Finding a route around Monarch Pass

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maddog348

maddog348

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Posts
970
Location
Bakersfield,CA
Been debating with self re: taking 50 from Montrose to Ca?on City. What is time difference in taking 50 over Monarch to Ca?on City As opposed to cutting off South at 114 then catching 285 North back up to 50 and heading on East to Ca?on City by-passing the Pass?? ~~ Not in sig vehicle taking sm TC.  Am a 1 eyed 'flatlander' being cautious ~ not even the driver.  Just Curious. Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Well, the 114 route adds 50 miles to the trip, and more hills to deal with, though not over the +10k ft that you have to deal with on Monarch.

Monarch is a slow easy climb, and a slow, easy drop. Keep your gears down and pay attention, Monarch is actually a relatively easy run, except when it's snowing.
Most problems with Monarch  are from people getting close to the bottom and letting up on the gears, and rolling into Pagosa Springs a bit too hastily. There is a very nice curve just before town, that will scare the Heck out of you if you're going to fast. (And a nice Police Officer who will happily document the event for you.)

If it's snowing at Monarch, 114 will very likely be getting some snow as well, and I'd rather be on US 50 in that case.

Attached are the Gradient profiles for both routes.





 

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  • CaptureMontrose-Canyon-50.JPG
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  • CaptureMontrose-Canyon-114.JPG
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LarsMac ~~ Thanks for the info. Between that and my 2006 copy of Mountain Directory West, Monarch seems doable 'Weather Permitting'.  Google Earth "Flew" it a couple of times ~ will do a few more  ~~ Gonna try to get Maddog to watch too.(driver). Wish us luck.

StayWell  ~~  TravelSafe  ~~  HaveFun

K

....have CW McCall running around in the back of my mind..... OhWell
 
CW McCall sang about Wolf Creek Pass ... Monarch Pass is a cakewalk by comparison.  And he exaggerated Wolf Creek Pass, too - it's at least 10 level miles from the bottom of the pass to downtown Pagosa Springs.
 
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