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July 3, 2019

The Third of July: Loveland Pass(Open), Webster Pass(Closed), and Boreas Pass(Open)

Above: Loveland Pass - 11,990' above MSL.

So, today, I finally managed to get out of bed and climb onto my motorcycle. It was about 1:00 p.m. when I left the house. I planned on making it to Freemont Pass, and then Independence Pass. But when I got to I-70 at Floyd Hill, it was just a parking lot. Apparently, tomorrow is the 4th, and people got Thursday and Friday off, it seems.

So, I drove down the shoulder until we got to the bottom of Floyd Hill. Then, I merged with the traffic, and it started moving somewhat. Finally, I made it to the exit for Loveland Pass, and I took that instead of taking the Eisenhower Tunnel.

At the summit, I got my photo taken at Loveland Pass. So, this is one of the few times I've successfully crossed the continental divide this summer. I wanted a photo just to prove that it was still possible, I think.

Then, past A-Basin, I turn and head up towards Montezuma. I find the place where Jen and I once camped. I trailered our ATV's up here many moons ago. This is where we lost Bunners.

I try to go up the hill further past our campground, and when the road forks, I go left. But then it's snowed in and I turn back.

Now, back down a bit, and I follow the signs for Webster Pass. But only get a very short distance, before I'm at a fence and the trail is blocked, so I can't make it up to Webster Pass from this side, anyway.

I head back down towards Montezuma, and I run into a guy on an ATV coming out of one of the trails. He tells me I can make it up the trail he was on no problem, so I head up that way, but it dead ends into some private property, or else you have to cross a stream/river that's flowing insanely with summer melting snow run-off.. The snows have snapped a lot of trees here, similar to what I saw on Jones Pass yesterday. Eventually, I just roll back down into Montezuma. I'm not real sure where he wanted me to go.

Now, down through Montezuma, to Peru Creek. It's locked at the entrance to the Peru Creek road, but I just drive around the gate. This is an old trick. I manage to make it in some distance before it is snowed in also, again with lots of snapped evergreen trees, large drifts of snow, and a massive creek running wild with melting snow.

Now, I head down out of Montezuma. These trails are clearly snowed in and/or flooded. Not going to make it to Webster Pass any time soon, it seems.

At Dillon, I buy some Gatorade because I'm about to die. Get some Gatorade, drink it in the parking lot, and now heading westbound on I-70 to Frisco. At Frisco, I exit, and roll south to Breckenridge. On the south end of town, I decide to take Boreas Pass. I don't think it's open, but I figure I'll try to make it anyway.

At the last redlight in Breck heading south, I turn off and pass the old locomotive. This looks familiar. And pretty soon, I'm on the trail for Boreas Pass.

Some nice views, and pass a lot of bikes coming the other way. They say it's open, and pretty soon, I'm at the summit of Boreas Pass. So, that means I've successfully crossed the Continental Divide twice today. I'm not going to make it to Independence Pass, because there's not enough daylight.

So I turn back home on 285, and stop for some pics at Kenosha Pass.

Maybe I'll make it to Independence Pass tomorrow.

Today, I crossed the Continental Divide twice:
1) Loveland Pass - 11,990' above MSL.
2) Boreas Pass - 11,482' above MSL.

Above: Loveland Pass - 11,990' above MSL.

Above: This was the first time I turned back today. Too much snow, so I noped out of there.

Above: This is the trail to Webster Pass (above Montezuma). The gate is locked and there's no getting around it.

Above: A stream/lake above Montezuma.

Above: Here, we see the result of global warming. Snow piled so high it destroyed a small forest of trees. Saw the same thing at Jones Pass yesterday.

Above: Peru Creek, flowing like mad. Snow all over the road. Trees snapped by heavy spring snow. Total mess.

Above: Boreas Pass.

Above: Baker's Tank on Boreas Pass. Provided water to trains/locomotives. In use 1884 - 1937. Restored by Summit County in 1958.

Above: Boreas Pass - 11,482' above MSL.

Above: Boreas Pass.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 3, 2019 at 8:52 PM

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