Pikes Peak Historical Society presents Gary Ziegler, broadly defined as an explorer, archaeologist, mountaineer, sailor, cowboy, lawman and sometime philosopher at their November Chautauqua. Ziegler is a field archaeologist, researcher, and experienced Andean explorer with a background in geology.

His father was one of the organizers of the first Pikes Peak Marathon and Ziegler ran it at 14 years old. During the 50 Year Anniversary in 2005, he ran it as a guest of honor. “I was the only one they could find alive who had run the Peak in the early years,” he quipped.

While he attended Colorado College with a break for the Peace Corps in South America, his parents had built their small mining company, Ziegler Mining and Minerals, into a successful operation. They assembled exceptional personal collections of Colorado crystals and minerals and supplied specimens to collectors and museums around the world.

“Looking for calmer places and a new direction, I saw an ad for a place for sale near Westcliffe which looked appealing. It turned out to be three hundred fifty acres and a group of run down, abandoned buildings,” he explained.

He purchased Bear Basin Ranch in 1970; learned the art of horse trading, purchased more property around the ranch, began Outfitting, Guiding and Outdoor Recreation, created Arkansas River Tours, became a member of Peak Range Riders, did some rodeo, and became a recognized Inca specialist.

During the summer of 1980, he met his wife to be, Amy Finger. She stopped in for a ride, applied for a job and never left. “I admit it took a few nights with my old Gibson guitar and campfire romancing to close the deal,” he said.

Ziegler has done Filming work with the Discovery Channel, BBC, History and Science Channels along
with funding from National Geographic and the Royal Geographical Society of London. And as John Rakowski, President of PPHS said, “You really have to meet this guy.”

Ziegler will present a summary of his observations of indigenous human created structures in the Peruvian Andes and in Colorado. He will also address Incan features near Machu Picchu as well as interpreted Native American created features in Colorado.

The Chautauqua’s are presented to the public free of charge as a public service of the Pikes Peak Historical Society. No reservation is required. The presentation is Sunday, November 19, at 2 p.m. at the Lake George Charter School, 38874 US Hwy 24, Lake George, CO. The school is located only 4 minutes from Florissant, on the south side of Highway 24 just two tenths’ miles west of the Ferrell Propane lot. For more information call 719-748-8259 or 719-748-3861.