Towaoc Mission Adventure 2011—Daily Journal

Day 4, Friday, July 22nd

Mission Trip to Towaoc, CO
Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation
July 19—July 31, 2011

Latest update: 11/19/2011.

From Jamestown UMC: Paul Rogers, Teresa Rogers, Jim Starkey, Connie Starkey, Steve Mann, Roberta Mann, Gary Buss, Becky Buss, Randy Beehler, Debra Beehler, Keith Berg, Lana Berg, LeRoy Schrock, Micah Rogers, Mariah Rogers, Caitlyn Wenger, Sarah Miller, Liz Starr, Augie Farwig and Maggie Farwig.

From Sunnycrest UMC in Marion, IN: Jack Wood, Heather Huston, Aubry Richards, Hayli Parker.

From Trinity UMC in Kendallville, IN: Matt Pattison

Day 4, Friday, July 22nd

The morning starts as a beautiful day.

Our adventure today is a trip to the top of Pikes Peak on the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway via a cograil train.
Our car was called the "Aspen"

Cograil Car "Aspen"

The trip to the top took about an hour and a half.  There were many unique and beautiful scenes; including a rock formation that looked like a large animal (you can decide what you see) and a lake in the shape of a chess piece.
If you're not familiar with chess, it's the knight.

"Animal Rock Formation"  Lake in Shape of the Chess Knight

Pikes Peak Scene, Waterfall  Pikes Peak Scene

Left: Colorado Springs as seen from the ascent of Pikes Peak.  Right: approaching the timberline.

View of Colorado Springs from the Top of Pikes Peak  Scenery Ascending Pikes Peak

Left:  Beautiful Lake scene;   Right:  Windy Point, elevation 12,129 ft.

Scene from Ascent of Pikes Peak  Windy Point Building

The Cograil train ride is a beautiful trip, but if you don't like trains, there's always the road!

Cograil Train Ascending to the Top of Pikes Peak  Part of the Road to the Top of Pikes Peak

Just some of the animal life living near the top of Pikes Peak.
Left: a Young Bighorn Sheep. Right: a Yellow-bellied Marmot.
Other wildlife, that we did not see, include mule deer, ptarmigan, mountain lion and elk.

Young Bighorn Sheep  Yellow-bellied Marmot

We finally arrived at the top.
The temperature was approximately 35° cooler at the top from where we started in Manitou.
Photos from atop Pikes Peak.  Altitude 14,110 ft.

Pikes Peak Sign

View from Atop Pikes Peak  View from Atop Pikes Peak

Don't look now, Deb & Becky, but it's a long way down.

Deb Beehler from Atop Pikes Peak  Becky Buss from Atop Pikes Peak

Scenes on the decent from Pikes Peak

Scene Decending Pikes Peak  Scene Decending Pikes Peak

Rock formations;  Right: "The Ace of Diamonds".

Scene Decending Pikes Peak  Scene Decending Pikes Peak

Left:  The "Easter Tree" decorated with Easter Eggs;  Right:  The "Christmas Tree" decorated with ornaments.

The "Easter Tree" decorated with Easter Eggs  The "Easter Tree" decorated with Easter Eggs

Back at the KOA, Steve, Keith & Jack relax after a long day at Pikes Peak.

Steve, Keith & Jack Relax at the KOA

The youth enjoy a friendly game of "spoons".  Even if it takes flashlights to see.

Youth Playing Card Game  Youth Playing Spoons

Augie, I don't think the computer will help!

Youth Playing Cards

The youth finished the evening with a little music & singing.

Youth Singing

Then, a beautiful sunset but with thunderstorms off in the distance.

Sunset over Pikes Peak with Thunderstorms in the Distance.

Looking to the south, though, a beautiful sight.
What better way to end the day, but with God's own rainbow.

A Beautiful Rainbow to End the Day.

***Jump To Another Day***

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