Steep Grades Colorado Springs to Moab

Thom02099 wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
Even I-70 has extremely steep grades from Denver west. I'd recommend I-25 to CO 50 to Grand Junction. You'll have Monarch Pass which is a steep downhill but it's not narrow and it's over with fast. :) Absolutely gorgeous drive and lots to stop for along the way.

You could also take NM 550 just north of Albuquerque to NM 64 to AZ160 or at Shiprock, NM pick up 491 north to Cortez then 491 to UT 191 north.

These suggestions. Monarch Pass is not a difficult pass by Colorado standards, as there's climb lanes going westbound. There's no steep drop offs, no lack of guard rails either.

A fear of heights is not to be marginalized. Kudos to you for taking ownership of your fear and still looking for ways to travel while minimizing any risk. I think that, if you follow 2gypsies suggestion, you'll look back on it and say "that wasn't so bad after all".

Thanks for being thoughtful! It can be paralyzing sometimes and I do try and push myself when I can. Was on a roof once laying shingles (alone) and it hit me suddenly. Legs went to rubber. I wish I could control it more. I'm not afraid to speak in front of 300 people and lecture for hours nor afraid to pick up snakes, even poisonous ones. I understand those are huge fears for a large portion of folks, but unprotected heights where a wrong twitch could lead to death tends to get me. I'm fairly certain right now that 50 is my route.