Monument, CO
We are in Monument Co now, elevation,7,306, After the four rallies were over, we decided to move slowly toward UT.
The first stop was Ft Laramie, WY, population 328.
Ft Laramie was opened in June 1849 to protect the immigrants headed out on the Oregon Trail.
The pony express and the Cheyenne to Deadwood stage passed through here.
The pony express traveled 650,000 miles with one rider killed by Indians, one schedule not completed and one lost mail.
The immigrants used wagons similar to this to travel from back east to Oregon. They would travel approximately 20 miles per day. They were usually pulled by oxen but sometimes mules and horses.
We had a talk by a lady dressed in costume. Very informative
After the fort closed, residents nearby took a lot of the building materials for their own use. Most have been restored.
The cavalry had their own barracks. It is the only enlisted barracks still standing.
It was restored to be like it was.
It had two dining rooms like this.
The end of this building housed the post office and the bar.
We had to try the bar
where we had Sarsaparillas.
"Officers Row as it was.
The house on the left housed two married officers. The right one was the surgeons.
"Old Bedlam" was the name used for the Bachelor Officer Quarters"
Each officer had his own quarters inside.
The base captains quarters.
Cathy had to use the seat out front.
The Administrative Building as it was
and as it is. They are still working to restore more buildings.
The military jail.
Built to house the guards and 40 prisoners.
The military built this bridge over the North Platte River for the wagon trains to cross.
Only one wagon could cross at a time but as you will see in the next pictures, they normally traveled single file.
This is the site of the best preserved Oregon Trail ruts along the whole route.
In 1869, with the completion of the transcontential railroad completed, traffic was down to very little and the army's job was done.
It is estimated that 500,000+ people traveled through here.
The steel in the wheels cut into the limestone making the tracks.
You can see how deep they are.
More ruts.
Had to show a tumbleweed.
Then down through Cheyenne to a place we have been before.
The Terry Bison Ranch RV Park. The ranch has 27500 acres, some in WY and some in CO.
They do have Bison. They have a train that takes visitors around the ranch into both states and then stops for a picnic.
All the buildings look "in the period".
Why did we stop here? They have a great restaurant and guess what they serve. Buffalo burgers, buffalo short ribs, buffalo sirloin steaks, buffalo meatloaf, buffalo chili and buffalo chicken fried steak. It is hard to make a choice.
When we were in Monument, CO in May 2011, this is the type of weather we had.
Taking Freddy for a walk
Very pretty but cold.
This was our view of Pikes Peak
Our view of Pikes peak now.
The reason we are back here is, we tried to reach the summit of Pikes peak and failed. The road was closed due to snow. We boarded the COG Railway but only got up to 13,000 feet, snow again.
Now the roads are clear.
The sign tell it all.
This is the roadway going from about 6,000 feet up to 14,000+ feet. Lots of switchbacks and few guard rails.
The water for the surrounding area comes from a reservoir created when an area was dammed up near Pikes Peak. It holds 1.1 bullion gallons of water accumulated from melted snow.
This is the start of the winding roads.
No guard rails and tight turns.
The reservoir from the road above.
Above the tree line about 13,000 feet.
At the top is the Continental Divide.
A view from the top.
The air is really thin here.
Another view.
Going down
The lodge halfway down.
Passing the reservoir on the way down.
And Monday we leave Monument for Pagossa Springs, CO via Wolf Creek Pass.
Tomorrow I watch NASCAR and start packing.
The first stop was Ft Laramie, WY, population 328.
Ft Laramie was opened in June 1849 to protect the immigrants headed out on the Oregon Trail.
The pony express and the Cheyenne to Deadwood stage passed through here.
The pony express traveled 650,000 miles with one rider killed by Indians, one schedule not completed and one lost mail.
The immigrants used wagons similar to this to travel from back east to Oregon. They would travel approximately 20 miles per day. They were usually pulled by oxen but sometimes mules and horses.
We had a talk by a lady dressed in costume. Very informative
After the fort closed, residents nearby took a lot of the building materials for their own use. Most have been restored.
The cavalry had their own barracks. It is the only enlisted barracks still standing.
It was restored to be like it was.
It had two dining rooms like this.
The end of this building housed the post office and the bar.
We had to try the bar
where we had Sarsaparillas.
"Officers Row as it was.
The house on the left housed two married officers. The right one was the surgeons.
"Old Bedlam" was the name used for the Bachelor Officer Quarters"
Each officer had his own quarters inside.
The base captains quarters.
Cathy had to use the seat out front.
The Administrative Building as it was
and as it is. They are still working to restore more buildings.
The military jail.
The military built this bridge over the North Platte River for the wagon trains to cross.
Only one wagon could cross at a time but as you will see in the next pictures, they normally traveled single file.
This is the site of the best preserved Oregon Trail ruts along the whole route.
In 1869, with the completion of the transcontential railroad completed, traffic was down to very little and the army's job was done.
It is estimated that 500,000+ people traveled through here.
The steel in the wheels cut into the limestone making the tracks.
You can see how deep they are.
More ruts.
Had to show a tumbleweed.
Then down through Cheyenne to a place we have been before.
The Terry Bison Ranch RV Park. The ranch has 27500 acres, some in WY and some in CO.
They do have Bison. They have a train that takes visitors around the ranch into both states and then stops for a picnic.
All the buildings look "in the period".
Why did we stop here? They have a great restaurant and guess what they serve. Buffalo burgers, buffalo short ribs, buffalo sirloin steaks, buffalo meatloaf, buffalo chili and buffalo chicken fried steak. It is hard to make a choice.
Taking Freddy for a walk
Very pretty but cold.
This was our view of Pikes Peak
Our view of Pikes peak now.
The reason we are back here is, we tried to reach the summit of Pikes peak and failed. The road was closed due to snow. We boarded the COG Railway but only got up to 13,000 feet, snow again.
Now the roads are clear.
The sign tell it all.
This is the roadway going from about 6,000 feet up to 14,000+ feet. Lots of switchbacks and few guard rails.
The water for the surrounding area comes from a reservoir created when an area was dammed up near Pikes Peak. It holds 1.1 bullion gallons of water accumulated from melted snow.
This is the start of the winding roads.
No guard rails and tight turns.
The reservoir from the road above.
Above the tree line about 13,000 feet.
At the top is the Continental Divide.
A view from the top.
The air is really thin here.
Another view.
Going down
The lodge halfway down.
Passing the reservoir on the way down.
And Monday we leave Monument for Pagossa Springs, CO via Wolf Creek Pass.
Tomorrow I watch NASCAR and start packing.
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