Vapor Trail 125 - Alpine Tunnel to bottom of Old Monarch Pass road

This section is on the western slope of Contintental Divide. Begins with 1000 foot descent, then 1000 foot climb back to Tomichi Pass. From Tomichi Pass you'll have a fabulous hike-a-bike up to the rooftop of the Sawatch Range (or at least it'll feel like that). No sherpas allowed! Then you'll have a technical descent on the fabulous and difficult Canyon Creek Trail, emerging south of Whitepine at the Snowblind Campground. Aid Station #2 will be at this point.

From there you will proceed to the bottom of the Old Monarch Pass Road, and the end of this section.

This section will give your shoulders some work, to even out what you did to your legs in the prior section.

Video from Tomichi Pass, shot 6-20-2005 (last day o' spring):

• Panning video, narrated. Hollywood Quality 7.7 MB
• Panning video, narrated. Peepshow Quality 3.1 MB

Pictures from a trip over the Alpine Tunnel 7-24-2005:

West side of Alpine Tunnel

Note the ledge that was built for the railroad under the rock formation (center-left in the picture) known as the Palisades

Here's an up-close picture of the Palisades: note the precision of the wall built from non-uniform rock chunks without morter.

Recommended?? I've driven Tomichi Pass with my 4wd. I doubt I'd do it again, unless it was in someone else's 4wd!

The Tomichi Pass climb from this point is also known as Quit Hill.

Pictures from the Tomichi Pass Road, also shot 6-20-2005:

Brittle Silver Basin, your snow-covered route below.

Photos of Canyon Creek Trail hopefully included here soon.

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