Thursday May 27
Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado descent down the Western slope of the Continental Divide
Hwy 160west San Juan Mountains
San Juan nat forest, Southern Ute indian territory / land
Coming out of Wolf Creek Pass, the summit is 10,863' elev, and declines to 7,100' elev ... some 3/4 of a mile -- 3,750'+ drop in about 20 miles.
This descent is so steep... about a 7% grade decline... there are a couple of runaway truck emergency ramps for trucks that might lose their brakes on this steep deline.
Stopped at a turnout with overview of the plains below... Wow view! this is the southern most region of the Rocky Mountains... and this view is to the West.
After climbing up to the summit, and now back down... I can't imagine the sheer raw guts it would take to drive a team of oxen and wagon through this pass... and you had to go through the pass; the mountain peaks were another 3 to 4+ thousand feet higher.
Beautiful Colorado countryside on into Pagosa Springs.
ITW 19
Thursday May 27
Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado descent down the Western slope of the Continental Divide
Hwy 160west San Juan Mountains
San Juan nat forest, Southern Ute indian territory / land
Coming out of Wolf Creek Pass, the summit is 10,863' elev, and declines to 7,100' elev ... some 3/4 of a mile -- 3,750'+ drop in about 20 miles.
This descent is so steep... about a 7% grade decline... there are a couple of runaway truck emergency ramps for trucks that might lose their brakes on this steep deline.
Stopped at a turnout with overview of the plains below... Wow view! this is the southern most region of the Rocky Mountains... and this view is to the West.
After climbing up to the summit, and now back down... I can't imagine the sheer raw guts it would take to drive a team of oxen and wagon through this pass... and you had to go through the pass; the mountain peaks were another 3 to 4+ thousand feet higher.
Beautiful Colorado countryside on into Pagosa Springs.
