We headed right for one of the toughest, Imogene Pass over the highest mountain in the area to Telluride. We had attempted to cross this pass from each direction on our KLRs, getting us to within a few miles of the top on each side before we met impassable sections of road. We had heard that there was snow at the top and had been told it might be difficult, if not impossible, even in the jeep.

Our first impression as we hit the rough sections of road was that the jeep was much slower going than the KLRs. It was a very rough ride and shook us up quite well. As we got to the higher elevations – past the tree line – the road did smooth out but there were a few difficult rock climbs where we scraped bottom.

Near the top we ran into the snow and attempted to 4-wheel through it. Twice we had to back up and try again – not the easiest thing to do when you are on a steep incline with a 1300 foot drop off the side of the narrow path. Finally we decided to take a short detour where other traffic had left its mark and made it around the slick snow pack. We were then confronted with a long steep climb which appeared to be similar snow pack. We had come this far and hesitantly decided to continue. Surprisingly we had little difficulty the rest of the way to the top.

We looked down at the descending path into Telluride and noted a long section of snow pack still in the early morning shade and wondered if we could safely negotiate the steep downhill section. About that time we saw another vehicle climbing from Telluride and waited until he advised that the road was passable. After a few miles we arrived at Tomboy where we had turned around the day before on the KLRs. Had it not been for the short section of grapefruit sized gravel on the steep incline, we probably could have made it on the cycles to the pass. We continued down into Telluride and took SR 149 south to take the easy way back to US 550 via Ophir Pass.

Now we were eager to explore Engineer Pass and found the first quarter mile so rocky and rough that we were sure the rest of the trail would be easy. But this was not to be so. We climbed mile after mile and encountered a relentless challenge of rocky road. The highlight of the first part of Engineer was the narrow pass along a sheer cliff drop off hundreds of feet into the river canyon below. We were glad that we didn’t meet much traffic on Engineer. We were passed by a Toyota pickup that must have been a regular the way he made such good time. We were also passed by several dirt bikers. We were able to stay ahead of a mountain biker though.

Finally we reached the upper levels and the Alpine tundra signs where travel became much easier. The main difficulties at higher elevations were the steep narrow roads where you did not want to meet another vehicle. On these sections the uphill vehicle has the right-of-way, so if you’re the one headed downhill you’ll have to back-up. Again backing up at this elevation and steep grade can be a bit intimidating. We knew the trail was getting easier when we started to see bone-stock SUVs coming from the other direction. One even had kayaks packed on top.. We hoped they were not going to attempt to descend the part of Engineer we had just climbed – there was no way a stock SUV would make it down that road. We found that we could have easily negotiated the roadway from Animas Forks to Engineer Pass Overlook on the KLRs.

As we made the final assault to the overlook at Engineer Mountain at over 13,000 feet, the wind was gusting upwards of 30 mph and temps had dropped some 20 degrees. We then backtracked down and continued to the ghost town of Animas Junction, where we had been the day before on the KLRs. We retraced some 10 miles over California and Hurricane Passes to the turnoff for Corkscrew Pass.

This road was much smoother than others we had been on during the day, but it was steep and narrow – going straight up and coming straight down. The descent also featured several sharp switchbacks as we once again left the bare mountain into the forest. The next three miles down to US 550 were easy. Corkscrew Pass access from US 550 is near mile marker 86 and at the Ironton Park turnoff. It is not marked Corkscrew Pass until you go thru the park and find the back road. We probably could have managed this road with the KLRs, but it would have required some serious concentration on the steep switchbacks..

Afterword......Renting the Jeep was great fun, but it did prove to be expensive. No, the $130 day was well worth the money. It was when we got home that the expense came. Nancy had to have a Jeep. We traded-in her Focus hatchback (which I never liked anyway) and brought home a new Rocky Mountain Special Edition Jeep to commemorate our trip out west. Now we wonder why we didn’t buy one long before.