GC3P9RH Pikes Peak Granite
Type: Earth | Size: Other | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: FLtravelers @ | Hide Date: 06/25/2012 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 50.452 W105° 02.579 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
                           

---

This is an Earthcache. There is no physical cache to find. Logging an EarthCache requires that visitors undertake an educational task relating to the specific Earth Science at the site. If you don't want to answer the questions, don't log this EarthCache.

Pikes Peak is the most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited mountain in the world behind Japan's Mount Fuji. It is the easternmost peak of the tall mountains in the Rocky Mountain chain. This made it a focal point for the gold rush, and thus the rallying cry “Pikes Peak or Bust.”

Prior to logging this cache, email the answers to the following questions:

1. Examine the material below your feet at GZ and compare it with the rocks used in the nearby sign. Is it the same material?
2. Pikes Peak Granite is made of feldspar (pink), quartz (white/smoky), and mica (silver/gold/black). Estimate the proportion of these components in a piece of Pikes Peak Granite.
3. We think of granite as a very hard material. Do you think Pikes Peak Granite is as strong and durable compared to other granite that you’re familiar with?
4. Do you think the proportion of the components causes durability or lack thereof?
5. Optional: Post photo(s) in your log.

Pikes Peak is a small part of a much larger formation known as the Pikes Peak batholith, which is composed of a characteristic pink granite called Pikes Peak Granite. This granite was once hot molten rock located as deep as 20 miles beneath the earth's surface.

Approximately one billion years ago, this huge mass of magma began to pool under what is now central Colorado, forming a 1,300-square-mile batholith. Batholiths are like underground volcanoes, and since the magma is underground, it cools very slowly and turns into granite.

About 60 million years ago, parts of the Western United States were subjected to a series of uplifts that eventually formed the modern Rocky Mountains and raised Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak, like other portions of the Colorado Rockies, is still being uplifted today as a part of larger tectonic processes.

Due to the generally fine-crystalline nature of Pikes Peak Granite, it typically forms smooth and rounded boulders, and erodes into granite gravel. The pink-colored Pikes Peak Granite has many joints and fractures. Water gets into cracks in the rocks and it easily crumbles into gravel. When the water freezes, it expands and forces the cracks to open wider. For millions of years this freezing and thawing of water has caused the Pikes Peak Granite to shatter in slow motion.

The three most noticeable materials of Pikes Peak Granite are the milky/smoky quartz, the pink feldspar and the silver/golden/black mica. Feldspar and mica weather easily. Quartz is a harder, more durable material.

Pikes Peak can be accessed three two ways:

• The 19-mile Pikes Peak toll road is paved and open year round, weather permitting.
• The 8.9-mile cog railroad typically operates April through December. CLOSED.
• The 13-mile Barr Trail is the longest of any of the trails leading to the top of the 54 mountains in Colorado that are over 14,000 feet. The base-to-summit elevation gain is 7,400 feet.

At 14,000 feet, the oxygen level is only 60% of that at sea level, so a faster rate of respiration is required. Altitude sickness may develop in those who are sensitive or who over-exert themselves. Follow the recommended procedures for adjusting to the extreme change in altitude.

07/03/2019 By OliversOuting
Visiting from Delaware. Such beautiful views from the top. Answers sent. tftc!

07/02/2019 By scheblo25
Another cache atop Pikes Peak! Thanks for placing this earthcache! This Hoosier doesn’t usually get too many earthcaches and certainly not many caches in high altitude conditions. Bad selfie though haha. TFTC!

06/28/2019 By kristen016
Made the trek up today... interesting operation they’ve got going on. Not very peaceful, like I imagined. Will send answers as soon as I have better internet.

06/27/2019 By Team DaddieMark
I am with my sons on our way to Philmont Scout Ranch. We stayed 2 days in Co to acclimate to the higher altitude. This included a trip up to Pikes Peak. What an amazing trip up the mountain. Of course we had to try the donuts! I just couldn't do the traditional hide up there as I was feeling the effects. Thanks for placing this earth cache! Absolutely gets a favorite point from me and the scouts. Answers are on their way. TFTEC!!!

06/26/2019 By bucknuts

The Bride and I had weddings in Kansas City on June 21st and then another one in Omaha on June 29th. I told her I really wasn’t interested in driving to Kansas City and driving home for 9 hours and then a few days later drive all the way back same direction for 13 hours. So we decided we would take a mini vacation in between weddings and head to Colorado for a week. We rented a car, but little did we know the car was going to be a Cadillac sedan, and I’m thinking this is going to be my caching mobile for this trip.

###So over the course of the 11 days, we visited 10 states. I was able to get 5 caches that were Year 2000 including Mingo. I was able to get the oldest cache in 3 states…Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. Colored the state of New Mexico RED and put 3940 miles on the rental car. ###

This trip started out in Kansas City as the wedding was on Friday. So we cached the morning of Friday and did the Powercat challenges near Gladstone area. Loved walking the sidewalk, we did get a downpour on us, so hoped into a local spot for lunch and then once the rains lifted we went hiking again. Then went to the wedding on Friday night. Then next day on Saturday, went caching with Gnomecat, Louinliberty and Debrajean grabbing a few caches that I had handpicked out. Was great to see my KC friends for the 2nd weekend in a row after the previous week in Indiana and by the end of this trip it will be 3 weeks in a row. Had an amazing dinner at Gnomecats and enjoyed the great hospitality.

Then on Sunday June 23 is where the journey begins. We headed towards Colorado Springs and grabbed Mingo on the way there. This day was about 9 hours of driving and grabbed a few caches in the Colorado Springs area before meeting up with friends in the afternoon.

Monday June 24 was always going to be a big day both driving and hiking. We started it off by going to Paul Barkley (2nd 2000 year cache). Got lucky as that section of the park was closed to people on Tuesday due to electric work being done. Then from there the Cadillac took us to Geocache (3rd 2000 cache). Then after that we headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Tuesday June 25 we cached in Albuquerque in the morning doing a few wherigos and then headed over to the oldest cache in the state. Found the place to park and made the short hike up the hill. Then went across the way and did the Hangman hiking series. After we completed that we headed to Santa Fe to visit and then back to Colorado Springs.

Wednesday June 26th, we got up and headed off to Tarryall (4th 2000 year), those that get nervous about driving well the Cadillac made it just fine. After that we headed to Pikes Peak, it opened late because the car race practice was that morning. We drove up to mile 16 and then shuttle to the top because of the renovations to the new visitor center at top. After this we are now heading back East. We get to Kansas and find Airakee and then spend the night in Kearney. I was able to watch on the phone Vanderbilt win the World Series…Go Vandy Boys

Thursday June 27, drive to Omaha and meet the KC crew for the 3 week in a row and we drive to Sioux Falls to get the State Bird.

Friday June 28th, finish the last 21 of the Ficks Fizzy we had left. Bad news was on 61 Gnomecat fell in the ditch and went over his head in the water. The ditch had probably 8ft of water. Then headed to Omaha and did some challenges and parted ways

Saturday June 29th, some light caching before wedding and then came home on Sunday 13.5 hour drive.

Thanks to all the hiders. Earthcaches and Virtuals have sent answers. Challenges will either have a picture or available via public profile. Was able to leave my signature pencil in a few caches. Thanks for the cache-signed log.

08/25/2018 By B0NE
I think I'm really starting to like these western states..., gotta get outta Jersey! Another adventure with Milek78, starting in Denver and finishing in L.A. This time we came armed with a Durango and climbing gear, I want to get on some rock and give the pine trees a rest!

Our Focus:

• State Highpoints
• High Terrain
• Climbing
• Counties
• High Favs
• Oldies

Although it's a drive up... it still counts as a 14'er in my book!

08/21/2018 By J&Leebee
Wheez, Wheez! Had to catch my breath on this cache!
Here from Yorktown VA for a few days on business and then some geocaching in the free time.
Got a late evening start to drive up to Pikes Peak - what a drive & view. No sooner than did we arrive at the top than a storm blew in covering the entire top in thick fog and requiring a Ranger escort in order to safely get down the mountain.
Nevertheless, a great cache at what would normally be a fantastic view atop of Pikes Peak.
TFTC and making geocaching in Colorado and atop of Pikes Peak an awesome experience

08/20/2018 By jamierytlewski
Awesome view.

08/17/2018 By Beamer62
BlackJack59 sent answers. What a great adventure to this location. Amazing day.
Thanks

08/17/2018 By blackjack59
Spent the morning at the lakes on the way up. Beamer62 kicked my butt there so we headed on up to the top of the Peak. We got there just before a big cloud moved in. It was pretty cool and cold having the cloud swirling around us. We got rained on hailed on and even snowed on all within an hour. The top is a mess right now with construction but the view still can’t be beat! We can’t wait to return! Thanks for this very well done earth cache and thanks for the smiley!