Driving the “Million Dollar Highway” is both beautiful and frightening. The road has many steep sheer drop offs that are not protected by guard rails. I’ve now driven and cycled this road, and I am not sure which is scarier. If you fell off the road on a bicycle, you might be able jump off the bike before tumbling down the steep mountainside. If you drove your car off the highway, there would not be enough time to open the car door and jump out before the car hurtled down into the mountain valley hundreds of feet below. Neither would be a good situation. Plenty of drivers, including myself, were cheating over towards the yellow line and even over the yellow line in the center of the narrow road. The shoulder on the side or the road is only a few feet wide before encountering the near vertical cliffs.
There are several possibilities for the name “Million Dollar Highway.” One is that the cost of the road soared well over $1,000,000 back around WWI, a huge sum for that day. The worth of its views could be the meaning of the name. Some consider the road between Silverton and Ouray the most beautiful highway in America. Red Mountain Pass is halfway between Silverton and Ouray, cresting 11,018 feet above sea level. The reddish color comes from iron oxide laden rocks that forms the slopes of the mountain.
Red Mountain Pass was the major climb on the second day of the San Juan bicycle tour back in 1997. I stumbled right out of the gate the first day of that tour, failing to make even the first climb to 10,600 feet on the way to Silverton. I read where sleeping one night at a high elevation will help you acclimate to the higher elevation. That is actually not true. The body takes about three weeks to produce new red blood cells. Having more oxygen carrying red blood cells is the only way the body can acclimate to higher elevations. That is why many endurance athletes train at high elevations. Actually, the percentage of oxygen in the air is the same at 10,000 feet as the percentage is at sea level, around 21%. At high altitudes the air molecules are more dispersed. A breath of air at 10,000 feet delivers 30% less oxygen to the body than at sea level. If you are exercising strenuously, the reduced oxygen levels make a huge difference.
Naturally, I was quite concerned about ascending above 11,000 feet to Red Mountain Pass the next day. Climbing slowly and within myself, much to my relief, I successfully ascended the summit. A thrilling 15 mile, 4000 foot descent brought us into the town of Ouray. Cycling this road was definitely more of an adventure than driving. I was grateful to have a car this time around.
Songs To Your Eyes – Red Mountain – Composer:Alexander Okunev
Hello Rob,
Wonderful to read all your descriptions as you re-visit those areas last seen by bike. Both modes of transportation have their advantages and disadvantages. Don’t give up on your ability to cycle and hike as much as you wish! Just a matter of putting in the miles and building the base! Remember you did the whole Continental Divide which is epic!!! Happy Traveling!
Debbie, I can still day do one day of one of these rides. But recovering in time to repeat the next day, and next day, is where I would have difficulty. My body just does not recover as quickly as it used to. Cycling is definitely better from the perspective of being able to smell the trees and forests, and experience the the elements and the atmosphere, also a better view on a bicycle. However, while driving west of Telluride on some 8% grades seeing some cyclists out there, I was happy to have a gas engine take me up the hills.
Rob … thanks for the warnings.
We will probably never drive that awesome stretch of highway.
Maybe some walking ??
We have traveled on some roads
with essentially no “shoulders” …
but not at highway speeds !!!
For what it is worth ….
I found this You-Tube video
that captures in 38-minutes
the drive from Silverton to Ouray
along the Million Dollar Highway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64fYEnV6jQ8
Not as good as it may sound …
taken from inside of the car
some of the nearby scenery moves too fast
and some motion-sickness is probably inevitable.
P.S. also thanks for the info on high altitude oxygen.
Very nicely down video, essentially captures the view from the highway. Highway speed on that road was often less than 20mph. Was interesting trying to drive and look at the same time.