Mike Ingelido has put together a great drive to see the sun rise from the summit of Pike Peak. This is a unique opportunity you won’t want to miss!
Please note that there are a couple of action items required including advance purchase of a timed entry permit.
Details follow below. Mike’s contact information is included at the end.
Hello LOCO Folks!
In our never-ending quest to provide interesting Lotus-friendly activities for the club, here is something very unique we are planning for July. For the first time ever, Pikes Peak Highway will open early enough to allow people to witness sunrise at the top of the mountain! This opportunity only happens on a few days during the summer, and specifically for our purposes on Friday, July 21st.
Some “pre-event” actions/planning are necessary to participate, specifically:
Purchase a “Timed Entry Permit” ticket from the Pikes Peak Web Store - Categories (aluvii.com) web site for the 0430 to 0630 time frame on July 21st. It is non-refundable, but only costs $2. If you wish, you can wait until later to purchase your individual Admission Ticket ($15/person) which also non-refundable but is good for one year from the date of purchase, so even if we cancel this drive due to weather or whatever on the Peak you can still use it at a later date. Incidentally, the next available sunrise opportunity, and the backup date for our drive will be Tuesday August 1st.
Sunrise on the Peak that day will be approximately 5:50 AM. It is a 19 mile drive, 6,000’ climb from the entry gate to the top of the mountain which takes approximately 50 to 60 minutes, so plan on departing the entry gate no later than 4:45 to ensure that you are at the top when the sun comes up. Don’t forget the drive up requires full attention at any time with other vehicles on the road and you will be driving in the dark or just the early morning dawn so don’t plan on setting a personal speed record for getting to the top!
You can spend as much time as you wish at the top. The recently opened new Visitor Center will be open so you can buy the traditional high altitude donut and hot drinks if you wish. Otherwise, it will be COLD so about 90 minutes is usually more than sufficient before heading back down the mountain. If there is any interest, I can make reservations for the group to have breakfast at The Pantry restaurant in Green Mountain Falls at the bottom of the mountain around 8:30 or so.
After breakfast we could also do a more typical LOCO drive further west on US 24 to Tarryall Road between Lake George and Jefferson. A road that never fails to entertain. At Jefferson, folks coming from the Denver area can head home on US 285 over Kenosha Pass. For those coming from the Springs, doubling back on Tarryall Road to US 24 is mighty fine way to get home!
So, that’s the plan. I know it is on a weekday which makes it difficult/impossible for those of you with honest jobs to participate, and I apologize for that. But, this doesn’t prevent SOMEONE ELSE to plan a July event on a weekend!
BOTTOM LINE: If you think you might want to participate, get your “Timed Entry Permit” immediately (see above because they are limited for the early opening), and let me know so I can work the breakfast restaurant issue. Any questions or concerns, contact me at : fox4gib@aol.com .