Webster Pass
This was the first time we'd run Webster Pass from Montezuma to Highway 285, so it was a new experience. It wasn't really better or worse -- just different. Running it that direction meant we came down the big shelf road switchbacks instead of up them. It also meant we came down off the bridge logs instead of having to climb them, so that probably made the trail a tiny bit easier.
We had already run Boreas Pass and Georgia Pass and we were finishing up with Webster Pass. We were thinking of doing Guanella Pass too but we were too hungry and tired when we finished Webster Pass.
There were a lot of 4x4 vehicles on the road on the way to the trail and a lot of them still on the trail. Most of them either passed us or ended up in the middle of our group in their hurry to get by us. Only one 4x4 driver was particularly friendly (we just ran into a grouchy bunch of people).
We played a lot in the water, getting some of the dust off of our vehicles from the trails before. Then we continued on, going by the entrance to Radical Hill.
We went up the more mellow switchbacks on the way to the pass, and when we got to the pass itself it was extremely windy and cold (under 50 degrees in August). We watched a Jeep come down Red Cone and we all discussed how fun that trail is.
We started down the steep, narrow switchbacks, taking our time. We saw one of many ATVs on their way up and they were very friendly. When we got to the bottom we got out to take pictures and look at Red Cone from the bottom. We were at 11,400 feet and Red Cone is 12,800 feet so the fall from the top would be 1,400 feet if you messed up.
The light was fading but we still had enough to get some pictures when we got to the "bridge." It wasn't very muddy and there was no real standing water, so it was much easier than it has been in the past. It was also a lot easier coming down off the logs rather than climbing up them. No one had any issues, with some people taking harder lines over the lo
gs. Jon turned around to do it again.
We saw a few campers and it was fairly uneventful on the way out. We did find out that the hole in the side of the mountain that looks like a tiny, square cave is actually a ventilation shaft for the mines. There are lots of mines behind the cabin, apparently -- a stranger in a Cherokee gave us all of the information.
When we got to the entrance some of us went out to Sweet Fanny Adams in Bailey for dinner. That food is wonderful! It was a great day and Webster Pass is a great trail -- worth running even though Red Cone is right next to it.
Reports from Other Days: 3
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