As part of the annual Rising Sun 4×4 Club Ghost Town Run, we went out to the St. Elmo-Pitkin area just south of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness to do some outstanding 4x4ing. From our base camp up the creek from Pitkin, we headed up and over Hancock Pass toward St. Elmo. On our way up the old Alpine Tunnel rail grade we passed one of several old water towers.
One of the big loops on the railroad at the spot that the road to Hancock Pass turns off. The road to the Alpine Tunnel is closed now due to rock fall and a washout. Hopefully soon the Forest Service or a volunteer group will repair and reopen that road.
Heading up the old road.
Beautiful views.
At a tight switchback.
Almost to the top!
Looking back down the pass.
Up on top of Hancock Pass, we could look to the south toward Tomichi Pass (which we did the next day) and see the shelf road that is starting to fall off the side of the mountain.
We saw an adorable little pika in the rocks at the top of Hancock Pass.
There’s that crazy shelf road that has 30-35 degree off-camber slopes. In a few more years, it will be impassable.
The Honey Badger up on Hancock Pass.
A few Land Cruisers at the pass.
Heading down toward St. Elmo.
This stretch was particularly beautiful with lush wildflowers.
Lots of color on this north-facing slope.
The old tram terminal from the Mary Murphy Mine is getting more precarious by the year. Someday it will end up in the road or maybe it will end up on the other side of the road.
No joke that this thing is unstable!