Moving Day thru Snowy Wolf Creek Pass,

Location: Alamosa KOA (el. 7,550 ft); Alamosa, Colorado

(click pictures to enlarge)
(all pictures taken with Nokia Lumia 929 Cell Phone)

I woke up yesterday morning to snow flurries as they passed through the Cortez, Colorado area. It was too warm to stick but looking at the radar, the higher elevations were getting it pretty good. This is the storm system that is now impacting the mid-west. 

Today was moving day and as I was hitching up I wondered what the snow storms had left behind on the planned easterly route. It was already going to be an interesting tow because I would be crossing the Continental Divide while passing through the Wolf Creek Pass. The pass was one of the things I wanted to see in this area. I remember hearing about it in C. W. McCall's song from 1975. Another item checked off the list.

There was snow everywhere but the road was clear. Approaching the mountains, the temperature was in the mid-40's but dropped to 34 degrees at the summit. It took me about 1 1/2 hours to clear the pass. It would have taken the pioneers in the mid 1800's 2 to 3 weeks to cross. Even as late as the early 1900's, people planned on 2 days to cross.

It was 9 miles of 2nd gear climbing to get to the summit of the pass which is at an elevation of 10,850 feet. Once you top over and begin the descent, if you're not very careful you will smoke your brakes and lose control. Freedom and Liberty handled the up and down just fine. It was the toughest hill they have had to cross since being on the road and we've crossed several mountain ranges over the last 13 months. It reinforces how wise I was to chose those two products out of so many choices. I can use the word "wise" because when I got my hair cut at Walmart the other day, the Professional Hair Expert that cut my hair said I didn't have grey hair. Apparently, I have Wisdom Highlights.  :)

I think I was very lucky to be able to see the pass covered in snow but the road being clear. Especially this late in the winter. 

It was a good day. I enjoyed it. 

The desert landscape quickly changed over to green pastures within an hour of leaving Cortez.

Still green pastures but the mountains were coming into view.

The pastures were gone and only trees and snowy mountains remained.

It didn't take long for the snow to get thick on the side of the road. Notice the 180 degree curve sign, commonly referred to as "kiss your a$$ curve".

You can see the road to angling off to the right in the middle of the picture. Steady climb.

The snow on the trees made everything look great.

There were patches of blue sky trying to poke through

Getting close to the summit. I was hoping the clouds would not get any lower.

Looking out the side window

More view out the side window

Topped out and heading down the other side.

Once in the flat land on the east side, the weather was nicer.

Campsite at Alamosa KOA

I will only be here for 2 days. Tomorrow, I plan to take a day trip into New Mexico to see a town I lived in 42 years ago when I was a wide-eyed 17 year old. I wonder if memories will come flooding back or not.

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.