Driving South to Crawford Colorado, Douglas Pass

We left Flaming Gorge and headed south to Crawford Colorado. Its a route we have traveled before, First there's a climb over the Unitas and then across Douglas Pass. This time the trip would be easier as we were not towing our fifth wheel.
Stopping at a scenic overlook we had to take images of beautiful Sheep Creek bay, If you ever travel this way be sure to take the Geology loop, a drive along the old highway, (do not pull anything along this road).

Climbing over the pass summit we were greeted with the signs telling of the number of switchbacks. This image is of the second one, warning of  the nine switchbacks. This route is not for the acrophobic although it is a truckers route!

Successfully making it down the switchbacks, the road eased and we entered Vernal, Utah. There we had to stop at a rock shop and left after buying a beautiful piece of dinosaur bone and dinosaur coprolite. Both of these treasures are destined for the saw and will be transformed into our jewelry.
Crossing into Colorado we turned south for Grand Junction, first crossing over Douglas Pass.

Now Douglas Pass is identified as another truckers route, but oh my what a route. Nearing the pass itself the road narrowed as several sections of road had sloughed off and been repaired with gravel and wooden berms.
Our friend Val had actually pulled her fifth wheel over this pass in June, before several of the sections had been replaced. She is from Colorado and has absolutely no fear, when it comes to driving and towing in high places.

Crossing the pass we shifted into lower gears to save our brakes. The Colorado Department of Transportation does not waste money warning travelers of the switchbacks. Heck you would be hard pressed to count them all!

Still there were many brave souls towing fifth wheels and campers. We have been there and done that and I have no wish to pull anything big across this pass again. Regardless we made it down the pass and stopped at Grand Junction for a bit before heading east and then south to Crawford.
There we planned on fly fishing some new, to us anyway, trout streams. That however is the topic of the next blog! Clear skies