birthday 3-1 trip
Another year has passed in the life of r-dub. Guess it's time to celebrate with another road trip. I've got a hankerin' for some pass hopping. Let's see where these roads will take me this time, shall we?
New picts now
For those of you now joining the trip since you didn't want to see pictures I've already had on the site, welcome! We've just left Buena Vista on CR 306 headed towards Cottonwood Pass. This pass gets closed every wintertime, although supposedly in severe emergencies, it can be pressed into service. As we'll see, though, I wouldn't want to be the one having to use this road in the heart of winter...
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A Flash Flood Detour Route? Cool.
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Pretty respectable hand-made signs here.
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The mountains loom now.
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Ominous. I like it! I haven't heard of any time where this road was covered in a mudslide, but the road to the south on the way up to St. Elmo has been.
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Mount Princeton looms ever closer.
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These horses are hitched at the local human watering hole. Drinking and riding, anyone?
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Nice.
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We're climbing, but not as quickly as I would have guessed considering how close the mountains are.
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I think I'd be a little cautious about crossing here, considering how close to a head shot that actually was.
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Snowmobile Allowed Cloud.
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YEAH! That's what I'm talking about!
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At the Point of No Return. What's that sign say, you ask?
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Glad you asked. And in case you still can't read the small type, it says "Beyond this point, motorized vehicles, with the exception of snowmobiles and snowcats, are not permitted. Violators are warned that road conditions are not suitable for travel. The cost of rescue of persons or vehicles shall be bourne by the violators. --Board of commissioners of Chaffee County."
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Now we're really climbing.
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While it may not seem like this stretch needs to be closed in the winter, we're in a steep valley here. The snow comes in hard and fast here.
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Awww, ain't that nice. They warn us before tearing up our shocks.
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What's a mountain pass without switchbacks?
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THe picts from the switchback were shot straight into the sun and didn't come out. We're back heading west after another switchback.
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When hiking up a mountain, you always judge where the top is when you don't see anything but blue between the trees. I don't think we're near the top yet.
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Timberline, however, is just a stone's throw away.
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Closing in on the top of the pass.
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If you look closely on the left ridge, you can see people. There's a trail up to the top of this peak.
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Switching back away from the summit for a bit.
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Getting closer...
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Closer still. Those are some pretty beaten up guardrails.
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Success! We're at the summit of Cottonwood Creek Pass, elevation 12,126. Would you like more information about Cottonwood Pass?
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Starting our trek down now.
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Time to leave Chaffee County and the wonderful world of blacktop behind. This is also the former END! of SH 306.
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Beginning GCR 209. Keep your quads to yourself, please.
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Looking to our left.
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Even though GCR 209 is dirt, it's really well maintained.
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This is where I question the decision to use Cottonwood Pass as an interstate 70 detour in emergency situations. Yes, that's the road we're about to be on.
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I guess the driver on the sign knows how slippery. Look at how torn up the back end of his car is!
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I still can't get over the curviness of this road!
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No sh*t, sherlock.
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Just in case you didn't see the curviness before and didn't believe the Dancing Arrow sign from before, maybe this scene will convince you that things are about to get interesting.
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Turnoff to a picnic area.
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Mountain range + random cloud = scenic goodness. The body of water you see in the background is Taylor Reservoir. That's where we're headed.
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Starting our descent.
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Going below treeline.
- Where to next?
- Page 2
- This trip's Index
- Page 4
Section Links
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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