Slumgullion Pass Summit 11,530 ft.

[Sailor Don]

It's almost like flying, but you're still on the ground.

I stopped to take this photo on Colorado Hwy. 149 at Slumgullion Pass on a Labor Day Vacation. The lack of oxygen at that elevation was noticeable to a sea level "flat lander" like me.

http://users3.ev1.net/~sailord/IMG_2978_sm.jpg
http://users3.ev1.net/~sailord/SlumgullionSummit.jpg

[roanjohn]

I think I was there a few weekends ago!!!

Wasn't Colorado BEAUTIFUL!!

Great shot BTW......hope you didn't have any trouble breathing so high up there.

Ro1

[Sailor Don]

Ro1,

Like the old John Denver song, it was a "Rocky Mountain High".

Reduced oxygen level effects different people to varying extents. I was camping at 7,700 ft. elevation, so I was partly acclimated to the lower oxygen. Above 10,000 ft, I felt a little light headed, like the equivalent of 2 beers.

I was riding my Harley Davidson Road King through the mountains. The motorcyle's performance was noticeably reduced at high altitude. Mostly lack of acceleration. It was a difficult decision to stop and take pictures. Kind of ruins the "flow" of the ride. But I had to have photos to take home.

The photos I really wanted to get were the ones that couldn't be got. On Hwy 550 (a.k.a. Million Dollar Highway) going south from Montrose to Silverton Colorado there was no shoulder on either side of the road. No guardrail and no turnouts to stop and take a picture. One side of the road is against a rock cliff and the other side drops off 100's of feet into the river gorge below. Add 15 and 25 mph hairpin turns, with occasional loose gravel for some more excitement. It is a spectacular ride, but requires 110% of your attention to avoid going over the edge.

[roanjohn]

The photos I really wanted to get were the ones that couldn't be got. On Hwy 550 going south from Montrose to Silverton Colorado there was no shoulder on either side of the road. No guardrail and no turnouts to stop and take a picture. One side of the road is against a rock cliff and the other side drops off 100's of feet into the river gorge below. Add 15 and 25 mph hairpin turns, with occasional loose gravel for some more excitement. It is a spectacular ride, but requires 110% of your attention to avoid going over the edge.

Have to agree with you on this one..........I was on the passenger side when we were driving through..........and I was pretty scared.........can't even look to my right to enjoy the view...........I must say I was very tensed the whole ride through...........Did manage to stop to to take a few pics though ;-)

Ro1