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May 29, 2019
Mt Evans/Echo Lake? Not So Fast...
Today, I tried to drive the BMW X3 up to Mt Evans/Echo Lake, and didn't make it. The first section of the road to Echo Lake is named Squaw Pass, and then changes to Colorado State Highway 103 at, or near, Little Bear Creek Road. It's 18 miles from Colorado State Highway 74 to Echo Lake, and then 14 miles from Echo Lake down to Idaho Springs. So, the mile markers count down to 14 as you drive up to Echo Lake (from Colorado State Highway 74). 4 miles before Echo Lake, at approximately Mile Marker 18, (just past Echo Ski Park), at approx. 10,600 ft above MSL, it started snowing so hard that I had to turn back. There was 1"-2" of snow on the road, and the BMW tires are not good. Pretty much bald. So, I did a U-turn (in front of a large dump-truck), and headed back down the mountain. Now, keep in mind that it's very nearly June. Global Warming is killing us this year.
It was dicey driving on the road with bald tires in the snow. But, better than being on the Honda Africa Twin motorcycle, I think. My understanding was that the road was open up to Summit Lake Park, but I couldn't even make it to Echo Lake.
Posted by Rob Kiser on May 29, 2019 at 6:04 PM
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