Made the run today, up the west side of Rollins Pass. You can get up to the summit at Corona. Grade to Devils Slide trestles and Needles Eye tunnel is blocked. Although, one could probably walk the distance if they wanted to. I started but didn't go very far. Was a bit nippy, but not bad. Clouds were coming in so I returned to the truck for the trip home. Had I continued on, it could have really gotten ugly!! Got sprinkled on about 3/4 back down the hill, and when I hit the highway headed home I got dumped on a couple of times. Rained so hard I slowed down because I couldn't see the road!! Washed about half the mud off the truck as well. Photos of trip after I download them and resize them for posting. Long day, but rather enjoyable. Rifle Sight Notch Side view of trestle Top of trestle
Keith, I saw your photo album about your trip up the East side of Rollins and it inspired me to take a similar trip a few weeks ago. It was such a sight that I proposed to my fiance 500 ft up the ridge above Needles Eye! Thanks for the trip preview! Taylor
Now, all I need to do, is resize the remaining photos and upload. Even at this late a date, there was still a fair amount of snow in some places. Came across a decent size drift at the summit. Had I been a bit more prepared, I'd have made the walk to Devils Slide trestles and maybe to Needles eye tunnel. But, with clouds building even around Noon, it would not have been a smart thing to do. On my way home, I ran into some severe rain and some pretty wicked lightening. Gives me reason to make a return trip one day.
Awesome! I love seeing photos of this Hill route. There's so much to see. It would be good to see a comprehensive tour from Irvings (Winter Park), Arrow, Ranch Creek Wye, Loop, Ptarmigan Point and Sunnyside all the way to Corona, showing the route from various railfan angles. (hint, hint)
In this case, from Corona back down to the highway. Through front windshield! Or about 3/4 the way back down. Stopped taking pics for a couple of reasons: 1. Clouds were building and it was starting to get dark. 2. By the time I made the 3/4 mark down, it was sprinkling pretty good. Got worse by the time I hit the highway, and even worse as I left town, after grabbing a bite to eat. 3. Was easier to stop, take a shot and keep going, than to stop, get out, shoot and go. Didn't feel much like getting soaked! As I stated, it gives me a reason to return!! A bit better prepared, so I can do a bit more exploration. Additional photos need to be edited and uploaded.
Might be possible. I don't have a video camera though. Granted, I could shoot video with my digital, but that might be more of a problem. I'd almost have to have a second person with doing video taping. Unless I can figure out how to set up a tripod in the the truck. Or in the bed, tied down behind the cab.
Have just finished uploading about 3 dozen photos from Rollins pass west. Several showing the area around Corona, and several, taken through windshield on the way down. Was even able, on the third sighting, to shoot a Marmot? Another odd shot, was a section of rail concreted in place in a couple of spots.
I wonder what the cemented rail was used for back then? Obviously torched off at some time. In image 411, looks like a missing bridge? Road on teh other side and you must loop around somehow? These is one place in eastern Washington, where I used to sit along the Milwaukee Road right of way and there were interesting little critters. On a nice day Pica were all over the place, playing in the rocks and chirping away.
I think so. Need to check a source or two. Trail follows the other legs of the wye instead. Three critter sightings and a number of birds. Nothing really special to see.
