towns closest to wolf creek ski... (Denver, Durango: rent, transfer, maintenance)

[DOUBLE H]

Coloradoan. I didn't mean to sound like the grim reaper with the comments about the tour bus. It is just that I get aggravated that people are going 10 to 20 over the limit on passes without a thought about what is lurking around the corner. That is the main issue I have with newcomers to this state. I had a real close call going through Gateway canyon just last week with 2 jeeps who just couldn't wait to get around me. Stupid driving just wears me down anymore.

You make a good point regarding the state workers. They do a heck of a job maintaining the roads. I have posted on different threads regarding the work they do. The tunnel they put in and all the construction the last several years has helped a lot. But consider this. When I mentioned 1968, picture coming over Loveland Pass if you are coming over from Denver heading west. No such thing as the Eisenhower tunnel till 1973. Runway ramps for the runaway trucks. No such thing at that time. Wolf Creek Pass in 1968- a lot different too. Jazzlover can back me up on that. There have been other contractors other than Nielsson's up there doing work. It HAS come a ways. Jazz, I remember that Western State situation- was very depressing.

[njstinks0622]

well i wont be driving a school bus out there... a nice jeep should do the trick no?

[Coloradoan]

A jeep should do fine for you, just heed the warnings of Double H and Jazz. Don't speed or overdrive the road conditions! Even the most experienced mountain drivers can't always dodge out of the way of an over zealous new comer, or for that matter an overly confident long timer.


A little off topic, but back to CDOT; do you guys remember which pass the plow driver(s) were on when killed by an avalanche? Wasn't that sometime in the early 80's?

[McGowdog]

I used to haul a 28-foot trailer with a million dollar laser over that pass every 6 weeks from CoSprings or Denver or Greeley to Durango. I got to know that pass very well. I used a Ford F-350 Dually with trailer brakes and it was no fun when there was snow on the pass. Going up from the east side wasn't too bad; but going down the West side with snow is what scart me. So at the top, I'd put the Chains on and use bungee cords to fasten them down until I got down.

There was a definite pucker factor going down them switchbacks and only one time did I cancel a trip to Durango. The transport system was set up to have people ride with me in that big 4-door truck. Wussies. They set it up so they could fly in and I had to drive alone sometimes. That was back when I made the good bucks. Money isn't everything.

If you're gonna get a 4x4, I'd recommend an old Toyota Landcruiser with the 4 cylinder engine if you can find one in good mechanical condition. Either that or a 4x4 with a plow out front. I've never seen those get stuck in any kind of snow and they can go up any hill and don't roll.


Wolf Crick Pass

[DOUBLE H]

Take U.S. 550 out of Ouray, and you'll see a monument that the State Highway folks put up, honoring the man who was swept away, his name escapes me right now. It is right near the new snow shed, maybe 12 miles south of Ouray. The department done a good job flattening out the side where drivers can get off the road safely to read the monument. Heading southbound, it's on the left.

[Coloradoan]

Thanks DOUBLE H. Those drivers deserve to get paid a whole lot more than they do for keeping the mountain roads clear in the winter.

[PokerMunkee]

AWD/4X4+Blizzaks will get you through about anything. Winter tires are worth the $$ in high country.

[CherryMagic]

Scenic highway 160 from Walsenburg to Durango has to be - to this day, the most beautiful and trecherous roads I have ever driven.
My first (and only) time to drive this route was from Pueblo West in June 1994. Back then, I had a Jeep Cherokee pulling a pop up trailer, as we were camping across country. [it wasn't a 4x4]

From Walsenburg to Durango took us over 8 hours! I didn't do any of the driving - but I knuckled gripped it - and was doing alot of phantom breaking in the passenger seat.

Is Chips hamburger joint still open? I think it was in Pagosa Springs...can't remember - as we did alot of stopping to ooohhh & awwww at the waterfalls on the side of the road - Treasure Falls - etc...

Anywhoo - Chips had the best hamburgers - I had Buffalo for the first time. IIRC correctly - tons of land for sale back then $ 350 an acre. [ of course in 500 - 1000 parcels]

We ended up in PS late that night - found camp and left the next morning for the Grand Canyon. Good memories.

[esya]

I have not been over the pass in a blizzard since they finished the improvements, but I will say that driving it also requires nerves of steel esp after dark. I would still rather take my chances with Wolf Creek or any other pass than drive I-25 south of Denver at rush hour.

If they close the pass, you are talking about an overnight or several hour closure because usually it is to blast avalanche snow out and then take it out by truck. Once, I had to be in Durango the next day and they closed it at 3 pm and I drove down into New Mexico, and back up to Pagosa. I almost made it to Pagosa but ended up being stampeded by a herd of deer or elk coming into town after dark, which gave me a messed up front end. I still made it to Durango the next day. Hopefully the road widening and tunnels have improved that.

You did not say what side of the pass the cabin was on. The east side was where a very large fire (I forget the name) burned near South Park a few years ago; I was driving down the east slope when the first whisps of smoke and flames could be seen from the highway. I thought it weird that RVs were stopping to watch. I drove into town and stopped at the Brown Derby (is that it?--it's out of business now) and they already had had one employee who knew they lost everything they owned in the fire.

P.S. I drove the pass for several years in a souped up Ford Taurus which worked great, even in deep snow. I would not take the piece of junk Chevy I have to drive now over it in much of anything!

[njstinks0622]

this all sounds intense.... Id love to be apart of the CDOT crew who does it... needless to say im definitely applying once i get out there... Anyone know people on the road maitenance crew? It says they always have open applications out even if its for part-time.