DESPATCHES
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12.
Pike's Peak to Monarch Pass
June 19th
Fortunately some overnight rain saved the day for us and
Pike's Peak remained open. Later, on route 24 we pass one
of the sites where all the firefighters are gathered. I
have just read The Horse Whisperer's latest novel about
the Smoke Jumpers, people who parachute out of planes ahead
of fires to try to create breaks. It makes the novel all
the more real seeing the devastation caused by these fires.
One of the water dipersing planes crashed yesterday killing
all three on board. So far 160,000 acres have been destroyed
and many people have lost there homes in the Hayman
fire, Colorado, just North of where we are travelling.
Enough of doom and gloom.
We are all champing at the bit awaiting breakfast.
The motel will not open up to serve a minute before seven.
We all grab a mouthful and set off with varying degrees
of anticipation of the impending climb. Julian has his nomex
racing boots on, Peter is all excited and Pam and I are
terrified. No guard rails they say. Well, I coped with that
on the Around the World rally but there was a large amount
of adrenalin involved then. We arrive at the start - it
says 10 mph maximum! It is only 7.30 a.m. and not many people
around so we can ignore that. We have 19 miles to cover
and climb from 5,000 feet to over 14,000 feet. Five Healeys
are attempting it. Julian sets off like a rocket, we follow
more sedately. The story of the tortoise and the hair springs
to mind. Higher and higher, the tarmac turns to gravel,
the hairpins get tighter, the gaurd rails are absent. We
pass Steve Byers at about 9,000 feet and round a bend
there is Julian stopped. He waives us on. Clive, in the
1948 Westland is breathing up our exhaust. Peter suggests
we let him past, I suggest we will earn Pam's undying gratitude
if we don't!
We cruise on to the top without any problems. Never before
have I stood above the clouds like this. The four Healeys
arrive safe and we go into the cafe for a coffee. Shortly
after Julian appears. His Healey throws a wobbly at 11,000
feet and says that unless he gets rid of some weight she
has no intention of going any further. After a short discussion
with her, Julian duly chucks his navigator out and she agrees
to continue. Poor Lawrence is left to hoof it up the last
3,000 feet. He misreads the sign saying 14 miles as
14,000 feet and thinks he is nearly there. A kindly Park
Ranger spots him and he makes it to the top before Julian.
T-shirt
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Marmot
on Pike's Peak |
Summit
Pike's Peak, 14110 ft
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Everyone feels a little lightheaded - is
it the elation or the elavation?
The cars that reach the top are the three from the U.K.,
Steve Byers and Michael Orrit's.
The journey down is magical and we stop for some photo calls.
Above
the clouds
Julian decides to threaten his Healey with redundacy
unless she pulls her socks up. He is thinking of exchanging
her for this 495 brake horsepower Kenworth truck
with a Caterpillar engine. It is amazing how much better
she went after that.
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Kenworth
truck |
The delights of the day are not finished.
We push on to Monarchs Pass at 11,300 feet and stop for
lunch.
For the first time I get the three U.K. Healeys together
for a photocall.
Monarch's
Pass
The descent takes us along Elk Lake and into very different
scenery, more desert with temperatures to match. Arrive
very hot , dusty and tired in Grand Junction, Colorado.
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