. We didn't do any hiking here. It was very hot and we were at a point of wanting to come home...so we did the Trolley Tour instead.

My Video Below

The video below is from YouTube. There is lots of information (and better video) on it if you're interested.

 And...here is another if you're still interested...

Our guide pointed out the Cheyenne Mountain where NORAD is:

If you google search NORAD and then click on 'Images" you will see the entrance and tunnels inside.

NORAD

At the height of the Cold War in the late 1950s, the idea of a hardened command and control center was conceptualized as a defense against long-range Soviet bombers. The Army Corps of Engineers supervised the excavation of Cheyenne Mountain and the construction of an operational center within the granite mountain.  The Cheyenne Mountain facility became fully operational as the NORAD Combat Operations Center on April 20, 1966.

https://thememoryhole2.org/blog/inside-norad

 Every day of the year, NORAD defends North America using an all-domain and globally integrated approach to track everything that flies in and around Canada and the United States. On Dec. 24, NORAD adds a special mission: tracking Santa.

 Like many origin stories, NORAD’s mission to track Santa began by accident. In 1955 a young child, trying to reach Santa, dialed the misprinted phone number from a department store ad in the local newspaper. Instead of calling Santa, the child called the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. 

 Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the commander on duty that night who answered the child’s phone call, was quick to realize a mistake had been made and assured the child he was Santa. After more incoming calls, Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls and a tradition was born, that continued when NORAD was formed in 1958. 

 Each year since, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions of children and families across the world. Because of the support, services and resources generously provided by volunteers and our government and corporate contributors, NORAD Tracks Santa has persevered for more than 65 years. 

 In fact, what started because of a typo has flourished and is recognized as one of the Department of Defense's largest community outreach programs.

 Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa Web Site receives several million unique visitors from more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Volunteers typically answer more than 130,000 calls to the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline from children across the globe.

Norad moved to the East in the plains of Colorado Springs and Cheyenne Mountain now houses Space Force.

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 At Garden of the Gods we ate bison burgers and I bought a Turquoise Leaf ring for $65 and African Turquoise dangle earrings for $70.

...Oh YES...they were delicious!

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Al did one last hike on this trip to Palmer Tail in Bear Creek Canón. See his video below. He saw 2 bears and a mule deer!

I was pretty excited to see a bear and a mule deer on the way to the trailhead.

Then I came across a new hiking buddy!  Fortunately he had no interest in me and just sauntered off.

There was a nice view of the Garden of the Gods at this spot.

The trail was steep and rocky, I was surprised to come across several mountain bikers on this trail!  The first part of the trail was difficult because of the vertical change but it leveled off after the first few miles.

The views here are spectacular.

Time to go home...

24.08.02 We left Colorado Springs to go home after our 10 month adventure.

We were going to boondock our way home but it was just too hot and we needed hookups so we stayed a night in Kearney, Nebraska at a nice little campground called Kearney RV Park. Ironically enough, we crossed a river called The Republican River that Starts in Colorado and is 450 miles long!

24.08.03 We left Kearney early in the morning and stayed a night at Griff's Valley View RV Park in Altoona Iowa. I LOVED this little park on a farm! The sites were huge! Seriously, they were big enough that another camper could fit between each site. The common areas were new and beautiful. I'd stay here and relax a while next time we pass through.

24.08.04 After a few long days, we arrived home on Sunday afternoon. We made it back in time for Cashton's 12th Birthday! YAY!!!