Gribblenation

Upon reaching Durango via US Route 550 over the San Juan Mountains I picked up US Route 160.  After following a multiplex of US 160/US 550 south of Durango I cut east on the former towards Wolf Creek Pass. This article serves as the 23rd entry in the 2016 Summer Mountain Trip series.  Part 22 covered US Route 550 from Montrose south to Durango over the Million Dollar Highway. 2016 Summer Mountain Trip Part 22; US Route 550, the Million Dollar Highway, and San Juan Skyway Wolf Creek Pass lies at an elevation of 10,857 feet above sea level within the San Juan Mountains of Mineral County.  Wolf Creek Pass serves as part of the Continental Divide between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.  Flanked by the watershed of Wolf Creek to the west and the South Fork Rio Grande River to the east Wolf Creek Pass might not be among the most infamous of the mountain passes in Colorado...but it still is famous. The history of Wolf Creek Pass is surprisingly modern as it...

One of the more aesthetically interesting bridges on the Hudson River, the Green Island Bridge which links the city of Troy, New York with the neighboring village of Green Island by way of Center Island. The only lift bridge located on the Hudson River, it could be considered to be the signature bridge for the Hudson River north of Albany. But as enduring of a symbol that the 630 foot long Green Island Bridge is for the local area, it is not the original bridge at this location. Initially, there was a rail crossing where the Green Island Bridge stands today. The original bridge was a covered bridge built in 1832 and served the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad. In 1862, the bridge caught fire from the sparks of a passing locomotive and soon fell into the Hudson River. Parts of the burning structure, put the steamboats and smaller watercraft docked along the wharves in peril. The devastating fire also consumed more than 500 buildings covering 75 acres in downtown Troy. This bridge...

After leaving the Grand Canyon I headed south on Arizona State Route 64 towards Williams for the night.  While Williams is famous is being part of US Route 66 it also has significance as part of US Route 89 and the south terminus of the Grand Canyon Railroad. This article serves the 23rd entry in the 2016 Fall Mountain Trip Series.  Part 22 on Arizona State Route 64, Grand Canyon National Park, and the western terminus of US Route 180 can be found here: 2016 Fall Mountain Trip Part 22; Arizona State Route 64, Grand Canyon National Park, and the weird west terminus of US Route 180 Williams was plotted out in 1879 as a rail siding of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad.  Williams was named after Bill Williams who was a well known traveler of what would become the American Southwest in the early 19th century. Williams can be seen on the Third Operating Map of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 1882 . Williams is famously the last town in Arizona along t...

After leaving Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park I returned to US Route 50 via Colorado State Route 347.  I traveled west on US 50 towards Montrose to reach US 550.  My route ahead was south over the San Juan Mountains via; US 550, the Million Dollar Highway, and San Juan Skyway. This article serves as the 22nd entry in the 2016 Summer Mountain Trip Series.  Part 21 regarding CO 347, South Rim Road, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park can be found below: 2016 Summer Mountain Trip Part 21; CO 347, South Rim Road, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park US 550 over the San Juan Mountains is one of the most well known scenic highways in Colorado and is a segment of the 233 mile San Juan Skyway.  US 550 is mostly known for the narrow segment of highway from Ouray south over Red Mountain Pass to Silverton.  This segment of US 550 between Ouray and Silverton is known historically as the "Million Dollar Highway." The origins of the ...