Snowshed on Red Mountain Pass, Colorado, 3-16-19

Rockskipper

No ETA
.
Joined
Jun 11, 2017
Messages
4,266
The canyon there is at least 100 feet deep - if you went off now, you wouldn't go far. This is the Riverside Slide. Historic snow. From the Colo. Dept. of Highways FB site. For those of you not familiar with it, this is normally a two-lane highway.

53646138_2091622744225954_173639776816070656_n.jpg
54433838_2091622750892620_2940136084568276992_n.jpg
North Red Mt Pass UPDATE:
There is light at the end of the tunnel! Crews punched a hole through the snow shed which had been filled with snow from a triggered avalanche. But look what waits for them on the other side!

Yesterday’s mitigation brought down more snow on top of the shed. (Thankfully it did not flow back into the shed.) The entire mountain corridor has been mitigated, crews can now work safely.

53749510_2090192701035625_3032837980080308224_n.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/coloradodot/photos/a.655158477872395/2091622740892621/?type=3&theater
 
Last edited:
The name of the pass was familiar. I had to GOOGLE the location.
I remember Red Mountain Pass. I crossed it around 1990ish on my bicycle. My twin nephews and I rode the San Juan Skyway.
At one point I remember looking down at the road. There was about 6" of asphalt. Then maybe a foot of gravel. Then air. Lots of air with rocks at the bottom.
It's a lot different now. Thanks for sharing!
Wayne
 
Actually, it's not much different. They can't put guard rails on most of it because then they can't plow it, it's too narrow. Still straight down and very heady, at least on the west side.
 
In another part of Colorado. This a shot of Conundrum Creek near Aspen, the trailhead for Conundrum Hot Springs is to the left.
I was headed up the day before the avalanche to photograph the house at the bottom of the picture, It was snowing too hard for me to get up there so I turned around. The house in the center of the canyon was totaled. It had been there since the 70's I think.

IMG_0080.jpg

Also, I always dreaded driving over Red Mountain Pass in the winter.
 
Last edited:
It was totaled? The report I read said the snow barrier saved it, though it had some minor damage. Pretty crazy spot for a house, regardless. And a good thing you didn't go up there. Wow.
 
Well, I’m certainly not in the loop, was just going by what the paper said. It’s a pretty crazy place for a house, IMO.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
TrektheWorld Red Deer Lake & Beyond Backpacking 10
NorthwestWanderer First time in the High Uintas | Red Castle SNEAK Loop | I give these mountains 5 out of 5 stars Backpacking 7
TheMountainRabbit Red's Meadow to Tuolumne Meadows via the High Route (Ansel Adams/Yosemite Wilderness) - August 2022 Backpacking 5
TeamJenkins17 Red Tops/Needle Creek Drainage Info Trip Planning 0
BJett Red River Gorge/Red Byrd Arch Packraft Trip - Kentucky Hiking & Camping 9
Stephanie B Our Intro to the Red Desert, September 14 - 16, 2020 Hiking & Camping 4
fossana Red Cliffs & Dixie NF fire-related trail/road closures (St George area) Trip Planning 1
wsp_scott Two kids and the Red River Gorge Backpacking 7
wsp_scott A year in the Red River Gorge Backpacking 15
Artemus Road Proposed to be Bulldozed through Red Cliffs Recreation Area General Discussion 7
wsp_scott Red River Gorge (KY) Backpacking 3
WasatchWill Red Castle vs Cirque of the Towers vs Titcomb Trip Planning 50
Ehouston24 Uintas Loop (Red Castle/Kings Peak) Trip Planning 14
b.stark Red River Gorge 2010 "From The Vault" Backpacking 5
fossana Red Reef loop Hiking & Camping 3
DrNed Red Castle Kings Peak Henry's Fork Take Two Backpacking 8
cmgz Red Breaks from Harris Wash Canyoneering 13
fossana Red Cliffs Après Work Scramble Hiking & Camping 3
J Red Rock(s) Canyon Natl.Conservation Area Hikes and Scrambles Nov. 15 and 16, 2017 Hiking & Camping 0
L Red Castle Lakes / Wilson Peak OR Rock Creek Basin Trip Planning 4
Dustin Gent Red Breaks via Spencer Creek Road General Discussion 1
Ugly Wednesday Night's Red Pine Winter Sports 2
jdfut66 Red Castle Loop Backpacking 13
George_Washington_Hayduke Possible to go up Red Breaks? Trip Planning 5
Tystevens Henry's Fork -- Red Castle loop from China Meadows Backpacking 2
Kootenai Red Castle recommendations? Trip Planning 1
Perry Red Castle Is Open for Business ... eeh .. Almost Backpacking 19
scatman Red Butte Canyon Rim-Walk - May 20, 2017 Hiking & Camping 10
AKay09 Red River Gorge/Clifty Wilderness Trip Planning 0
Stephanie Quick trip to Coyote Gulch via Red Well Trip Planning 4
danger02ward Dead horse lake with a visit to continent lake,reconnaissance lake, red knob pass, and allsop pass Backpacking 4
Perry Off Trail Porcupine Pass to Red Castle Lake Trip Planning 5
Kullaberg63 Indecision Peak, Red Rocks, NV Hiking & Camping 0
Perry Question About Number In Red Shown At Top of Main Page Questions, Suggestions & Support 2
Jackson Lower Red Castle Lake Backpacking 4
Ross Hiking/easy canyoneering partner for Bull Valley Gorge,Sand Wash (Red Cave) & other spots Trip Planning 0
Seldom Seen Anderson Red Butte Wilderness Hiking & Camping 3
IntrepidXJ Red Mountain Colors Hiking & Camping 4
Writhdar Red Breaks Northeast & East Forks Loop? (Escalante area) General Discussion 3
BJett Hikesgiving 2015 in the Red River Gorge Backpacking 10
D John Muir Trail: Yosemite to Red's Meadow Backpacking 8
Red Rock Rangers Red Canyon Hiking & Camping 0
BJett Red River Gorge, Kentucky - Perseids Hiking & Camping 5
Bigred72 Red Pine Lake Backpacking 1
IntrepidXJ Red Mountain Pass Peaks Hiking & Camping 8
Jackson Red Pine Lake Backpacking 6
BJett Upper Red River - Red River Gorge Geologic Area On The Water 13
lostlandscapes Lower Red Castle Lake -- 6/13/15 Backpacking 19
DrNed King's Peak Red Castle Loop Planning Trip Planning 9
Artemus Backcountry route/Divide Crossing to Red Castle Lake General Discussion 3

Similar threads

Back
Top