Sunrise on Pikes Peak: Pretty, Unpleasant

Editor

This morning, I woke up at ten minutes to four to hop a bus with the other media folks to Pikes Peak. The trip from the hotel to the 12,000 foot summit took about an hour and a half, and it was dark as we wound along the 12 miles to the top. At times the big van struggled with the grade, but we arrived just as the sun was beginning to rise. The Hill Climb wasn’t due to start for hours, and after the van left, we were on our own. Now, this is the only event that I’ve been to where the press material includes descriptions of hypothermia, heat stroke and altitude-sickness, so you can imagine that the wait wasn’t particularly pleasant. In addition to the temperature—it was a brisk 34—and the thin air, the area is just loaded with bees, which seemed to throughly enjoy buzzing around everyone. I didn’t even think bees could survive when it’s that chilly out. Bonus fact? I’m allergic to bees. But the scenery was unquestionably gorgeous. After all, this is the very spot that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful," which I personally think should replace the too-hard-to-sing Star Spangled Banner as our national anthem. Check out more pics from the summit after the jump.

Sunrise on Pikes Peak

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Posted at 3:29 am in John Coyle, Nature, Pikes Peak Hill Climb 2008

Comments

Tommy Boy
Jul 23, 2008 at 3:45 pm

actually the summit is over 14,000 feet. 14,110 to be exact.

Chris
Jul 21, 2008 at 8:53 pm

is it me or does it look like you can actually see the air pollution?

kap0w
Jul 21, 2008 at 4:54 pm

Stay warm and anaphylactic shock free John. I have to admit that when you guys have to suffer to cover an event like this, it makes me secretly happy… screw you for having all the fun – now you’ve gotta suffer!

Alex Henderson
Jul 21, 2008 at 3:41 pm

*Bonus Fact* I have really enjoyed seeing how well this blog has evolved into the great source of coverage it is today.

Kirk
Jul 21, 2008 at 5:27 am

Thanks for all the great coverage. I live in Colorado Springs and wanted so badly to make it to the PPIHC this year, but couldn’t get there. Your coverage and photos have been an excellent vicarious experience. That Peugeot film was hair-raising. Get plenty of oxygen and stay away from the bees.

Jim
Jul 21, 2008 at 5:01 am

Mr. Coyle, welcome to Colorado, where the weather is as fickle as it pleases on any given day. We have had snow in june and record-breaking highs in the dead of winter. Yes, the bees here are very, very hardy and yes, the Peak is cold. It looks like you had fun, however- thanks for the coverage, it helps to keep the greenpeace-types from ruining yet another piece of motorsports history!

Gary Faules
Jul 21, 2008 at 4:13 am

John,

I watched a news broadcast today that was about how many people dream of being at the finish line of Pikes Peak and they also talked about the fact that the only one day of the year when anyone can camp out on Pikes Peak was the night before the race. Only 200 are allowed and they come from all over the world to do it. Must have been pretty cool and glad to see you on top of things. (Puns intended.)