A morning view from downtown Colorado Springs

Mollie Kathleen Mine is an active gold mine that closes mining operations in the summer and opens for tourists. The tour guides are real miners working there.

The area around towns of Cripple Creek, Victor, and Goldfield was the site of a major gold rush in the late 19th century. Manu undeground mines were constructed, and even though all of them ceased operations by the 1960s, many of the original mining structures have survived to this day. Recently, the increasing price of gold made mining profitable again, and open pit mining started. These active mining operations can be seen in the background of many pictures in this album.

operations by the 1960s, many of the original mining structures have survived to this day. Recently, the increasing price of gold made mining profitable again, and open pit mining started. These active mining operations can be seen in the background of many pictures in this album.

Phantom Canyon Road follows the former grade of a narrow-gauge railroad that once connected gold mines near Cripple Creek and Victor with the Arkansas valley.

This park features petrified stomps of sequoia trees buried in a volcanic eruption 35 million years ago, and spectacular vistas resulting from the dry and thin mountain air at more than 8,400 ft.
None of the pictures were digitally enhanced, all colors are natural.
Special thanks to my parents for taking some of the pictures

ft.
None of the pictures were digitally enhanced, all colors are natural.
Special thanks to my parents for taking some of the pictures

Garden of the Gods is a park in Colorado Springs. Cannot say much more than that - pictures from there truly worth a thousand words!

Special thanks to my parents for taking some of the pictures

Museum of Native American cliff dwellings near Manitou Springs, Colo. These buildings were transported here from the southwestern Colorado, where they were built by Anasazi people between 1200 B. C. E. and 1300 C. E.

Special thanks to my parents for taking some of the pictures.

E. and 1300 C. E.

Special thanks to my parents for taking some of the pictures.

Ascending and descending this great mountain on Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway, the longest and highest cog railway in the world.

Special thanks to my parents for taking some of the pictures.

Pictures from the airports and from the airplane windows.
August 29th and September 1st, 2008