Roadtrippin' Colorado Style

At the eastern interchange of I-70 and SH 9. The Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels (the highest point in the interstate system) are 5 miles and 2500 feet west and up from here.

As a helpful reminder to merging traffic, CDOT posts the subtle hint that the lane continues ahead. As if anyone in this state knows what this sign means.

SH 9 is pretty well marked on 70, considering it's only multiplexed for about 3 miles.

The hammer lane becomes the exit only lane at the next exit.

No, the sign maker wasn't drunk. There's a roundabout ahead.

The roundabout services not much but SH 9 and the interstate.

Instead of continuing to play Ring Around the Rosie, we'll get out of the roundabout and continue to head south.

Entering Frisco, CO. This town is number 2 on my list of places I'd like to live in Colorado. Estes Park is #1.

Breakin' the law, Breakin' the law!

After Frisco, 9 heads up a small hill. And into a rain shower apparently.

Even though we're between mountain towns now, 9 is still heavily traveled. This intersection will take you back to Silverthorne to the left, and to the right...

... lies Summit County High School. This place is freakin' HUGE!

Blank sign? Nope. Itty bitty LEDs light up telling you that the road's icy. Since the road's not icy, the LED's aren't working. Simple enough.

This section of 9 is slated for widening to four lanes. It's a slow progress up here, and to appease the harried travelers, CDOT has installed passing lanes.

Cool retaining wall. The railing is there for the bike path that parallels the road through here.

Passing lane and some fourteeners for your traveling enjoyment.

Big warning that the passing lane is about to go bye-bye.

Heading towards Breckenridge.

Welcome to Breck!

Traffic lights for you lightgeeks. This one's complete with a u-turn OK sign.

CDOT just finished moving 9 off of Main Street and onto a new alignment. This is a good thing since Main Street was overwhelmed with traffic.

Let's take the new alignment, shall we?

Isn't the arrow redundant?

Curving around the west side of the town.

Looks like the Breckenridge Ski Area is expanding its lift lines.

Looking over at downtown Breck.

This is what I remember a ski town looks like: A bunch of 4-5 story condos, small shops, heavy traffic.

And through it all SH 9 continues on its merry way.

Time to head back to the original alignment.

The southern side of town is built up some more, so the new alignment of 9 has some tight city street turns.

Back on the old alignment.

Random ski town street scene.

At the home of the Breckenridge Brewery. The beers this place creates is phenomenal. I especially like the Proper Hefeweizen and the Avalanche Ale. Yum!

I was going to show you the next distance sign, but I guess that installing guardrail is more important or something.

That deer's good at the hula hoop.

Entering Blue River. This community is entirely a commuter town. I have never seen any commercial development within city limits.

Cheap truck! Fell apart in the middle! (And before I get the "You Moron!" emails, I know that's what the truck is supposed to look like. After doing this site for two years, though, I'm starting to run out of material for my humor.)

Blue River is just a mish-mash of residential streets that intersect 9 in some of the most inopportune places.

Another pic for the distance shot scrapbook.

Blue River stretches along 9 for about 2 miles.

14,265 feet Mount Quandry is located just south of Blue River.

See? There it is!

Going up!