The myth of Pikes Peak: It’s not only the race that fascinates
Groundhogs come out every day
Motor sports fans from across the world look excitedly towards Colorado: Volkswagen is gunning for a new best time at the legendary Pikes Peak hill climb (International Hill Climb, Sunday 24 June 2018). The I.D. R Pikes Peak and its driver, the three-time Pikes Peak champion Romain Dumas, are ready. The challenging route with 156 bends rises from 2,862 metres to 4,300 metres. The record chaser won’t have much time to take in the natural beauty of the mountainous landscape. Reason enough to take a drive along the Pikes Peak Highway and take a look at the flora and fauna as well as the special climate conditions.
It should be stressed to anyone who’s never been to Colorado that the sun almost always shines here. Good weather for more than 300 days in the year – it makes sense, then, that real life plays out under clear skies. The powder snow paradises in the Rocky Mountain (e.g. Aspen) are just as popular as the mountain bike trails and the awe-inspiring hiking trails and wild-water rides in the Pikes Peak Region. One attraction of the mountain range, the highest cog railway in the world (Pikes Peak Cog Railway), will, unfortunately, not be running this year. After 126 years of continuous operation, some repairs can’t be put off any longer ...
The name isn't without reason: in severe weather the lightning allegedly jumps here from one rocks to another. An experience we’re glad to avoid. The sun is shining today, but at 3,850 metres the air has cooled noticeably. From 25 degrees at the entrance, we’ve come all the way down to 16. Right at the top at the finish line, it’s only a few degrees above freezing. Without a down jacket, you really don’t need to get out of the car.
Attention: the black bear lives here
In any case, we’re interested in the road to the summit with all its attractions. It’s almost 20 kilometers long, and whoever wants to drive along it with their car has to pay a fee of 15 dollars per person in the tourist season. The Rangers give you a detailed map, and then you’re off through the hardwood and pine forests toward the Crystal Creek Reservoir. Bucks and roes live around the reservoir, along with beavers and black bears. The latter are seldom seen – one grabbed headlines last year when he crossed the track of a 10-mile run, shocked a few joggers and disappeared without further ado.
We’re coming to a popular photo stop on the reservoir: the reflection of the often snow-covered Pikes Peak in the clear water is almost magical. After approximately seven miles, we cross the start line of the famous race track. It’s right here, with the road cordoned off, that Romain Dumas’s record attempt in the Volkswagen electric prototype will begin.
Harsh climate, thin air – drinking water is a must
Shortly afterwards, once we get to the sign reading “Mile Marker 10”, we’ve already reached the so-called sub alpine zone. The harsh climate and limited rainfall are obviously irksome to the spruce trees and the pines. We stretch our legs at the Glen Cove rest stop, with its famous green-roofed, wooden house. Travellers have been looked after here since 1886. At this height, drinking water is extremely important – we’re almost 3,500 metres above sea level. A couple of squirrels frolic around, somewhere a woodpecker pecks doggedly on bark. Then we meander further along the yellow centre line towards the top. The higher we go, the more unforgiving the wind as it shapes the last conifers: all the branches grow in the same direction.
The alpine zone begins after “Mile Marker 13” – here the grasses and moss grow no more. The animal kingdom is, however, represented: the rocky mountain bighorn sheep is a kind of American answer to the Ibex. With a good zoom lens, you have a good chance of catching a glimpse of the shy climbing specialist on the rock ledge with its striking, round horns. We take the bends as they come and envision how the participants in the Race to the Clouds drift at the limit.
This is where the big horn sheep and groundhogs say good night
We’re now not far from a point called the Devil’s Playground.
Unless you wear fur like the groundhogs typical of the region. They have a yellow belly, and its always sweet to see their attentive, curious eyes. Groundhogs whistle when danger is ahead and then WOOSH! they’re away.
Photo time: breath-taking viewpoints at every turn
There are only a few more bends before the summit, and we still haven’t talked about one thing yet: the unbelievable view we have here from above. The urge to stop and capture the moment with a photo is ever present. We stop again at the last curve before the finish line: the roads below us wind up the side of the mountain, in front of us a gigantic panorama opens up – we feel as if we have our heads in the clouds above us.
We park at the race’s finish line and walk across it to the summit rock. The Pikes Peak summit, at 14,115 ft – there it is. Volkswagen driver Romain Dumas will attempt to complete this track, which we’ve spent 2 hours on, in under nine minutes. With a completely electrically powered racing car, the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak.
We’re crossing our fingers that he makes it. Perhaps after his pursuit of the record there will still be an opportunity for the Frenchman to take in the fascinating natural beauty of Pikes Peak.
