Durango to Montrose
Thinking about doing this trip with Motorhome and toad. Is this a route that any have done in a 38'?
Forum Discussion
Hi Frank, FYI, Frank's late father was born in Ouray. He and his wife were very good friends of ours. Two of the very influential people in my life.
Ken, I am sure your 4Runner and tent camper do well on Red Mountain, with you living in Glennwood Springs, about 100 miles NE of Ouray. I am sure you have a lot of mountain driving experience and probably go to the San Juan Mountains to hike. But we are talking about taking large RVs over the Pass, and the care that needs to be exercised, in doing so with them.
Most drivers of large trailers and motorhomes avoid Red Mountain, as do most truckers.
Hwy 550 has made a few of the "most famous" lists in the last few years.
Popular Mechanics placed this section of Hwy 550 south of Ouray at #3 on the most dangerous roads in the USA.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/10-of-americas-most-dangerous-roads#slide-3
USA Today, ranked Hwy 550 as #2 most dangerous. Getting beat out by some road in Bolivia.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2013/10/15/worlds-most-dangerous-roads/2981471/
While I don't personally agree with those rankings, it is a road that deserves the most respect, a driver can give a road, especially in a large vehicle. Actually Hwy 550 doesn't even come close to some of the dangers found on some of the Jeep trails in this area of Colorado. The Jeep trails of the Ouray/Silverton/Telluride areas are the ultimate in an adrenalin rush for those that are adrenalin junkies, like myself. But I have burned into my memory, the bodies that I have taken off of that mountain, from car wrecks, truck wrecks, lightning strikes, etc.
The San Juan Mountains of Colorado, are some of the most beautiful parts of the world, IMHO. But for that beauty, they are very unforgiving at times, if a person gets crossways with mother nature, be it hiking, driving, flying or weather related.
Ken, I am sure your 4Runner and tent camper do well on Red Mountain, with you living in Glennwood Springs, about 100 miles NE of Ouray. I am sure you have a lot of mountain driving experience and probably go to the San Juan Mountains to hike. But we are talking about taking large RVs over the Pass, and the care that needs to be exercised, in doing so with them.
Most drivers of large trailers and motorhomes avoid Red Mountain, as do most truckers.
Hwy 550 has made a few of the "most famous" lists in the last few years.
Popular Mechanics placed this section of Hwy 550 south of Ouray at #3 on the most dangerous roads in the USA.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/10-of-americas-most-dangerous-roads#slide-3
USA Today, ranked Hwy 550 as #2 most dangerous. Getting beat out by some road in Bolivia.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2013/10/15/worlds-most-dangerous-roads/2981471/
While I don't personally agree with those rankings, it is a road that deserves the most respect, a driver can give a road, especially in a large vehicle. Actually Hwy 550 doesn't even come close to some of the dangers found on some of the Jeep trails in this area of Colorado. The Jeep trails of the Ouray/Silverton/Telluride areas are the ultimate in an adrenalin rush for those that are adrenalin junkies, like myself. But I have burned into my memory, the bodies that I have taken off of that mountain, from car wrecks, truck wrecks, lightning strikes, etc.
The San Juan Mountains of Colorado, are some of the most beautiful parts of the world, IMHO. But for that beauty, they are very unforgiving at times, if a person gets crossways with mother nature, be it hiking, driving, flying or weather related.
