Silverton

What's Rt. 550 like in January? I have been thru that way the past two years but that was during summer. I would love to pass thru again but I'm traveling in January.

 

I drive it several times a week in the Winter. It is well maintained as it is our main road for groceries, package delivery etc. It was our mail route up until a year or so ago when our mail was switched from CO to NM. I was there yesterday, will be there tomorrow...winter drivers tend to be more cautious, so that helps. Lack of guardrails will keep most on their toes.

 

My family is all from West Virgina at one point or another (Roush), so you know what twisty roads are all about.

 

That's for sure. We get snow regularly so that's not a problem. You guys just get lots more snow than us.

 

Our snow tends to slide down the mountain a bit more often. Miles 52 through 64 (Coal Bank Pass through Red Mountain Pass) were all closed some today for avalanche control by CDOT. Part of the reason we don't have guardrails, avalanches just remove them.

 

I drove that area last year in a prius, it was fine save for the wreck closing a part of the road for an hour. My brother lives in durango and I head out that way or he drives this way for work every winter, no problems so far.

 

I've lived here over 30 years, driven the passes for nearly 40, never a problem. The big problem remains deer and elk in the valleys. LaPlata County has the highest number of animal/vehicle encounters in the state

 

I was at Red Mountain pass last year in May. Some kind of bicycle race got shortened because of snowfall and the pass was closed the day after I drove thru. Got video of it on my YouTube channel, I even saw a couple on a motorcycle ride by.

 

I fell in love with the Silverton area. It's beautiful and lots of off road areas.

 

Yeah, I've ridden that ride over a dozen times...the Iron Horse Classic. Race the steam train from Durango to Silverton on Memorial Day weekend. 4,000 riders including race classes. The train takes about 3:20. 47 miles, two passes over 10,000'