Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

We decided to spend the day doing some sight seeing and went right past Pikes Peak. You don't see a picture of it because we couldn't see it for all the fog and clouds.

We visited Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and saw some spectacular petrified wood. 34 million years ago the area had mild weather and was covered with giant redwood trees. Volcanos later, all that are left are the base of the trunks of the trees, but they are huge and there are a lot of them. The area also has the largest number of fossils in the world, is renowned for its insect fossils, but has fossils of fish, leaves, and plants.

Ah, finally Pikes Peak--in the center of the picture right above the pine tree! But 50 miles away! On the way home it was also covered with clouds so I still didn't get a picture. It is still a pretty picture.