Wolf Creek Pass
| Wolf Creek Pass | |
|---|---|
 Wolf Creek Pass and Ski Area, August 2008 | |
| Elevation | 10,857 ft (3,309 m)[1] |
| Traversed by |  US 160 |
| Location | Mineral County, Colorado,United States |
| Range | San Juan Mountains |
| Coordinates | 37°29′00″N106°48′11″W/ 37.48333°N 106.80306°W[1] |
| Topo map | USGSWolf Creek Pass |
  Wolf Creek Pass Location in Colorado | |
Wolf Creek Passis a highmountain passon theContinental Divide,in theSan Juan MountainsofColorado.It is the route through whichU.S. Highway 160passes from theSan Luis Valleyinto southwest Colorado on its way toNew MexicoandArizona.The pass is notable as inspiration of aC. W. McCallsong. The pass is significantly steep on either side (6.8% maximum grade) and can be dangerous in winter. There are tworunaway truck rampson the westbound side for truckers that lose control of their brakes.[2][3]
Expansion[edit]
 |
Wolf Creek Pass, once a two-lane road winding through the San Juan Mountains betweenSouth Fork, Colorado,andPagosa Springs,has been expanded into a multi-lane highway, greatly increasing the traffic capacity of the pass and making it more navigable in bad weather. It is the easiest access to southwest Colorado from the rest of the state, as all remaining overland routes require lengthy detours throughNew Mexicoor overLizard Head Pass,nearTelluride,or the intimidatingRed Mountain Pass,a two-lane road winding along sheer cliffs fromOuraytoSilverton.
History[edit]
The creation of the first road along Wolf Creek Pass began in 1911 and finished construction in 1916. The project's engineers were J. E. Maloney and Ed Riley.[4]The 12 feet wide road was doubled in width in 1930 and was paved 20 years later.[5]
A 900-foot (270 m) tunnel on the eastern portion was opened November 5, 2005. Construction was completed in the Summer of 2006, with the highway fully widened and drainage projects along the route completed.[6]
Attractions[edit]
The Lobo Overlook, at 11,760 feet elevation on the north side of the pass, provides commanding views of the continental divide.[7]
The pass is also home toWolf Creek ski arealocated on the eastern side of theContinental Divideon Highway 160. Also on the eastern side is one of the largest RV parks in the United States, located just a few miles west ofSouth Fork, Colorado.
Wolf Creek Pass is also an attraction for tourists, as it is known for the natural beauty of the wilderness the highway passes through. Just west of the pass,Treasure Fallsoffers passersby a view of a mountain waterfall.
The main route of theContinental Divide Trail(CDT), which reaches fromMexicotoCanada,passes through Wolf Creek Pass. North bound "thru hikers" usually hike through Wolf Creek Pass in June.[8]
Name[edit]
The pass was named forWolf Creek,[9]which starts near the top of the pass and flows down its western side to a confluence with theWest Fork San Juan RiverinMineral County.
Controversy[edit]
For decades, a major resort project proposed by Texas billionaireRed McCombshas been causing controversy in the area. The proposed resort would be situated near the summit of the pass and support over 8,000 people.[10]People familiar with the high alpine environment and water issues in the area question the wisdom of a resort style village at 10,000' elevation.[11]McCombs has been working with the Forest Service to acquire highway access to the property, which is aninholding.
Over several decades the Forest Service has been the target of multiple lawsuits from community groups for incompletely assessing the environmental impacts of approving a highway access point to the property[12][13]and withholding information requested through the Freedom of Information Act.[14]Following the most recent lawsuit, the developers reached agreement not to break ground at the site until the case is resolved in court.[15]
Opponents of the "Village" state that the development would likely harm a vitalwildlife corridorbetween theWeminucheandSouth San Juan Wildernessareas, alter backcountry experiences on Wolf Creek Pass, compete with local businesses in nearbyPagosa SpringsandSouth Fork,adversely affect rare fen wetlands, and stress water supplies in theRio Grandewatershed.[11][16]Proponents claim the "Village" would improve the economics of the region.[17]
C. W. McCall[edit]
Wolf Creek Pass was made famous in 1975 bycountry musicartistC. W. McCall'sspoken wordsong of the same name, in which the pass is described as "37 miles o' hell – which is up on the Great Divide." The song describes the truck careening down through a "tunnel" (during which process several crates of chickens stacked on the back of the truck are inadvertently lost) and eventually into a feed store in Pagosa Springs.
Climate[edit]
Wolf Creek Pass has asubarctic climate(Dfc) with substantial precipitation year-round, though it may be called asubalpine climatedue to it having a different climate than other climates on a similar latitude due to its high elevation. Summer usually consists of mild days and chilly nights. Winter consists of cold days with nightly lows close to zero lasting from early November to sometimes into April. Annual snowfall is heavy, averaging 392.1 inches (995.9 cm), one of the highest in the state, usually beginning by late September and not ceasing until early June. March averages the highest snowpack of the year at 67 inches 170.2 cm).[18][19]
| Climate data for Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1986–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
54 (12) |
63 (17) |
64 (18) |
74 (23) |
78 (26) |
82 (28) |
77 (25) |
74 (23) |
65 (18) |
65 (18) |
54 (12) |
82 (28) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 42.1 (5.6) |
44.0 (6.7) |
52.1 (11.2) |
57.1 (13.9) |
63.6 (17.6) |
71.0 (21.7) |
74.1 (23.4) |
70.6 (21.4) |
66.7 (19.3) |
58.8 (14.9) |
49.6 (9.8) |
41.3 (5.2) |
74.5 (23.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.7 (−1.8) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
38.2 (3.4) |
44.0 (6.7) |
52.2 (11.2) |
61.5 (16.4) |
65.7 (18.7) |
63.3 (17.4) |
56.6 (13.7) |
46.4 (8.0) |
35.4 (1.9) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
45.8 (7.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.7 (−6.3) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
33.7 (0.9) |
42.1 (5.6) |
51.1 (10.6) |
55.5 (13.1) |
53.8 (12.1) |
48.0 (8.9) |
38.2 (3.4) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
20.2 (−6.6) |
36.7 (2.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.6 (−10.8) |
13.0 (−10.6) |
17.9 (−7.8) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
40.8 (4.9) |
45.3 (7.4) |
44.2 (6.8) |
39.0 (3.9) |
30.0 (−1.1) |
19.3 (−7.1) |
12.8 (−10.7) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −4.9 (−20.5) |
−3.4 (−19.7) |
1.9 (−16.7) |
9.2 (−12.7) |
17.8 (−7.9) |
30.1 (−1.1) |
39.9 (4.4) |
38.6 (3.7) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
13.5 (−10.3) |
−0.2 (−17.9) |
−7.4 (−21.9) |
−10.7 (−23.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−21 (−29) |
−14 (−26) |
−1 (−18) |
7 (−14) |
17 (−8) |
28 (−2) |
24 (−4) |
3 (−16) |
−1 (−18) |
−16 (−27) |
−28 (−33) |
−28 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 3.56 (90) |
4.03 (102) |
4.67 (119) |
3.73 (95) |
2.02 (51) |
1.73 (44) |
3.85 (98) |
4.62 (117) |
4.47 (114) |
4.88 (124) |
4.62 (117) |
3.50 (89) |
45.68 (1,160) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 57.7 (147) |
63.6 (162) |
66.7 (169) |
46.9 (119) |
12.3 (31) |
0.6 (1.5) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
4.2 (11) |
27.0 (69) |
57.4 (146) |
55.7 (141) |
392.1 (996.5) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 72.5 (184) |
88.7 (225) |
92.5 (235) |
83.8 (213) |
66.3 (168) |
25.1 (64) |
1.3 (3.3) |
1.7 (4.3) |
2.5 (6.4) |
10.0 (25) |
28.6 (73) |
58.6 (149) |
97.0 (246) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 9.8 | 10.3 | 11.9 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 7.6 | 15.0 | 18.0 | 12.4 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 10.2 | 133.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 10.0 | 10.4 | 11.7 | 8.7 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 6.0 | 9.8 | 10.2 | 71.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA (precip/precip days, snow/snow days 1981–2010)[18] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (snow depth 2006–2020)[19] | |||||||||||||
The Upper San JuanSNOTELweather station is situated nearby, to the south of Wolf Creek Pass's summit. Upper San Juan also has asubarctic climate(KöppenDfc), but with a slightly lower average temperature and higherdiurnal variation.
| Climate data for Upper San Juan, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1983–present: 10200ft (3109m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 58 (14) |
59 (15) |
66 (19) |
66 (19) |
79 (26) |
81 (27) |
83 (28) |
79 (26) |
76 (24) |
68 (20) |
61 (16) |
55 (13) |
83 (28) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 49.4 (9.7) |
49.1 (9.5) |
54.8 (12.7) |
59.6 (15.3) |
66.3 (19.1) |
74.1 (23.4) |
76.7 (24.8) |
73.8 (23.2) |
70.3 (21.3) |
62.9 (17.2) |
55.1 (12.8) |
49.5 (9.7) |
77.3 (25.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34.7 (1.5) |
35.3 (1.8) |
42.1 (5.6) |
47.2 (8.4) |
55.3 (12.9) |
65.1 (18.4) |
69.1 (20.6) |
66.7 (19.3) |
60.7 (15.9) |
50.6 (10.3) |
40.9 (4.9) |
34.2 (1.2) |
50.2 (10.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.5 (−6.9) |
20.4 (−6.4) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
32.8 (0.4) |
41.3 (5.2) |
49.5 (9.7) |
54.5 (12.5) |
52.9 (11.6) |
46.9 (8.3) |
37.6 (3.1) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
19.7 (−6.8) |
35.7 (2.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 4.1 (−15.5) |
5.4 (−14.8) |
11.1 (−11.6) |
18.4 (−7.6) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
34.0 (1.1) |
39.8 (4.3) |
39.1 (3.9) |
33.1 (0.6) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
12.6 (−10.8) |
5.1 (−14.9) |
21.2 (−6.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −13.1 (−25.1) |
−12.2 (−24.6) |
−7.3 (−21.8) |
2.9 (−16.2) |
14.9 (−9.5) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
34.0 (1.1) |
33.1 (0.6) |
23.4 (−4.8) |
10.3 (−12.1) |
−7.8 (−22.1) |
−13.7 (−25.4) |
−16.7 (−27.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−21 (−29) |
−17 (−27) |
−9 (−23) |
1 (−17) |
20 (−7) |
27 (−3) |
25 (−4) |
13 (−11) |
−7 (−22) |
−20 (−29) |
−29 (−34) |
−29 (−34) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 6.03 (153) |
6.14 (156) |
5.08 (129) |
3.68 (93) |
2.85 (72) |
1.08 (27) |
2.42 (61) |
3.55 (90) |
3.55 (90) |
4.35 (110) |
4.85 (123) |
5.86 (149) |
49.44 (1,253) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 71.4 (181) |
87.6 (223) |
88.8 (226) |
72.7 (185) |
45.2 (115) |
9.4 (24) |
1.5 (3.8) |
1.7 (4.3) |
3.6 (9.1) |
7.7 (20) |
23.1 (59) |
58.9 (150) |
94.3 (240) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 13.7 | 14.3 | 13.6 | 12.0 | 10.8 | 5.1 | 10.0 | 12.3 | 9.6 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 13.1 | 135.2 |
| Source 1: XMACIS2 (snow depth 2006–2020)[20] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation)[21] | |||||||||||||
References[edit]
- ^ab"B 162".NGS Data Sheet.National Geodetic Survey,National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,United States Department of Commerce.
- ^"CDOT Warns Truckers: BEWARE THE WOLF"(Press release).Colorado Department of TransportationRegion 5. 2017-06-15.
- ^"A Beer Truck Had To Take A CO Runaway Ramp".94.3 X.2017-07-17. Archived fromthe originalon 2017-07-17.
- ^"Wolf Creek Pass turned 103 this year".Del Norte Prospector.Retrieved2020-11-22.
- ^"Wolf Creek Pass – South Fork–Pagosa Springs".www.uncovercolorado.com.Retrieved2020-11-21.
- ^"Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado, Web Cams".www.keno.org.Retrieved2020-11-21.
- ^"Wolf Creek Pass & Lobo Overlook, Colorado".HikingMike.com.Retrieved26 September2019.
- ^"Wolf Creek Pass to Rock Lake, Rio Grande National Forest".Continental Divide Trail Coalition.Retrieved3 January2022.
- ^"Tales told with markers".The Colorado Magazine.Vol. 47, no. 3. 1970. p. 240.Retrieved2019-08-24.
- ^"The Village at Wolf Creek".RetrievedDecember 18,2015.
- ^ab"Home".friendsofwolfcreek.org.
- ^Blevins, Jason (June 29, 2015)."Village at Wolf Creek opponents sue to undo Forest Service land swap".The Denver Post.RetrievedDecember 18,2015.
- ^Marcus, Peter (June 24, 2015)."Village at Wolf Creek faces hurdle".The Durango Herald.RetrievedDecember 18,2015.
- ^Grover, Hannah (November 8, 2015)."Extension granted in Wolf Creek lawsuit".Farmington Daily Times.RetrievedDecember 18,2015.
- ^Blevins, Jason (December 18, 2015)."Deal delays start of Village at Wolf Creek construction".The Denver Post.RetrievedDecember 18,2015.
- ^"SJCA Guide to Wolf Creek".San Juan Citizens Alliance.RetrievedDecember 18,2015.
- ^Barber, Megan (December 3, 2014)."Plans Move Forward on Controversial Village at Wolf Creek".Curbed Ski.RetrievedDecember 18,2015.
- ^ab "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Wolf Creek Pass 1E, CO (1981–2010)".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedNovember 29,2022.
- ^ab "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pueblo".National Weather Service.RetrievedNovember 29,2022.
- ^ "xmACIS2".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedNovember 3,2023.
- ^ "Upper San Juan, Colorado 1991–2020 Monthly Normals".RetrievedNovember 3,2023.
External links[edit]
