the big three-oh tour
The date: July 3, 1976. The place: Northwest Community Hospital in Rolling Meadows, IL. The event: r-dub's entrance to this world of ours. Flashing forward thirty years, we find r-dub wandering yet again, enjoying not only his birthday but a rare day off from work as well. He's heading to the southwest part of the state, heretofor unconquered by him. Let's tag along, shall we?
Starting in Walsenberg, CO this time...
Since I have already photographed I-25 south from Colorado Springs in my Southern Figure-8 Tour page, I'm not going to hit you with that again. We'll start this trip in Walsenberg and head west on US 160. (Plus, in order to get the best light for the pics, it was still dark when I left home.)
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We've just turned off of BL 25 onto westbound 160. Here we go!
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This sign doesn't lie. This area of the state has already been hit by one large fire, the Mato Vega Fire.
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Usually only closed during winter storms, this sign saw the closed sign put into place just within the last few weeks due to the fire getting to the highway.
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In fact, crews are still on scene making sure the fire doesn't flare up again.
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Distance sign. No flash photography. You might startle it.
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Uhmmm, close, but no cigar for this sign.
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Approaching SH 12, which was documented on that figure 8 tour on this site.
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At the western END! of SH 12.
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Looking down SH 12. Let me tell you my policy for END!s on this trip: this trip is for pleasure, not END!s business. While I'll definitely take shots of any ends I pass, I'm not going to go out of my way to get any extra ends on this trip. I want to cover one specific part of highway here, and I'll need to time the sunlight just right.
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Another distance sign. Remember that mountain behind the sign, and watch how it grows. 160 travels right beside it as we start to ascend La Veta Pass.
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Rolling along towards La Veta Pass. The tilted phone poles aren't in service anymore and are just awaiting removal.
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Closer to that mountain.
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We're five miles away from the summit of North La Veta Pass. No one really calls the pass North La Veta Pass anymore.
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A parking area for trucks and tired roadgeeks. Remember that mountain? The steep slope to the right leads you right up to the summit.
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Reassuarance shield sighting. A lot of those clouds are leftovers from the overnight hours. They've been burning off in the morning sun.
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Of course, not all the clouds are gone. In roadgeeking news, here's the turnoff for Old (South) La Veta Pass. It's a twisty, narrow dirt road that essentially hugs the south side of the valley, while N. La Veta Pass hugs the north side.
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At the summit of La Veta Pass. This is one of the smoothest, easiest passes to crest in Colorado. There's barely a truck minimum speed limit.
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Descending the west side (WESSS-SYYYYDE!) of La Veta Pass.
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The Mato Vega Fire starts to make an appearance.
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Still descending. The fire zone is just over that ridge to the right.
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At times, the fire made it right up to the road. The road did act as a firebreak, though: no flames made it south of 160.
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Looks like we got a little rain overnight up here.
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The best shot of the burn scar from 160.
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Random dome amongst abandoned homes.
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We're pretty much finished with our descent of La Veta Pass now.
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Mmmmmm. New pavement.
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A short ascent while we enter the San Luis Valley.
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A CDOT truck! The driver is out taking pictures of the mountain range we just traveled through. He's shooting into the sun, though. I wonder how well his pics will come out.
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In today's age of convenience, here's something you don't see often anymore.
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Aawww, how quaint. I wonder how often those tables get used. (Not counting motorcyclists and bicyclists who use that as shelter when it's raining.)
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A heavily advertised cross road.
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Another picnic area!
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As a hint to use the picnic area, CDOT slows us down to pass it.
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Nah, just kidding. Here's Fort Garland.
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What's with all the lines?
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Another END! This time, it's SH 159's turn to be photographed.
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33 miles from this point, 159 ends at the New Mexico border.
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A distance sign showing distances. DUH! Captain Obvious strikes again!
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Heading back to 160 now, we find a rarity on Colorado Highways: an End sign.
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The last few yards of SH 159.
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Interesting sign rot pattern. Reminds me of BOOBIES!
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How.
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Nice rack!
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The San Luis Valley is a very flat area smack between two mountain ranges. Here's photographic proof of that.
- Where to next?
- This trip's Index
- Page 2
Section Links
- Trip Index
- Page 1
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- Page 13
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the orginizations listed within this site. I'm just a bored roadgeek with way too much time on his hands. All of the picts in this page are mine and mine alone unless otherwise noted. Remember, kids: stealing is bad, mmmm-k? I get quite pissy if things are taken without telling me. I don't like to be pissy. You won't like it either. If you want to link to this page, that's fine. Please shoot me an email beforehand so I can link to your page as well. K? Thanks. --Ryan
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