East Portal and Monarch Pass were good practice for today's drive up (and down) Pike's Peak.
It is hard to believe there's a road to the top of this mountain. This view is 5,000 feet below the summit.
From mile six to the top this is the shape of the road.
Above treeline at about 11,000 feet we could see forever.
It takes serious equipment to keep a high altitude road open. The auger on this plow is almost Carl's height.
We made it! The summit is at 14,115 feet. Sunny, 10 degrees with wind chill.
Snow capped Rockies lined the horizon to the northwest.
More vistas.
The long, steep downhill can really cook brakes. There is a check station after the first, steepest 3,000 feet down. They check your brake temperature with a digital laser thermometer. The sign says 300 degrees max, else you have to park until they cool off. We were fine but we say lots of vehicles sent to the parking lot.
Carl asked the guy what was the highest temperature he saw today. An astonishing 534 degrees! (brake fluid boils at 480).
A novel experience but the altitude was hard on us.
Love,
Sandy & Carl
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
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