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After the snow bank stopped our trek to the summit of Pikes Peak we passed back through Windy Point and started down "The Hill".
Passing through the cut of deep snow.
Lake Moraine.
Dropping down along the snow covered slope.
Trees as we drop back below tree line.
The fantastic view looking down at Colorado Springs and beyond.
A true "Railway to the Sky".
As we dropped between the trees.
The views from our train are outstanding!
We made another curve as we continued to descend.
Can be a very cold place without the sunshine.
The viewing continues to be very interesting.
Our train took another series of curves that took us to the longest straight track on the railway.
Straight as it can be!
The view of the summit of Pikes Peak where the wind must really be blowing as we all watched the snow being blown off.
Dropping down to Four Mile Siding. We stopped here for a rest stop with a pair of bathrooms and time for some pictures.
Our train at rest at Four Mile Siding.
Chris Parker outside at 4 Mile.
The map of our route this day.
Passengers have returned from their rest break at 4 Mile.
The view towards the peak.
One more view of our train. I took a bathroom break before we headed back down the hill to the station.
The look back after we left 4 Mile.
Another section of straight track.
The summit ridge line came into complete view before our next turn.
After we took that curve.
A waterfall out of a pipe just before Ruxton Park.
The next curve showed Pilot's Knob.
We took a tight curve as we continued to descend.
As we started down "Son of a Gun Hill".
The run is absolutely fantastic.
Minnehaha.
I love snow on trees!
Stunning!
Our train takes another curve.
You can see the grade in these pictures.
Still dropping down the grade.
Leaving the Pikes Peak National Forest.
Passing the first of the shop buildings.
Running between the shop buildings.
Our train had arrived back into the station.
I walked down to the other end to catch the train heading back to the shop.
Views of Manitou & Pike's Peak 5 on display at the depot. Chris was inside buying his souvenirs from the gift shop and I took one last look around. I met Chris and the car and we left the Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway after a fantastic trip aboard their railway. We drove back to Interstate 25 and headed south back to Walensburg. An accident in Pueblo slowed as down a bit but we soon exited into Walensburg and took US 160 west out of town.
We pulled off of US 160 for this sunset picture then crossed La Veta Pass dropped down to Fort Garland and Blanca before arriving into Alamosa. We checked into the Best Western Alamosa Inn for the next two nights. I walked next store to KFC for some dinner then drove Chris to Wendys for his. We stopped at a store before returning to the hotel for the night. Next the rare mileage trips we are in town for but that is still another story.
