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Catherine and Judy smile excitedly at historic Cog Railway train station

Sisters Ride the Rails to Pikes Peak

Catherine has loved spending time in nature for as long as she can remember. Growing up in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, she and her siblings bonded over adventures in the great outdoors. This passion has stayed with Catherine, especially in Colorado, which she now calls home.

Being grounded in nature has helped Catherine get through life’s challenges. In 1998, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Having built her career as a Registered Nurse, Catherine was aware of the difficulties her future could bring with this diagnosis. But Catherine persevered, even continuing to work full-time for four years.

She is not the only one in her family to face health challenges. Jody, Catherine’s sister in Minnesota, is battling cancer. While they support each other from a distance, it’s been three years since the sisters have seen one another in person.

As Catherine’s MS progressed, it began to affect her mobility and cognitive function. Although her love for nature remained, Catherine could no longer enjoy the outdoors like she used to. In Colorado, surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains, she wanted to experience them firsthand—and a wish the size of a mountain began to grow inside her.

When we heard Catherine’s story, we were honored to have the chance to help her have a true Colorado adventure while reconnecting with her sister.

Of all the mountains in Colorado, Pikes Peak is one of the most famous. It even inspired the lines of the famous poem “America the Beautiful.” While Catherine knew she could never hike Pikes Peak herself, she could still have the adventure of a lifetime with some help from the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway!

The Cog has been climbing the mountainside since 1891 and takes riders 14,110 feet to the summit of Pikes Peak. With Wish of a Lifetime’s help, Catherine and her sister Judy secured tickets for a railway journey to the top!

First, we flew Jody from Minnesota to Catherine’s home near Denver, Colorado, for a heartfelt reunion. Then, the sisters packed up the car to drive to the historic town of Manitou Springs, a quaint little mountain town bustling with energy and full of history.

First stop, the Manitou Depot! Here, Catherine and Jody learned about the history of the cog railroad and how the unique track allows the train to traverse steep grades and descents.

After boarding the bright red train, they began their 9-mile journey upward. As they passed through fields of sagebrush, juniper, and pinyon pine, Catherine and Jody were all smiles, laughing and interacting with the other passengers in their train car—their joy was simply infectious.

“We were reminiscing on the train ride and making jokes,” Catherine shared. “When my sister and I get together, it’s an entertaining show for others. People enjoy listening to our stories!”

As they climbed higher into the Alpine Zone, they kept their eyes peeled for bighorn sheep and yellow-bellied marmot. But it was the expansive views of Colorado’s landscape that took Catherine’s breath away.

Finally, they reached the summit! At 14,115 feet above sea level, they stood hand in hand, taking it all in. Catherine understood why Pikes Peak summit is nicknamed “the gateway to heaven.”

They warmed up inside the striking Summit Visitor Center with just enough time to partake in a time-treasured tradition.

Pikes Peak is not only one of the most visited mountaintops in the world, it also has world-famous donuts—the only ones made at 14,000 feet!

To celebrate their reunion and adventure on the rails, Catherine and Jody said, “Cheers!” and enjoyed every bite of the fluffy, warm donuts.

When we asked Catherine about the impact of her wish, she shared a moving reply with us.

“This might be the last time we are together. We are older, I am getting more sick, and she is getting more sick,” Catherine said. “The biggest impact was I got to see my sister and spend this time with her…That is my Utopia. The whole thing was amazing.”

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