After a lazy start to the day we alighted from our snug camper to a sunny but cool morning (the truck computer told us it was close to freezing overnight) and spent an hour or so strolling up the road to a trail head, then along part of the trail reaching well over 10,000 ft before returning to the truck to get underway. We were both more than a little surprised how well we were reacting to the altitude. On previous occasions a sudden climb to this kind of level has had the usual side effects of head aches and shortness of breath. The truck was reluctant to start and even with the aid of the new air-intake heater coughed, spluttered and belched smoke for a few minutes before finally settling down.

A short retracing of last nights drive again brought us to the start of the Pike Peaks Highway and after a short wait in the entrance line we commenced the climb. The weather was sunny and cool but with the threat of rain and snow later in the day. The summit (at approx 14,100 ft) is some 7000 ft and 19 miles from the entrance station and I must admit to a little anxiety as we started the first grade. The lower part of the drive was through spruce and aspen forest and it sure was spectacular with the aspens showing bright yellow leaves as they start to acknowledge the arrival of fall. On the lower stretch the road was a mix of switchbacks and more gentle sections but after the 12,000ft mark and the tree line was reached the climb was more sustained. The upper half of the road was exhilarating, no guard rail, a steep drop-off and spectacular views. It reminded us of many of the mountain roads we traveled in South America. At the summit the temperature was 31°F and a stiff breeze was blowing so without any embarrassment I donned a heavy Parka and padded pants, in contrast to the other tourists shivering in their shorts and flip-flops.

The truck handled the climb well though there was a noticeable drop in power at low RPM (below where the turbo charger starts to make its presence felt) and it was necessary to select the right gear and keep the revs up. I used the manual fan switch a couple of times as a test but the engine temperature was not a problem at any point in the climb. Restarting after our stop at the summit was not as smooth an operation. Initially the engine miss fired badly and even an application of the air intake heater did not fully resolve the issue. By keeping the revs up we were able to get moving and start the descent.

By the time we started our descent the weather had changed and light snow mixed with ice was falling. This undoubtedly made for a miserable ride for the many cyclists we had passed on our way up. Our descent was a smooth but slow operation - I really love the 2-stage engine brake on this truck. We made the entire 7000ft descent with only occasional light use of the foot brake.

Back in Colorado Springs we are at the WalMart on Razorback for the night.