Plains and Peaks Mensa is planning a mini-Regional Gathering in Cripple Creek Sept 21-23 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). This is the weekend of the 3rd Annual King of the Hill Rodeo & BBQ Blaze Off with full rodeo activities (bareback & saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, down & dirty bull riding) and a BBQ contest featuring a finger-lickin' good time for the entire family.

To that end, we’d like to get a feel for how many people want to come and what they would like to do. We can block a group of rooms in the Holiday Inn Express there (about $75 a night) if we have firm reservations, or you can take care of your own accommodations (if you prefer a bed and breakfast or camping, for instance), or just come up and join the fun.

The weekend will be a pay-as-you-go, with some loose organization, but mostly just a chance to chum around with other Mensans. There are many things to do in the Cripple Creek area and environs. Please indicate what you’d like to participate in, how many of your there are (adults and children) and we’ll see if we can arrange group activities. Return this form as soon as you can to:

Yeah, I’d sure like to be in Cripple Creek in September. Here’s what interests me:

_____ I’m interested in the Holiday Inn. Pencil me in.

_____ I’ll make my own arrangements (there are thirteen hotels and eight beds and breakfasts in Cripple Creek).

_____ Camping is my game (private and public campgrounds offer a place to pitch a tent, park an RV or rent a cabin. The national forest offers primitive camping.)

I think I’d like to check out:

_____ Cripple Creek District Museum- Once the site of the Midland Terminal Railroad Depot, the museum contains displays that commemorate the town's history. Historical photos, artifacts and maps line the walls and cases of the museum, located at Bennett Avenue and Fifth Street.

_____ Lowell Thomas Museum - The museum at Third and Victor Avenue in Victor offers a glimpse into gold rush days history and the life of Lowell Thomas, America's first television newscaster.

_____ Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine- Go down 1,000 feet in this real gold mine, tour the tunnels and listen to real hard rock miners explain the process of scooping gold from the earth. Then board a shuttle and tour the modern-day gold mine operations. Tours run daily. The most complete perspective on gold mining in the world.

_____ Old Homestead Museum - A house with a history. Built in 1896, the Homestead became the center of the town's Red Light District. The old parlour house museum is located on Myers Avenue.

_____ Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad - The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad departs from its depot next to the museum at Bennett Avenue and Fifth Street. The railroad offers 45-minute trips into the heart of the gold mining district.

_____ Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument - A lesson in history set in the one-time shadow of the Guffey Volcano. The volcano erupted millions of years ago, creating fossils and leaving the valley filled with petrified trees. The park offers hiking and interpretive programs.

_____ Golden Loop Historic Parkway Driving Tour and Trails - self-guided driving tour of the mining district, Tour guide booklets are 50 cents and are available at Victor businesses and the Cripple Creek Welcome Center. A self-guided hiking, biking, horseback trail starts in Vindicator Valley near Victor and winds 2-plus miles through historic mining artifacts.

_____ Victor - Six miles down the road from Cripple Creek is the gold mining town of Victor. Victor is quiet, non-gambling and offers a chance to escape to the quieter aspects of the 1890s. The 100-plus year old town offers lodging, hiking and biking trails, art and antiques, an old-fashioned soda fountain and historic walking and driving tours of the old mines and buildings.

_____ Hiking (here are the options)

Battle Mountain Trail - Begins at the Independence Mine near Victor; 1 mile up and back. Overviews of Victor, easy terrain.

The Crags - Highway 24 north of Cripple Creek; a 31/2 mile forest road leads to the trail head.

Dome Rock - Off Four Mile Road; the 8-mile round-trip hike crosses several streams.

Horsethief Park - Highway 67 at the old Midland Terminal Railroad Tunnel; the trail winds uphill to a mountain park area and then the more adventuresome may climb up Signal Peak.

Beaver Creek - Starting at the dam at Skagway Reservoir, the trail leads DOWN the canyon. This trail is not for the occasional hiker as the return ascent is strenuous.

Skagway Reservoir - East of Victor the reservoir offers a gradual trail that gets more hilly. The trail follows the lake's edge.

Vindicator Valley Trail - 2 miles through 1890's gold mining structures. Begins on County Road 81 across from Goldfield. Open year-round.

The Great American Discovery Trail - Being built across the nation and part of that trail will run through Cripple Creek. It piggybacks the Ute Pass Corridor Trail as it comes through Ute Pass, to Cripple Creek and then goes on to Canon City. A nationwide non-profit group will maintain the trail.

Mueller State Park - Mueller State Park is often called the Yosemite of Colorado. Dome Rock, a formation resembling Half Dome, is a favorite hiking destination. The park offers camping and wildlife viewing. It is located north of Cripple Creek on Highway 67.

Pike National Forest - Pike National Forest offers 1 million acres of mountain, grassland and natural water playgrounds. Established in 1907, it has 62 campgrounds and 27 picnic spots.

_____ Strolling and Sightseeing:

Cripple Creek Historic Building Tours - Gives you a chance to learn about the 100-year-old town. The Golden Loop Historic Driving Tour is a self-guided loop tour. Guide pamphlets available at the Cripple Creek Welcome Center.

Cripple Creek Ghost Walks Tours - City mayor dons black hat and cape and will keep you entertained and on the edge of the sidewalk during his 1.5-hour tour of Cripple Creek's streets.

Mount Pisgah Cemetery - Pick up a walking tour at the Cripple Creek Chamber of Commerce.

_____ Climbing: Shelf Road Rock Climbing Area - World-renowned Shelf Road Rock Climbing Area is a few short miles from Cripple Creek.

_____ Cripple Creek Beach and Yacht Club - Pool and fitness facilities at the Holiday Inn Express; 719-689-2600. Day Passes for nonmember children and adults available.

_____ The City Park in Cripple Creek offers a recreation center and tennis courts. Several Park and Recreation classes are offered year-round. Call 719-689-3514 for information.

_____ Drama: Cripple Creek Players Melodrama - Melodrama returns to Cripple Creek under the direction of Stephen and Bonnie Mackin. Shows in the Historic Butte Opera House during summer months.

_____ Limited-stakes Gambling - Slot machines, poker and blackjack tables abound in Cripple Creek's casinos. Bets are limited to $5.

_____ Golf: If you want to tee off in the mountains Shining Mountain Golf and Country Club north of Woodland Park offers the traditional clubhouse and green services.

_____ Fishing: Skaguay Reservoir - A one-time source of electricity for the mining district, Skaguay is today a popular fishing spot. The reservoir is 6 miles southeast of Victor off Phantom Canyon Road. Anglers may fish the reservoir from shore or by boat and in the runoff stream below the dam.

Also an easy day-trip are Elevenmile Canyon and Elevenmile Reservoir near Lake George, Tarryall Reservoir, north of Lake George, Manitou Lake north of Woodland Park, and Rampart Reservoir, north and east of Woodland Park.

If it's Gold Medal trout fishing you're angling for, try the South Platte River, 35 miles north of Woodland Park.

_____ Horseback riding: Several outfitters offer horseback rides, boarding and trips into the backcountry.

_____ Skating: Roller skating and roller blading are offered at the City Park and Rec. facility.

_____ Rafting: Rafting the Arkansas River is a popular way to cool off in the summer. Several companies offer guided trips from Salida and from Buena Vista.

Sign me up!!

NAME: _____________________________

ADDRESS: _____________________________

_________________________________

Phone Number: ___________________________

Number in My Party: ____ Adults ___ Children