Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974, and husband Dave Westfall, who tool around the country on their Harley Electra Glide motorcycle, reached the peak of their current trip.

That would be Pike’s Peak, a 19-mile climb to 14,110-foot elevation and 45 degree temperature. Colorado Springs, near the start of the climb, was 88 degrees.

That’s similar to what I experienced on Mount Washington in New Hampshire, which is “only” 6,288 feet, the highest in the Northeast. It was 78 degrees at the bottom but 20 below with 40 mph winds when we got to the summit.

Pike’s Peak was named for climber Zebulon Pike, who never reached the summit.

For Marcia and Dave, gliding to the summit must have seemed tame compared to dodging a tornado last week in Burlington, Colorado, which has had 159 of those terrifying twirlers since 1950.

Certainly more exciting than hanging around their Kilarm home. Marcia is a kindergarten teacher at Monongah Elementary School and Dave is with the West Virginia Division of Highways.

When they step off their big bike, they report back to Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, who lives in Monongah. That’s Marcia’s mother.

Pike’s Peak is the mother of all mountain climbs.