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?
Late for my surprise party!
Rolling as fast as I dare, trying to dodge raindrops and get home as soon as I can now. The Skirt has cake and a bunch of friends waiting for me.
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Here's where the Loose Gravel warning from the last page was talking about. My bet is that one good rainstorm causes this stuff to pour down onto the road.
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Cleaning up their mess before the rain starts.
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Got to watch this worker fold up one of those foldable sign supports in three seconds flat. Would have taken me a lot longer than 3 seconds, I guarantee.
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Still climbing, but now we're starting to get a little wet, too.
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The sign on the right is advertising the runaway truck ramp.
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At the summit of Monarch Pass, we have a rest stop and a scenic view chairlift.
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Cresting the summit.
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That is the oddest place for the pass sign.
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Starting to head down the pass. That's Monarch ski area in the background. I believe that this is also the location of the CDOT Camera of this pass.
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Well, this sucks when trying to make up time. Good thing he pulled over at the earliest possible point.
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Approaching Monarch Mountain.
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The turnoff to Old Monarch Pass. Since even the trucks stop here and only the four-wheelers go up the road, I'm going to guess that the old road and my car wouldn't get along too well.
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Nice quads! Just stay off Cottonwood and Kebler passes!
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Still heading downhill. Not as fast as we went uphill, mind you.
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The entrance to the Monarch Ski Area.
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To the campers out there: don't take this sign that literally. It'll hurt. A lot.
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A little mining operation underway on the other side of the valley.
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Monarch Pass gets enough snow in the winter that the ground-mounted sign could feasibly be covered. This is the best way around that.
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Runaway Truck Ramp Pron!
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We're in the middle of a mountain pass, so I thought this sign out of place ...
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... until I rounded the corner. As for that price, is that the room fee or a free service they provide? :)
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Just when you thought it was safe to put the car in neutral!
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Let me set up this scene for you: a tour bus is pulled over on the opposite side of the road, luggage compartment doors open. These guys were watching a group of about 10 down a little further on the hill doing something. Any guesses?
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Another Colorado driving tip: if the chain-up station is on the opposite side of the road, you're pretty much done with whatever pass you were just on.
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Yup, definitely off of Monarch Pass.
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Guardrail protecting an old bridge rail.
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Approaching US 285. While Salida isn't for a few miles down the road, it has spread out to encompass this intersection.
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Which way do we go?
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US 50 and US 285 share the same pavement for about 1/2 mile.
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At the southern intersection of 50 and 285.
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"I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride. I'm wanted, dead or alive..."
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Typical shot of US 50 from the US 285 interchange to about 2 miles to the east of Salida.
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So I got to thinking: if I need to be home quickly, I should really take 285 back to 24 and head home that way. So that's what I did. We're now traveling north on US 285.
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285 is built for speed. Me likey!
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Sorry, still not used to seeing pictures on the paid-for signs.
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Here's the northern END! of SH 291. All 291 is is a connector route between 285 and US 50 on the east side of Salida.
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Looking down SH 291.
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Only 16 miles before we make a complete loop!
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How many things can you jam on one sign, anyways?
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Another BUSTED! moment.
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US 285 has multiple water crossings. At least, I think that's water lines.
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2di shield used for 3 digits, plus a maintenance marker.
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More overhead piping.
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I'm not just duplicating pictures. There really are this many overhead pipes on this road.
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Turn here to get to a great hot springs resort.
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A new log cabin being built. Daniel Boone would be impressed.
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The Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway is one of Colorado's newest byways. It runs from Salida in the south up US 285 and US 24 to SH 82, where it connects with the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway.
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Coming up on the intersection with US 24 again. Here's another example of that fugly sign we saw earlier.
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We have completely done a big loop now. The loop from here took us almost exactly 7 hours. Whew!
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Alright! Only 92 miles from home.
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Hidden behind the VMS lies this notice about a state wildlife area.
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One last picture for you. This crane scared the daylights outta me. That ball was swinging wildly. It was unnerving to drive by, that's for sure.
On that note, I'm off to eat cake and celebrate what's left of my bday. Hope you all enjoyed tagging along on the Birthday 3-1 Tour! See you soon with more picture and video goodness!
- Where to next?
- Page 10
- This trip's Index
- Various Trips Index
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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