From the armory, it was a short bus ride to Pikes Peak cog railway station. The cog wheel train took us up to the top while a guide related humorous stories about great (non-existant) scenary outside the train. The guide mentioned that there was a family with teen girls staying near the trail about half way up and that they were looking for boy friends. John said out loud, "I'M THERE!"
Further up, we lost the trees near Windy Point. At the peak, crew 1 gathered for some shots of themselves before wandering into the gift and snack shops. The advisors of the contingent of 110 (the 110 includes the advisors) also posed for a picture in front of the 14,700 foot high elevation sign. The peak and the trip up and down took us past great views including lakes and mountain goats.
One scout that I was sitting next to had a serious problem on the way down. Shortly after leaving the peak, he needed to use the bathroom. The trip down was an hour and 15 minutes. He was in serious pain by the time the train stopped at the bottom. He wasn't the only one in pain. On the trip down down, the train filled with diesel fumes and I was glad to get off. With the scouts back on the air conditioned bus, the advisors had a "short" meeting outside planning out the remainder of the day. With my head ache from the fumes and the hot sun, I thought the meeting would never end. Good thing I was able to pull up a nearby car bumper to sit on; I wouldn't have made it standing.
After a great buffet lunch, we traveled to La Junta, Colorado to the Koshare Indian Museum which is run by a Boy Scout troop. Wow, was it hot getting off that bus into the sun. You could feel your hair being singed as you exited the bus. We were lucky to be able to use the gym at the community college. The school is no longer allowing scouts to use the gym to sleep in after the placed was trashed somewhat by an earlier scout group. They allowed us to stay there because we had already had our reservation in. Maybe they will have a better impression of Scouts after we left.
After dinner, they put on a dance show in the kiva. Notice the circular dance floor and the way the ceiling is built from logs. They said that it doesn't pass the building code, but it is quite sturdy. The Kiva was packed for the show that night because it was home coming for all the old dancers, some looked as old as 70 when they joined the young dancers on the floor for one of the dances. The dances are usually performed by members of the Koshare Scout troop and some are as young as 14. Most or all are not native Indians, although many Indians do come and are impressed by the show. The dancers also perform their show on the road and have performed in Monmouth County. The dances are learned from Indians by traveling and talking with Indians from all over the United States.
Remember how I wanted a hot shower at the armory? Well, the showers, one setting for all, were as hot as the sun was earlier that afternoon. Did I smell my hair burning?
