PARK RANGE | COLORADO | UNITED STATES

All Locations>>UNITED STATES>>COLORADO>>PARK RANGE

Summary | 500 inches a year

RABBIT EARS PASS
RABBIT EARS PASS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The Park Range (elevation approximately 12,000 ft) is a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Colorado in the United States. The range forms a relatively isolated part of the continental divide, extending north-to-south for approximately 40 miles (64 km) along the boundary between Jackson (east) and Routt counties. It separates North Park in the upper basin of the North Platte River on the east from the Elk River basin in the watershed of the Yampa River the west. It rises steeply out of the Yampa River basin, forming a climatic barrier that receives much snowfall in winter. Steamboat Springs, a popular ski resort community, sits on the southwestern flank of the range, at the base of Mount Werner. Much of the range is located within the Routt National Forest, with the summit of the ridge located within the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, named for Mount Zirkel (elevation 12180 ft). The range is prominently visible from both sides and forms a picturesque skyline from much of North Park. It is traversed at its southern end by Rabbit Ears Pass which carries U.S. Highway 40. It is also traversed by Buffalo Pass which carries a gravel road between Steamboat Springs and Walden, and which is traversable by most vehicles in good weather in summer.


Snowpack
http://avalanche.state.co.us/pub_bc_avo.php?zone_id=0

Mountains

RABBIT EARS PASS (0) Elevation: 9,426 ft

The pass straddles the continental divide at the southern end of the Park Range along the boundary between Grand and Jackson counties. The pass is named for nearby Rabbit Ears Peak, a mountain in Park Range to the north that is prominently visible from the east side of the pass during good weather. It separates the upper basin of the Yampa River on the west with the North Park in the upper basin of the North Platte River on the east. The west summit, though steeper (7%), is lower (9400'), and the true high point is the east summit. Although lower in elevation than many of the high mountain passes farther to the south in the Colorado Rockies, the pass often receives a great deal of snow in winter and is subject to regular short closures during heavy winter storms. The meadows beneath it along U.S. Highway 40 allow for reliable cross country skiing. The pass provides the route of U.S. Highway 40 between Kremmling and Steamboat Springs. It is one of three crossings of the continental divide along the U.S. Highway, along with nearby Muddy Pass to the southeast and Berthoud Pass as it approaches Denver. The pass is significantly steeper on the western side (near Steamboat Springs) than the eastern side, where it descends along a slow incline towards Muddy Pass. There is a single runaway truck ramp on the west side for truckers whose brakes became hot while braking down the incline


Photos

Upload Your Photo

Be the first to add photos for this location.Sign Up for free or login to post photos.

Comments

Got Something to Add?

Sign Up for free or login to post comments.


External References

Already have a blog about this area? Link to it here.
Be the first to enter an external reference for this area!

You need to login or sign up to add an external reference.

Guide Books

Sign up to use or skiing guide.
All Locations>>UNITED STATES>>COLORADO>>PARK RANGE
People die skiing in the backcountry every year. Avalanches, crevasses, trees, human error, weather, tree wells, rabid sasquatches, among other things can kill you in an instant. Use this guide at your own risk, we are not responsible for any wanker getting all wanked up in the wankin' backcountry. That being said, even the most experienced backcountry skier can get caught off guard. Take avalanche classes, carry a beacon, probe, shovel and avalung AND KNOW HOW TO USE THEM. Just because you buy them, doesn't mean you get magical powers of invincibility. Many people who own beacons have no clue how to operate them. More importantly than any gear you can buy, you need to know how to safely travel in avalanche terrain, minimize potential hazards, and interpret how weather affects the snowpack. This requires time and experience. Learn from others, be safe and courteous, and when in doubt go home and live to ski another day. The amount of snow needed to be dug up to rescue a buried victim, on average weighs right around an actual ton. In North America 25% of victims die from hitting trees, rocks, and other sharp unforgiving surfaces. It only takes one miscalculation to have the mountains kick your ass. Just because you see tracks or someone else skiing a line, does not mean you should ski it. Remember, individual actions affect all of us. Take care of each other out there, we are all on the same team.