Pikes Peak, Mountain peak in Colorado Springs, United States.
Pikes Peak is a mountain summit in Colorado, rising to about 14,115 feet (4,302 meters) above sea level and part of the Rocky Mountains. The rock contains potassium feldspar, which gives it a faint pink color that becomes noticeable on sunny days.
Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to travel through the region in the 1700s, and Zebulon Pike described the peak in 1806, though he never reached the top himself. The first recorded ascent was completed by a small group in 1820.
The poet Katharine Lee Bates visited the summit in 1893 and wrote America the Beautiful shortly after, a song that became one of the most recognized patriotic anthems in the country. Standing at the top, it is easy to understand what moved her to write it.
The summit can be reached by cog railway, a paved road open to cars, or on foot by trail, each requiring a different level of effort. Weather at this elevation shifts fast, so bringing a warm layer is a good idea regardless of conditions below.
There is a cafe at the summit that has long been known for its donuts, baked using a recipe specifically adjusted for the thin air at that height. Standard baking methods do not work the same way up there, so the recipe took years to get right.
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