Manitou & Pike's Peak Railway
515 Ruxton Ave. Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Ken is in line to pick up our will call tickets to take the Cog railway train to Pikes Peak.
Standing in line even though we have assigned seats on the train. This will be a 3 hour and 10 minute trip over 8.9 miles of track.
Standing in line even though we have assigned seats on the train. This will be a 3 hour and 10 minute trip over 8.9 miles of track. 
We are here the weekend of the best viewing time of the full fall colors of the bright yellow Aspen trees. I'm happy to see all the beauty of the mountains that is so brilliant.
The first third of the trip is along Ruxton Creek in Englemann Canyon. There are several steep tracks that follow a cascading stream.
The next beautiful sightings we saw were several small waterfalls. 
The next scene we see on the train is the lush forest of pine trees. This area is called the timberline view.
As we were nearing the top of the mountain, we were going up so high on the mountain that the trees stop growing. They cannot get enough moisture because just under the surface there is a permafrost where the ground remains frozen the year round. The only thing that will grow in this area is the Alpine tundra, which is a mixture of mosses, grasses, and a few wildflowers.
Once above the timberline view, we saw bighorn sheep and a yellow-bellied marmot.
The train was parked at the top of the mountain, we have finally reached Pikes Peak. We were all given instructions about how much time we had and when we had better be back on the train or we would be left and it would be a long walk back down that mountain. We would get a sign where the train crew will blow a long blast on the horn 10 minutes before the train leaves.
Tring to stand firm as the wind was pushing us around.
The view was so spectacular.
I didn't get as close to the edge as Marlon did sorta made me feel off balance with trying to breathe in as much oxygen as I could. I felt like it was hard to breathe up so high.
I saw the stopping braces for the train if the brakes fail. Wow, that doesn't look like it would stop a big train full of people.
It's time to go inside as my hands are very cold and I would like to get a hot beverage. I saw a sign above the entry door to the building that talked about famous doughnuts made only at Summit on Pikes Peak. Looks like doughnuts and hot coffee will be what I'm going to get.
Loved the t-shirts for the making it to the top of Pikes Peak.
Candy looks pretty happy to see another bighorn sheep.
On the train and heading back down the mountain. I saw a truck coming down the mountain. I would not want to drive up this mountain as the road has no guard rails and is very twisty.
Thank you Ken and Candy for showing us around your area of Colorado. You guys really made this trip so special for all of us.
The next scene we see on the train is the lush forest of pine trees. This area is called the timberline view.
Some of the rides up the mountain was a little scary. I could see out the window up front and watch as we climbed higher and higher. The train track looked like the track was ending and we were going to fall off the mountain.
As we were nearing the top of the mountain, we were going up so high on the mountain that the trees stop growing. They cannot get enough moisture because just under the surface there is a permafrost where the ground remains frozen the year round. The only thing that will grow in this area is the Alpine tundra, which is a mixture of mosses, grasses, and a few wildflowers. 
The train was parked at the top of the mountain, we have finally reached Pikes Peak. We were all given instructions about how much time we had and when we had better be back on the train or we would be left and it would be a long walk back down that mountain. We would get a sign where the train crew will blow a long blast on the horn 10 minutes before the train leaves.
Our famous picture to show we made it to the top without getting any altitude sickness. Most people after about 30 start to get a nausea feeling or a headache.
It was very windy and VERY COLD. Glad we were all dressed for the adventure :-)
Tring to stand firm as the wind was pushing us around.
I didn't get as close to the edge as Marlon did sorta made me feel off balance with trying to breathe in as much oxygen as I could. I felt like it was hard to breathe up so high. 
It's time to go inside as my hands are very cold and I would like to get a hot beverage. I saw a sign above the entry door to the building that talked about famous doughnuts made only at Summit on Pikes Peak. Looks like doughnuts and hot coffee will be what I'm going to get.
The highest-made doughnuts in the country have been cooked up here for over a century. Chefs employ a recipe that only works in the thin air of high altitude, and like Colonel Sanders, they add secret ingredients that even Edward Snowden can’t reveal. Served fresh from the fryer, these shiny cake delicacies come light and flaky with a soft, steamy interior. Marlon bought me a mug full of hot coffee and one of the famous doughnuts. He also bought a bag of doughnuts so everyone could sample these great tasting doughnuts.
Thank you Ken and Candy for showing us around your area of Colorado. You guys really made this trip so special for all of us.
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