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Travel > The Scariest Road
 

The Scariest Road

Yesterday's highlight, or lowlight, depending on how you look at it, was the drive over the nation's highest continuous highway, Trail Ridge Road. Lower down, there was a sign that the altitude of the highway was at 2 miles above sea level: 10,560 feet. The drops off the side of the road looked like if you fell off, you'd free fall the entire two miles and land with a splash. But that was in a forested area, and then we were above timberline, on a thin piece of asphalt, barely two lanes wide, with zero shoulder for miles, and it really got scary.

Here is someone's video.



It's not as bad from the passenger's seat where the videographer was sitting, because you can see over the edge a bit, but for the driver, all you see is road edge and infinity, and you've no idea where your right side tires are. Fortunately, there was almost no traffic so I could straddle the center line most of the time.

One of the worst parts was when the drivers of vehicles pulling loaded horse trailers coming westbound into the setting sun were holding their hands up trying to shield their eyes enough to see the road. They could easily have veered into my skimpy little lane on a curve. And I was driving a fat-ass full size pickup.

I did not take pictures of my own (okay, maybe a couple), but I don't know how they came out) because there was no leeway if the wheel wandered me over out of the lane of traffic. I was gripping the wheel like grim death, and driving with all due haste to get off of that mountain before dark. Maybe dark would have been better - I wouldn't be able to see the drops.

This is the second or third time I've driven that route by myself, and it has not improved since the last time, but I was younger and more daring those many years ago . I swear I'll never do it again. But never say never.

posted on Sept 22, 2013 12:27 AM ()

Comments:

That video made me nervous. It looked like they were going so fast. I would have been creeping along, making the drivers behind me crazy.
comment by boots586 on Sept 23, 2013 12:43 PM ()
When I was driving it, I was going faster than the 35 mph limit because I wanted the pain to be over quicker. It was the longest 90 minutes plus of my life (to go 46 miles) in recent memory.
reply by traveltales on Sept 24, 2013 3:12 AM ()
All I can say is, "Eeeeeks!" Glad you got to Estes Park....
comment by marta on Sept 22, 2013 9:58 AM ()
All's well that ends well, not that anything but that scary drive has ended yet.
reply by traveltales on Sept 24, 2013 3:14 AM ()
Sort of like driving on the 7 mile bridge to Key West--on one side the Gulf and the orher the Atlantic BUT they do have barriers on each side!

I use to love drivign along the pacific Coast highway between LA and Samn Fran--some pretty hairy turns along that route.
comment by greatmartin on Sept 22, 2013 9:54 AM ()
Over the past week, I've seen some very scenic stretches of Colorado back country, but that was the only place where there was no shoulder at all on the road, and you could see the whole mile to the bottom of the cliff you were inching along.
reply by traveltales on Sept 24, 2013 3:15 AM ()
I remember that road well. At least it is open and got you to Estes Park.
comment by elderjane on Sept 22, 2013 6:26 AM ()
You should see this big cat on my lap right now. He has a bottomless need for loving.
reply by traveltales on Sept 24, 2013 3:17 AM ()

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