Today's Colorado Pass Bagger

[LongRanger_imp]

Just returned from a nice day ride in the Colorado Rockies: 289 miles and 8 passes totalling 83,000' of elevation, including two Continental Divide crossings. Traffic was reasonably light but there were many bikes on the road, mostly Harleys, mostly from out of state. Perfect weather: 80's and clear skies.

Passes
Guanella Pass: 11,669'
Kenosha Pass: 10,001'
Red Hill Pass: 10,051'
Trout Creek Pass: 9,346'
Tennessee Pass: 10,424' (Continental Divide)
Battle Mtn Pass: 9,267'
Vail Pass: 10,666'
Loveland Pass: 11,992' (Continental Divide)

I made it a point to stop at the 10th Mountain Division Monument atop Tennessee Pass. For those who are WWII buffs, you may recall the 10th was the elite army division who trained for winter combat (skiing, rock climbing, etc.) at nearby Camp Hale and overwhelmed the Nazis in the Italian theatre in the winter of 1945. Several returned to Colorado after the war and founded many of the ski resorts we enjoy today, including Vail, Aspen, Ski Cooper, and Arapahoe Basin. Thanks fellas. RIP.

– Saw combat in Cutigliano, Battle of Monte Castello, Monte Della Torraccia-Mount Belvedere, Canolle, Mongiorgio, Torbole and Nago
– 992 killed in action
– 4,154 wounded in action
– 114 days of combat



I took Ferret and Offroad over Tennessee Pass when they were visiting last summer. Ferret was leading on that leg, didn't know about the monument, and flew right past it. I guess he was having too good of a time to stop. Had I been leading, we would have stopped. Fifteen minutes later the skies opened up and the temperature collapsed and we had to tiptoe through slush and snow over Fremont Pass. Good times!

But then again, I don't blame him. This is a really scenic route and it's tough to stop when the curves keep coming at you. I got off the bike three times today: once for breakfast in Fairplay, once for gas in Leadville (63 mpg trip average) and once again to take the photos. The CB was faultless.

Today's route:



10th Mountain Division Memorial, US Hwy 24:





Looking up at the Red Cliff Bridge, US Hwy 24, which I crossed about a minute later:

[the Ferret]

Really crisp and clear pics LR. I like em!

[flynrider]

Lookin' good, LR! I seriously envy you. After riding around in 108 degree temps (with some ugly humidity to boot), your pics have dropped my brain temperature about 40 degrees.

[offroadfx4_imp]

That was some great riding you took us on LongRanger!

We need to do it again maybe next July?

Maybe Empty Sea, Ferret and some others would want to go.

I'm still interested in the south west part of Colorado you talked about!

[glenncal1_imp]

Long- good loop and a good time to ride up high, it was hot again in Denver yesterday. Gonna take a ride and a trip to the farmers market early today before the rain starts and while it is cool.

[use2b_imp]

Nice ride , pics and History
the 10th was used in Afghanistan also .
those guys were so tough some could have become US Marines
footage on U-tube BTW

[LongRanger_imp]

If there's sufficient interest and participation I can organize a CB rally in Ouray, CO, for next July. There's a great KOA in town for those who would like to camp, plus a handful of motels but they tend to sell out months in advance and can be pricey. Ouray makes a great base camp for exploring SW Colorado. I find the riding and scenery there to be the best in the entire state.

[Ole_imp]

I would be all over another visit to your fine state. My Son and I just did a 4300 miler out there. My arm would not have to be twisted to go back!

[Stichill_imp]

Awesome day ride, LR...that's one for the books!

A rally in SW CO sounds like a terrific idea!

[Frulk_imp]

Nice ride LR. A few minutes from my house in a tiny town (prob more like a village really) there's a cottage that has seen better days with a stand alone one door garage. Above the garage door were two crossed ski's with a homemade wooden 10th Mt Div. Crest under them. I always assumed a 10th Mt Division vet lived there. I passed that house today on the Harley and noticed the ski's and crest were no longer there. Garage was painted a different color. Maybe the place sold as real estate prices around here are going crazy. If that crest is gone for good I for one hate to see it go.