I just got back from a 5 1/2 hour hike down Pikes Peak.  I took the Manitou Springs Cog Rail up.  Since I was hiking down, it was really reasonable and most of all beautiful! I had lived in Colorado Springs in the ’80s and had numerous times gone up and down the mountain in one day!  “Times they are a changin’ Dylan” The ride up takes about 1 hour.  I took the 8am ride so I would have plenty of time to get down the 14,100 foot mountain before the afternoon thunder and lightning storm hit. It was about 43 degrees at the top and there were patches of snow.  I was glad that I brought both of my walking sticks to guide me through the foot deep drifts of snow. The pain was all worth it! 13 miles later I was sore but felt like I was on top of the world!