Gribblenation

Upon descending back to US Route 24 from the summit of Pikes Peak I turned west.  My next destination was located at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. This article serves the 27th entry in the 2016 Summer Mountain Trip Series.  Part 26 covered a trek up to the summit of Pikes Peak via the Pikes Peak Highway. 2016 Summer Mountain Trip Part 26; the Pikes Peak Highway Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is located off of Teller County Route 1 south of the namesake Florissant and US Route 24.   Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was authorized in August 1969 and protects the Florissant Formation.  The Florissant Formation dates back 34 million years to the Eocene era when the area was thought to be covered by a large lake.  The fossils located at the Florissant Formation are thought to have been covered by debris the nearby extinct Thirtynine Mile Volcanic Field.  The Florissant Formation is most known for it's Petrified Redwood Fo...