We headed back onto the I-70 but this time, we headed west. As we were driving along, we noticed the ski resort Winter Park. We didn't stop off to explore but the resort looked huge! There were a lot of runs on the mountains and it seemed spread out over a very large distance. We only saw one town near the slopes and it looked quite small, maybe this resort is so big it has a lot of smaller towns rather than one big one? One to Google in the future!
The I-70 was just as beautiful as it was when we used it to get to Estes Park. Although it was a highway, it weaved through the mountains offering amazing vistas, the odd ruins from the mines and some cool tunnels cutting through the mountains.
One of our favourite features of the I-70 was the Runaway Truck Ramps! Some of the gradients were so steep, these ramps are in place to enable large trucks (lorrys to us in the UK) to stop if their brakes fail. Luckily we didn't see anyone have to use these ramps as I expect its pretty scary for the driver!
I also really enjoyed the 'Don't be fooled' trucker warning signs, so much more personal than the usual 'Danger, Warning or Be Careful' signs you normally see.
Our first stop was a town called Frisco which is next right next to a large lake. We hadn't planned to stop here, but a comfort break was needed! The first thing we noticed about Frisco was the bikes, there were hundreds everywhere with all ages and abilities riding them! Just outside the ladies toilets, I noticed why. There was a map with a number of cycling trails all around the town, the lakes and further afield. The number of cycling trails was impressive, I think they might be used as cross country ski trails in the winter which might explain why there are so many.
We left Frisco and headed to another unplanned stop but one we had agreed to visit a few days earlier, Vail. Having seen Breckenridge, we felt that we had to see Vail just in case that Colorado ski holiday happens one year and we need a second resort to visit!
We loved Vail! Whilst Breckenridge would be the warm up resort to get out ski legs going, we would need to visit Vail too. There are more runs and more difficult runs with a lot more Black Diamonds (European red / black runs). You can ski back to town (a must as I hate walking in boots!) and the town has a lot going on, it has a European feel with the style of buildings, the cobbled roads, fountains and decorations and the outside dinning. We had a lovely pizza and craft beer that a place called the Vail Brewing Company. The pizza was buffalo chicken and was pretty hot!!
We left Vail after a couple of hours exploring and headed back on the I-70 (also known as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway in this part!). From what had been a stunning drive through the mountains, turned into a nightmare drive with constant road works and traffic jams. Not even the train that ran alongside us for some of the journey managed to distract Lee from his annoyance with the traffic.
The traffic eventually cleared and we noticed how the landscape was changing from green mountains filled with pine tree forests and racing streams to canyons and petrified sand dunes. We had finally left the mountains of the Rockies and were now on our way to the border with Utah but before we crossed it, we had one more night in Colorado. Our stop for the night was Grand Junction where we stayed in the Colorado National Monument.
Some great pics here, the countryside and scenery are stunning. The driving looked good and as you say some of those truck escape lanes look very hairy, almost would have been worth seeing one in use as it is hard to imagine what it is like!
ReplyDeleteFrisco sounds good with the cycle routes, I'd love to have a go round there.
Vail did look very european/alpine and looked a lovely place to visit this time of year as well as (no doubt) the winter. I liked the route from Vail too with the tunnels and the train, even got to see another dam too!!