Vehicle Towed From

[magikwalt]

When I parked on Saturday morning there weren't any signs in front of the area closing it to parking.

I departed from the museam about 5:30am and was in time to see a runner sprinting for the trail head (ZDude I think) and chat with Andy. Though battling stomach cramps badly between 6,500 and 8,000 I pushed on towards the summit. By the time I reached Wellman's Divide I was done. Too many dry heaves prior to Round Valley left me weak and weak willed. Once down I cleaned up and took the family to dinner. At 7:00pm we went to pickup my truck and found the area plastered with No Parking signs. One other hiker and a few employees of local business were in the same boat.

$300 later and Brothers Towing released my vehicle. Please post again how we should be polite and not park in the Museam parking lot.

[zippetydude]

Sorry to hear that Walt. I think it was just because of the Cinco de Mayo thing they had going on, as there were also signs along the road saying no parking between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm or something like that. I read them several times, but was still uneasy when I left for the trailhead. (Incidentally, yes, that was probably me heading for the trailhead between 5:30 and 6:00 - I'm not sure what time it was). In any case, I find those charges obscene - a $50 tow fee would be enough of a nuisance, especially since you have to go get your car, but that's legalized extortion at the rate they charge.

Sounds like you got some good conditioning in anyway, although it was at an intensity that I try to avoid!

How goes the heart monitor training?

z

[magikwalt]

Thanks ZD...Since you saw the signs I guess I'll accept they were in place when I arrived. Must have still been asleep when I parked.

HR Training still dowing well. I think maybe I changed too many things in one trip. Different eating plan started about 2 weeks ago, zipped the lower legs on my hiking pants in the parking lot since I planned to summit and tried Hammer Perpetuem instead of PowerAid. I felt like I was holding the pace down during the early part but then pushed through the shady area to quickly. Above the shady area I was dripping. Zipping off the lower half of the pants help alot. At dry falls I made the decision to cut the Hammer product and finish out with just water and PowerAid.

Too many changes to really evaluate the Hammer product. Finished into Long Valley at 6:20 and carried on into Wellman's so my wife and girls could get their hike in. The summit will have to wait for another day.

On the plus side though is that my training miles are still getting racked up and the weight is still going down. Seems I'm just paying my dues as a rookie on the hill.

Thanks again for commeting on having seen the signs other wise I would have been protesting the ticket.

[Cy Kaicener]

I am sorry to hear about the outrageous towing charge. At 2.20 am I parked on the street and my friend Dave pointed out to me these tiny no parking/tow away signs tied around the trees. I did not see them either until he told me.
I considered parking in the underground parking lot for ten dollars but took my chances in the museum lot since I have never heard of them towing away cars there.

[cynthia23]

MW, so sorry to hear about your towing and the Dry Heaves. I really emphasize with the latter as they are a frequent problem of mine. No magic solution to offer but I do think you should tinker with your nutrients. Personally, I find that I have less nausea/problems with relatively "natural" substances--i.e. yams instead of gu, homemade drinks instead of gatorade, etc. My theory is that under strenuous exertion, the body might overreact to some of the chemicals/preservatives in these storebought nutrients. Some people are fine with them of course, just other people like me seem to have unpleasant reactions. As for the nausea itself, a few pretzels seem to help keep it under control. Also, of course, as you get more and more conditioned, your body will be under less strain in general. Without doubt, the more tired I am, the more I start having physical problems systemically (i.e. migraines, heaves, etc.) Better luck next time!

[Perry]

That sucks about the tow! A few years ago I had a similar experience. I didn't see the signs that the construction people put up near my girlfriend's house, so my car ended up at Brothers Towing, and I had to pay some outrageous price. I think it was $200 or $250. Apparently they can just jack up the price because there's no competition if you're friends with the police.

I heard that a local runner parked his car along the tram road recently (I don't know if it was a turnout), climbed the "rocky ridge" aka "windy ridge" on the right side of the canyon, came down the tram, and his car was towed.

For awhile I've been wondering if you can legally start near the valley station. There aren't any "no tresspassing" signs near the fox, grey squirrel, or hawk parking lots... On Pikes Peak you can start near the lower train station and run the Barr Trail, then take the cog railway down on a space-available basis. It would be convenient and "fast" compared to starting at the Museum or Ramon Road.

[magikwalt]

The costs break down as $75 for the ticket, $150 for the tow and $75 gate charge to give me back my vehicle after 5:00pm. They were kind and waived the $90 a day storage fee.

Its one of the costs I pay for being asleep at the trail head. Thanks to all of you for the insights, tips and wallowing in my misery with me.

[KathyW]

Thanks for the warning. $300 is pretty steep.

[guest]

Hey Grandmaster P,

It looks fast to go up on of those ridges, but my bud, who you know, is fast & it took him like 7 hrs.

Now that little puddie cat you have as your sign-in mascot could do it in 3 or 4, as long as she ate lots of coyotes & gray squirrels along the way!

BTW, somebody tell those 8 yahoos that got rescued coming down a northridge to put that water cash they stole back, right now!

ss