2K20 (EP 37) Historic US-50 Over Old Monarch Pass in Colorado (1919 Route)

[@robertbowers9856]

In 1973, my friends and I rode our horses to southern Montana from southern Oregon. It took 58 days to go 985 miles. During that ride, a man I met gave me a ride up the road about 4 miles. By that time, I'd been on my horse so long, I forgot how fast a car was. I remembered what my mom said about when she was a girl, "Cars took your breath away!"

[@almeisam]

The last time I was over this pass was 30-some years ago. At that time it was a nice gravel road. It doesn't look as good in your video. Back then, we also went up old, old Monarch Pass (west side) up to where it was blocked off near the ski area boundary (in a CJ-5 and a Scout II). For other interesting passes, if you haven't done them, Slumgullion Pass (between Creede and Lake City), Owl Creek Pass (a meadow on the west side is where the final shoot out scene was filmed in the original True Grit movie), Kebler Pass and McClure Pass.

[@briankady1456]

My grandfather probably Drove this road many years ago. One of his jobs before becoming a prison guard in Canon City was that of a truck driver.

[@gustaveeaster9601]

I used to go dirt bike riding in the Tennessee mountains and would ride in old coal strip mines. You could climb up on the edges and ride for miles. We also would ride power lines to the middle of no where. You could ride from one town to another making your own trails. Lucky never got hurt because this was before cellphones. Got Snake bit once but that was what she liked to be called.

[@pamelaattrux336]

Neat you went off road

[@user-2203xyz]

Love this 👍

[@justtheletterV274]

Fun Fact: US-50, Historically ended in Oakland at the I-80 (back then US-40) and is now replaced by I-580, but previously before the extension to California, it ended in Ely, Nevada.

[@NBZW]

You are correct my friend about Ely, but was way before your and my time, better yet it was known as the Lincoln Highway. I’m referring to the 50 route across Nevada through California... Prior to that, it was known as the Pony Express Trail.

[@DWNY358]

This was great. Yes, Cottonwood Pass would be great to see as well. We tried to do it once, after a climbing trip to Mount Yale, but it was closed due to a landslide a few years back.

[@kevin2742]

This video certainly makes me thankful for the much better roads that we have today and the incredible engineering marvels that it takes to make them.

[@jboedecker]

Very nice! Thanks for letting us ride along!

[@InterstateKyle]

Thank you!

[@mattschehr163]

Simply amazing

[@markostner]

My dad told me in the 1920s the speed limits were 20 in the mountains, 40 in the foothills, and 60 in the plains. In the 1920s and early 30s most roads were dirt. People traveled in caravans so if the car broke down someone could fix it or go for help. In the towns, they stayed at downtown hotels or tourist cabins or camps and in the mountains camped out. Show more videos of old highways and auto trails.

[@MCSpoon]

Black Bear Road!!! (also happens to be my favorite CW song)

[@zyoninkiro]

That road reminds me of the logging roads in northwest Montana where I learned to drive.

[@BrollikIsMrNikon]

I'm surprised you didn't run into Bigfoot and the fam and them...

[@dantn77]

Great video! You should do a video of the Moki Dugway in southern Utah. Not for the faint of the heart!

[@mattschehr163]

I honestly forgot that I put that answer down

[@davidborrink137]

For this episode, it's "Two-trackKyle" and a ramble in the backroads! Seriously, that is one rugged winding road.

[@TheWhatTheGeorge]

Why did the video end before the end of the road? It would have been nice to see you get back to 50.

[@belindahall5178]

Love this

[@PaulIsAGamer]

Wow, wow and another wow. Just simply amazing this journey. Yes, i would love to see other routes like this as well. Please do. Those trees all over the road, at some points you barely got around them. Luckily there wasn't a tree all over the road. If there was, what would you have done? Turn around? Like someone earlier said: you better take a chainsaw with you. If i look at the names of the passes you mention Black Bear Road sounds the more daring as you mention you maybe would rent a jeep. Thanks for showing us some REAL driving, i simply loved it. Putting this up as one of my favourites. I am sure i will watch it more times. Greets from the (flat) Netherlands.

[@PatrickDavis28]

Next up: crossing old monarch pass in a horse-drawn wagon

[@jackrichey4931]

first I WOULD love to see Black Bear Pass then Cottonwood Pass and finally The Million Dollar Highway

[@briannave7326]

If I were driving that road I would have a chain saw with me.

[@dewott8251]

Id love to see Cottonwood Pass to be honest

[@rally618]

Phantom Canyon or Shelf Road , Cripple Creek-Canon City

[@UPLINKUSA]

Yes Black Bear Road and Cottonwood Pass please.

[@dwood78part23]

The Old Monarch Pass makes CA-4 in the Seirra Nevada look like child's play! I can't picture how rough Old Old Monarch Pass is! (& no I'm not suggesting you drive THAT road unless you want to) Just one thing, what do you think is the downhill grade for Old Monarch Pass? It has to be more than 6% judging from the video.

[@InterstateKyle]

The Old Old Monarch pass is only accessible if you do some backcountry skiing or hiking... there’s photos of the Oldest route on Wikipedia if you do some searching.. though Wikipedia calls it Original Monarch Pass. As far as the grade percentage I have no idea and I even researched it for the video but didn’t find anything. I would say between 6-12%

[@Mr8888X]

Would love to see the Ridgecrest (I hope I wrote that right) road from LA to Bakersfield 😀

[@edswayze7635]

when i lived in colo spgs i skied monarch all the time all natural snow