Day 73 (July 26). Independence Pass

From: Aspen, CO

To: Georgetown, CO

Miles today: 119

Total miles: 14909

Karen got up at dawn to catch her flights back.  I left Aspen myself a few hours later, continuing on route CO 82 to where it ends at US 24.  This route takes you over the Continental Divide at one of the highest passes in the continental US, Independence Pass (elevation 12,095 feet, according to the sign).  Here are a couple of shots.

Looking back at CO 82, climbing to Independence Pass

Near the Top of Colorado

View from the top of CO 82, with the descent route visible

On the way down, it started raining, and this kept up most of the afternoon as I moved north on US 24 and then CO 91.  It was cold due to the altitude, and there was a fair amount of traffic, but we moved along at a fairly steady pace. Shortly after I returned to I-70, however, the traffic became very heavy and slowed to a crawl. A look at the map explains this: I-70 leads to Denver, and this was Sunday afternoon, and everyone was returning from their weekend in the mountains.  This is the analogy of the traffic you see on Route 50, with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, in Maryland on Sundays in summer, when everyone is returning from the beach on two lanes of highway.  After two hours and 20 miles, I couldn’t take any more and I pulled off in the town of Georgetown, CO.  Tomorrow, I’m sure, the roads will be better.