Snowy Mountains & Icy Pavement at Cottonwood Pass
Steve's Late October Evening Visit To Watch The Colorado Sunset - October 25, 2009
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I wanted to make one final visit to Cottonwood Pass
to watch and photograph the sunset before it closed for the season.
Late May is a long time from now (seven months to be exact) and something inside me
needed a high altitude Rocky Mountain "fix."
As seen in the adjacent photo, the sunset was largely a dud. We have had many days with thick
clouds forming over the mountains in the evening - more than usual.
Still, I think I came up with some interesting Colorado scenery photos. |
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The snow bank is slowly building on the Gunnison County side of the pass. Also the
tundra pool
is very likely frozen and has a layer of snow on it. :) |
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Folks, it was really cold up there. I'm going to estimate it being approximately 10 to 15 degrees, but with
the strong winds, the windchill may have made it feel like zero or -5. I'm not kidding you!
Adjacent is the Cottonwood Pass sign and the trail
(Continental Divide Trail)
that leads up to that first peak that stands at ~12,500 feet. |
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Three photos looking out toward Ice Mountain and its range.
No question the pink and lavendar over the mountains make the pictures that much better! |
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Ahhhhh beautiful snow. I was so happy to be there. I know... I know... it's probably something like 87
degrees in Tampa, south Texas or Phoenix
right now! :)
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Notice how icy the parking lot is. Friends, at this point in the season, I do not recommend driving a
non-4-wheel drive vehicle over Cottonwood Pass. Plenty of icy and snowy patches existed for about one mile east of the divide (on the Chaffee County side).
Personally, I drove up there just fine, but visiting is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. The pass will be closing soon anyway. |
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Coming down on Chaffee County Road 306. The
19 mile drive from Buena Vista
never bores me and almost always "clears my head." I'm so grateful to live here!
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