Red Mountain Pass was closed for about 20 days this winter after numerous avalanches buried the road, up to 30 feet deep in some areas.
Snow covers the side of the mountain Saturday on Red Mountain Pass on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ouray at the snowshed area. Photo bu Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Large and small avalanches reached U.S. Highway 550 this winter on Red Mountain Pass. The avalanches also brought down a large amount of debris, making it difficult for the Colorado Department of Transportation to remove snow and clear the highway. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Large and small avalanches reached U.S. Highway 550 this winter on Red Mountain Pass. The avalanches also brought down a large amount of debris, making it difficult for the Colorado Department of Transportation to remove snow and clear the highway. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ski tracks in an avalanche area Saturday on Red Mountain Pass. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Large and small avalanches reached U.S. Highway 550 this winter on Red Mountain Pass. The avalanches also brought down a large amount of debris, making it difficult for the Colorado Department of Transportation to remove snow and clear the highway. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ski tracks in an avalanche area Saturday on Red Mountain Pass. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
An avalanche covered both sides of a snowshed on Red Mountain Pass south of Ouray this winter. The pass was closed for about 20 days while crews did avalanche mitigation and cleared the road for passenger travel. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Snow covers both sides of the mountain Saturday on Red Mountain Pass on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ouray at the snowshed area. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Large and small avalanches reached U.S. Highway 550 this winter on Red Mountain Pass. The avalanches also brought down a large amount of debris, making it difficult for the Colorado Department of Transportation to remove snow and clear the highway. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Large and small avalanches reached U.S. Highway 550 this winter on Red Mountain Pass. The avalanches also brought down a large amount of debris, making it difficult for the Colorado Department of Transportation to remove snow and clear the highway. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The town of Silverton as seen Saturday from an overlook on Molas Pass. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Avalanche slide paths that haven’t run in years took out large trees along Red Mountain Pass. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Snow covers the side of the mountain Saturday on Red Mountain Pass on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ouray at the snowshed area. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Snow covers the side of the mountain Saturday on Red Mountain Pass on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ouray. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Large walls of snow are still visible along the sides of U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Red Mountain Pass was closed for about 20 days in March after numerous avalanches covered U.S. Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray. Courtesy of Dan Bender
Red Mountain Pass was closed for about 20 days in March after numerous avalanches covered U.S. Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray. Courtesy of Dan Bender
Red Mountain Pass was closed for about 20 days in March after numerous avalanches covered U.S. Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray. Courtesy of Dan Bender
