Independence Pass Now Open; Trail Ridge Road Remains Closed
We’re at that time of year now here in Colorado when you may or may not be able to ride some of the best roads in the state. May can be a little early to be coming here to ride but I know people are already doing so. Just this past weekend, when I was down at EagleRider in downtown Denver there were about eight Harleys lined up at the curb waiting for a group of European (German?) riders, who showed up while I was there.
I hope those guys didn’t have their heart set on riding Trail Ride Road because that ain’t gonna happen. The latest word from the Department of Transportation is that the hope to have that road open in early June.
On the other hand, DOT announced today that Independence Pass will open today. I’m guessing that if you ride that pass in the next couple days you’d better dress warmly. Right after it opens that road is likely to have high walls of snow on one or both sides of the road and temperatures at altitude are not balmy.
As for the other seasonal roads, here’s what DOT now says on their website.
Pikes Peak road: Currently the road is open 13 of the 19 miles. Weather permitting it will be open all the way later today.
Mount Evans road: “Due to recent heavy snowfall, the Mt. Evans Highway is not expected to open for another one to two weeks. Crews have been diligently working each day to get the road cleared of snow and ice. However, snow is cleared one day and then more snow falls overnight, requiring crews to retrace their plowing operation from the previous day. Crews are currently re-clearing the area between Echo Lake and Summit Lake and will then clear the last four miles to the summit.”
Cottonwood Pass and Kebler Pass are still closed as of this date, May 26, 2011.
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May 27th, 2011 at 6:04 am
Such a strange thing, but I understand it. In Virginia the peaks are a little less dramatic, and so is the change in weather at the top. Still, yesterday was almost 95 degrees – it’s hard to think that there are places still closed due to snowfall.
I really hope to drive through CO this summer on a long trip.
Brady
Behind Bars – Motorcycles and Life
http://www.behindbarsmotorcycle.com/
May 27th, 2011 at 8:31 am
good update Ken, I had been thinking re Mt Evans this weekend but will now wait a bit more.
dom
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