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A Cold Christmas Eve for Pike and his Men, 1806

A number of times, over the course of fifty years, I have stopped at the site where Zebulon Pike and a number of his men spent a cold Christmas evening back in the year 1806.The campsite is at the base of several 14,000 foot peaks known at the Colligate Range, north of Poncha Springs. I’ve climbed all those peaks, I believe, so while driving through this valley following the Arkansas River, I think of this early explorer, Captain Zebulon Pike.
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Zebulon Pike by Charles Willson Peale, 1808.

As described in Wikipedia Encyclopedia, “ Zebulon Montgomery Pike (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado was renamed (from El Capitan). As a U.S. Army officer he led two expeditions, first to reconnoiter the upper reaches of the Mississippi River in 1805-06 and then in 1806-07 to explore the Southwest to the fringes of the northern Spanish-colonial settlements.

Related Read: Railroads, Water & Mining- Durango, Colorado

Pike's expeditions coincided with other Jeffersonian expeditions including the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) and the Thomas Freeman and Peter Custis expedition (1806). The second Pike Expedition crossed the Rocky Mountains into southern Colorado, which led to his capture by the Spanish, who sent Pike and his men to Chihuahua (present-day Mexico), for interrogation. Later in 1807 Pike and some of his men were escorted by the Spanish through Texas and released near American territory.”
Pike and some of his men tried to climb a tall mountain, now known as Pikes Peak, earlier in the year. They didn’t make it to the top because the snow was five feet deep.

Pike's Peak, courtesy of David Shanborne, Created: 29 February 2008

Photograph of a portion of a Colorado wayside marker located where the Medano Pass Primitive Road (CR 599) joins Rt 69, just south of Westcliffe: "1806-07 Lt. Zebulon Pike Southwestern Expedition", showing a map of routes taken by Pike's group.

Just this past month, my travels took me through the Arkansas, Gunnison, and Rio Grande Valleys. I once again marveled about the early men and women who explored and settled in this beautiful and rough country. My grandparents came over from Wales to mine in the Colorado Mountains.
You have heard the term, “Pikes Peak or Bust”? That term came later when those bitten by the gold bug headed for the region to get rich.
When visiting the area, one will find numerous state and national parks and RV Campgrounds. A few of my favorites are Mountain View Resort, Canon City, Cripple Creek KOA, Cripple Creek, and Diamond Campground, in Woodland Park.
For those interested in a more detailed explanation of the Pike Expedition, you can read more HERE.
More Great History Related Blogs: Roadrunner History Buff Blogs

Footnotes:
(1) Chaffee County
Site Location: Poncha Springs
Nearest Town: Poncha Springs
Highway: US-285
Mile Marker/ Location: 132
Site Description: W side of US-285 5 mi N of Poncha Springs


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