Zebulon Montgomery Pike was a successful explorer. But, it seems he was successful in spite of miscalculations.
He started his exploration at the age of 26 when, as a soldier, he led 20 men on an expedition up the Mississippi River.
They left in August, expecting to get back before the winter freeze.
Unfortunately, he miscalculated and the waterways froze. They had to spend the winter in Minnesota.
A couple of months later Pike went on another venture. This time he and his men explored the headwaters of the Arkansas River. When they arrived in Colorado, Pike saw a towering peak. He decided to climb it… Another miscalculation.
He underestimated the height of the mountain. Dressed only in thin cotton clothes, they struggled in deep snow and freezing temperatures, not making it to the top. Incidentally, although this mountain came to be known as Pike’s Peak, it was not something that Pike promoted.
During this second expedition Pike miscalculated his location, and wandered into Spanish territory, and was captured. He and his men were moved from Santa Fe, to Chihuahua, before being released. The whole time Pike gathered information on the Spanish territory to be later given to his commanders.
Impressed with his daring; the army promoted him to brigadier general. Unfortunately, on April 27, 1813 Zebulon Pike made another miscalculation by standing too close to an abandoned British powder magazine that was exploded. A rock from the explosion killed him.
Zebulon Pike packed a lifetime in a few short years dying at the age of 34.
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