40 Colorado Mountain Passes in 40 Hours. Why?
Because I Turned 40!
This is the story, two stories actually, of my attempts to traverse 40 Colorado Mountain Passes in 40 Hours simply because I had turned 40! The first attempt was in September and the second in October.
First Attempt
In short, two minor tumbles broke enough parts off the Scrambler to keep me from continuing.
On the second day I explored the Alpine Loop area around Lake City. But the bike needed proper repairs before I tackled any more serious terrain, so I headed home.
The crazy rainbow at the end of day 2 is not photo-shopped. It’s odd that it cuts off so sharply, but that’s how it appeared as I came back down Route 285.
Second Attempt
On my second attempt I repeated some passes, and tried several new ones. In the pictures, you can see the difference a mere few weeks makes here in Colorado.
In the end I was thwarted by snow, early darkness, and a lack of signage in several locations.I also misidentified the location of several passes. Regardless, I had great fun trying and it was still an adventure I will never forget.
About the Photo Albums (Below)
I separated the two trips into multiple photo albums for easier viewing. There are two folders for each Attempt, Day 1 and Day 2.
I apologize for some of the blurry shots. They were included for posterity.
Click on a Header to view the album. You can select individual photos or scroll through them. I hope you enjoy what you see and are inspired to create your own personal adventure.
First Attempt Photos
Attempt 1 / Day 1 – 1 of 2
Attempt 1 / Day 1 – 2 of 2
Attempt 1 / Day 2 – 1 of 2
Attempt 1 / Day 2 – 2 of 2
Early Morning Departure
Ready to Suit Up
Goodbye Marriott
Ready to Navigate
Off to Squaw Pass
Pass 1 Squaw
Obligatory Mirror Selfie
Pass 2 Juniper
Berthoud Pass SIgn
Pass 3 Berthoud Pass
Pass 4 Loveland Pass
Twisty Dirt
A Stranger took this Shot on Dillon Lake for Me
Toward Shrine Pass
Pass 5 Shrine
Pass 6 Vail
Pass 7 Battle Mountain
North Mountain
VIew from the Top
Pass 8 Tennessee
Posing at Tennessee Pass
Old Cabin and the Scrambler
Pass 9 Freemont
Fremont Pass Sign
Out of Gas
Leadville Homemade Welcome Sign
Leadville CIty Limit
Broken Foot Peg
Pass 10 Trout
Comanche Drive In
Pass 11 Cottonwood
Beautiful Lake
Leaving Cottonwood Area
More Twisty Dirt
Gunnison Timberline
Stating the Obvious Sign
Taylor Vista Road 619
Pass 12 Tin Cup Welcome Sign Sign Missing
Heading up Hill Again
Tin Cup Switchbacks
Alpine Tunnel Entrance Rd 839
Pitkin Tincup Sign
Pass 13 Cumberland Pass
Restored Water Tank 1
Restored Water Tank 2
Heading Toward Woodstock
Woodstock Sign
Sherrod Loop
Old Rail Tracks
The SouthPark Line
Pass 14 Williams Pass Road
Pass 14 Williams Pass road Selfie Shadow
Attempting to Get Lost
Pass 14a Hancock Tamichi
Bit off a Bit Too Much
Red Hills Moon Rising
Beautiful Aspens
Pass 15 Waunita Pass
Stripped Down
Waking Up in Lake CIty
Matterhorn Hotel
Matterhorn Hotel Story
Lake City Bridge
A River Runs Through Lake City
Quiet Streets of Lake City
Something Seems to Be Missing
Clutch Pedal Snapped
Electrical Tape Pretending to be Duck Tape
Entering the Alpine Loop
Alpine Loop Destinations
Welcome to the Alpine Loop
Looking Back Toward Lake City
Blue Green Waters
Hard Tack Mine 1
Hard Tack Mine 2
Hard Tack Mine 3
Hard Tack Mine with Scrambler Photo Bomb
Hard Tack Mine 4
Hard Tack Mine 5
Hard Tack Mine Keep Out
Hard Tack Mine Visit from Dorthy
Hard Tack Mine Dorthy Scrambler Photo Bomb
Beautiful Morning in the Moutains
Who Needs Photoshop with Roads Like This
So Much Green
Capitol City Ghost Town
Capitol City Lee's Legacy
Capitol City Old House
Capitol City Old House Windows
Capitol City Old House Scramble Photo Bomb
Capitol City Leaves Changing
Capitol City Trees Growing into House
Scrambler and the Aspens
Capitol City Old House Roof
Scrambler and Aspens 2
Whitmore Falls Overlook
Whitmore Falls from Above
Whitemor Falls Overlook Platform
Rose Lime Kiln Sign
Waterfall Trickles
Whitemor Falls
Whitemor Falls 2
Whitemor Falls Selfie
Whitemor Falls Downstream
Whitemor Falls Stairs
Rose Lime Kiln
Single Family Unit Best Offer
This Building Has Seen Better Days
Story of White Death
Oh Look, Another Warning
Oh, That's where I left my luggage
Fine I'll Just Walk
I think its Just Up Here
Why Not Stop for A Pic
More Mirror Selfies
GPS Says its Right About Here
Perhaps Home is a Good Plan
Water Flowing Through the Colors
Turquoise Lake Stop
Turquoise Lake Wheel Shot
Turquoise Lake Glamor Shot
Pass 16 Monarch
Pass 17 Red Hill
Storm Approaches 1
Storm Threatening Skies
Where There's Rain There's Rainbows
Rainbow Storm Arch
Rainbow Storm Scrambler Photo Bomb
Rainbow Storm Arch 2
Rainbow Storm Arch 3
Final Results Trip 1a
Final Results Trip 1b
Awesome Greeters 1
Awesome Greeters 2
Second Attempt Photos
Here I Go Again
Candlewood Suites Departure
Where's the Sun?
Pass 1 Indian Hills Pre-Sunrise
Early Morning Location Documenting
Off to Squaw Pass
Highway 74 in the Dark
Entering Kitteredge
Pass 2 Squaw
Pass 3 Juniper
Echo Lake Sign
Pass 4 Berthoud Snow
Berthoud Snowy Lot
Ice Warnings Toward Loveland
Pass 5 Loveland Icy
An Icy Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass Looking Down
Boreas Pass Road Entrance
High Above Breckenridge
Just a Little Snow
At Least I'm Not Going Up There
Clear Trail Ahead
Bakers Tank
Bakers Tank SIgn
Looks Like it Will Blow Over
Pass 6 Boreas
Boreas Pass Train Station
Boreas Pass Train Car
Railroad Crossing
Boreas Rail History
Getting Away from the Snow
Off to Como
More Warning Signs
Como Pub
Pass 7 Kenosha
Pass 8 Red Hill
Alma City Limit
Pass 9 Hoosier
Alma Welcome Sign
Pass 10 Trout
Glorious Mountain Tops
Pass 11 Poncha
Headed to Marshall Pass
Pass 12 Marshall
Descending Marshall Pass
Aspens Changing
The Day Begins to Clear
Dry Roads Ahead
O'Haver Lake
White Mystery Horse
Poncha Springs
Pass 13 Monarch
Entrance Old Monarch Pass
Pass 14 Old Monarch
Adventure Hermit Shadow Selfie
Easing Down Old Monarch
Power Lines
Into the Great Wide Open
Cows Gotta Moo
Black Sage and Waunita Pass Route
Pass 15 Black Sage
Time for a Detour
The Sun Starts to Find Me
Route 763 No Maintenance
Old Fencing
Rail Split and Falling
Pass 16 Waunita
Another Detour Just for Fun
Just Follow the Leaves
Sunset Approaches
Turquoise Lake
Sleepy Sky
Turquoise Lake Scrambler Photo Bomb
Avoiding Elk in the Dark
Pass 17 Cerro Summit After Dark
Days Inn Montrose
Entering Ouray in the Dark
Pass 18 Red Mountain
Top of Red Mountain Pass
Silverton City Limit
Trickling Waterfalls
Waterfall
Pass 19 Molas
Pass 20 Coal Bank
Pass 21 Ute
Edgemont Ranch NOT Eagle Pass Whoops
Yellow Jacket Ranch NOT Yellow Jacket Pass Whoops Again
Continental Divide
Wolf Creek Pass Sign
Pass 22 Wolf Creek
Park Creek Road
Just Another Day
Snow Returning
Pass 23 Elwood Maybe
Lake Shot Just Because
Red Hills
Scrambler Crossing on Bridge
Enjoying the Sun
Pass 24 Stunner
Pass 25 Robinson Gulch
Pass 26 Cumbres
AH posing at Cumbres Pass
Pass 27 La Manga
Manasa Jack Dempsey Birthplace
Pass 28 Trinchera
Pass 29 La Veta
La Veta Pass Sign
Pass 30 Old La Veta
Old La Veta Marker
House on Old La Veta Pass
Old La Veta Pass Church
Pass Creek Road Entrance
Red Rock Road Entrance
Midday Shadow Selfie
Pass Near Beulah
Pass 31 Name Unknown
Pass 32 Bigelow Divide
Bigelow Divide Sign with Scrambler