Northern Colorado Spring Ritual...

[swift6]

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional opening of Trail Ridge road through Rocky Mountain National Park in Northern Colorado. For the past twelve years, my local multi-marque British car club, has attempted to cross Trail Ridge road on the opening Saturday. I say attempted because there has been a few years where the road remained closed despite the Parks road crew’s best efforts. This years attempt wasn’t looking too good either, as the road had been closed overnight due to ice and low visibility. The good news was that it wasn’t fresh snow or blowing snow that had closed the road. We gathered on the west side of Loveland to caravan up to Estes Park and meet a few other cars there before entering the park. As we were getting ready to hit the road, we got word that Trail Ridge road had opened but was icy in spots and still had poor visibility. Eight cars decided to brave the weather and we headed off to Grand Lake on the west side of the park for lunch, window shopping and other tomfoolery. Jaclyn and I decided to take an alternate route home and headed north towards Walden so I could come down the Poudre Canyon and back into Fort Collins.

Our weapon of choice for this drive was my Triumph TR8 Coupe; we left home at 8:00 am, returned home shortly after 5:00 pm, total mileage was 256.5 and we averaged 27 mpg. Not bad for a 30 year old V8 with 156k miles on the clock. We crossed three mountain passes at 12, 183 feet, 9,621 feet and 10,276 feet. Wildlife sightings included several Elk, Deer, Mountain Goat, Big Horn Sheep, Ducks, Geese, a Wolf and a few Moose.

Here are some pictures, enjoy…

Entering the Big Thompson Canyon…

Approaching Estes Park…

About ½ mile into Rocky Mountain National Park, wildlife is abundant…

Climbing towards the alpine section of the park on Trail Ridge road…

Now in the Alpine/Tree line region… That’s not fog!

Drop offs on either side of the road, driving headlong into a cloud…

 

[swift6]

Plenty of snow left at the highest point of the road, 12,183 feet…

Descending from the summit, we cross the continental divide and visit the headwaters of the Colorado River.

After lunch and tomfoolery… climbing Willow Creek pass, a measly 9,621 feet…

After crossing Willow Creek pass we enter North Park, high altitude meadows. This is Cattle and Hay country…

Instead of going all the way to Walden, I took a 14 mile dirt road short cut; the views were worth it…

 

[swift6]

Evidence of the Pine Beetle Devastation in the foreground.

These meadows are at 8,000 plus feet. Storms move quickly up here too...

9 more miles of this…

Finally back on paved roads, climbing towards Cameron Pass, 10,276 feet…

Descending Cameron Pass and had rain all the way home. Between the dirt road and this stuff, the TR8 is sorely in need of a bath… :wink:

 

[drooartz]

Thanks for the pictures, Shawn. What a ride -- I really need to do that road one of these days.

 

[TR6BILL]

I hate you Shawn. When we take a road trip around here, we go down a few oil-field roads and end up at a Cajun Restaurant. I will trade you good food for the scenery any day. Nice ride.

 

[aerog]

Awesome. Beats anything here - it's not even a contest.

 

[DNK]

My view for the spring ritual

 

[Sherlock]

7239 Feet (Highwood Pass) in southern Alberta, a four hour drive from Calgary...

A minute after I took this photo a Mazda Miata came along, by then I was on the other side of the highway...

And just how crazy are photographers? Dare you ask? And if you just had to ask, this is a public highway...

 

[SteveTR]

Swift 6,

Thanks for the shots. I have been up there before and will again. This next time in some more style than a Mach 1.

Cheers,

 

[Steve_S]

That's my kind of trip, Shawn. Looks like a perfect day of driving!

 

[NickMorgan]

Shawn,
Fantastic pictures and it looked like a great drive. How many miles was that?
You have brought back great memories of my trip around the States in 1995. I LOVED Colorado and Wyoming. Amazing scenery and on such a large scale!

 

[swift6]

Glad your all enjoyingthe photos.

Nick, it was 256 miles round trip. I'll see about making a tracing of the route and post it too. :wink:

 

[Brosky]

Thanks Shawn. Nothing like that around here until you get up to Mt. Washington.

The Berkshires in western MA are nice, and some place in VT, but nothing like those heights.

 

[swift6]

So for those interested in just how little of Colorado that jaunt covered... I made a tracing of the route within a tracing of the state. I showed the major North/South and East/West Interstates and the locations of some of the more well known cities for reference.

The red/blue circuitous route is the route from the photos. Can't really show ALL of the twists and turns involved but its an idea for you.

As you can see, it doesn't cover that much of the state. Thought you East Coasters with small states might enjoy that perspective. :wink: