Wolf Creek Pass Colorado on a Motorcycle

Wolf Creek Pass lies along US-160 in Southern Colorado, crossing over the Continental Divide at 10,800 feet. All we had to do was ride over it and we'd be clear from any threat of snow.

But it didn't work out that way.

Sash and I were at Pagosa Springs, eating lunch at Pagosa Brewing, when the bartender there said we had better get moving now if we wanted to get over Wolf Creek Pass before it got too heavy with snow.

"We're leaving now", Sash said, as I was still nursing my glass of We' Heavy Ale. "We're like leaving right now."

About 20 minutes later, we finally got moving.

All seemed fine for about 15 miles down the highway. Even the rain coming down didn't bother us. But as we began the climb up the Rocky Mountain range, the temperature gauge on my Honda ST1300 dropped down to 39 degrees F (3.9 Celsius). The rain turned to snow, but the roads remained wet. For some reason, Sash passed me by. I guess she thought I was going too slow.

37 degrees, to 35 degrees, to 33 degrees, the temperature gauge dropped.

The road seemed slushy, but we still seemed to have good traction. I couldn't see Sash up ahead. The snow flurries became so intense, and she had ridden so far up ahead of me. I looked at my temperature gauge, but so much snow had collected on it that it was difficult to read. I could make out 32 degrees F (0 degrees celsius).

Finally, I saw her pull over to the side, and I pulled up next to her.

"I can't see!" she cried out. Her glasses became iced, as well as her helmet visor and windshield Mine were iced too.

"We can't stay here!" I said. "We'll get trapped in the snow! We have to keep moving!"

We got moving, and Sash darted out ahead of me. For awhile, she did well, piloting her Yamaha V-Star 650 quite well in the light layer of powder, turning left and right in the twisted mountain highway. But eventually, I saw her lose control.

The bike weaved for a moment, and then did a full 360 spin before she laid it down. She went down low side, seemingly falling down gently, and got back up shaken and upset, but otherwise fine. She and I tried lift her bike up, but it was very difficult in the icy footing. Finally, we got it up, and it was pointed in the opposite direction of the lane we were in.


A truck came by with a man and woman, named Jared and Taryn respectively. They stopped and asked if we needed help. They said we still had another 8 miles to go before we crested Wolf Creek Pass.

"We need to go back to Pagosa Springs", I said.

"How about I ride her bike back down", Jared answered. "She can ride in the truck with Taryn".

"OK", Sash said.

Jared hopped on Sash's bike and rode it downhill in what was now about 2 inches of snow. He got up a pretty good click, probably doing about 30 MPH, riding it over snow, ice and slush rather handily. Meanwhile, I was nervous taking the Honda ST down.  The asphalt felt about as slick as bunny slippers on a bowling alley. Jared was probably a half mile away ahead of me when he pulled over and waited for me to catch up.

Slowly, I picked up speed, and managed to do better at keeping up. Eventually, we dropped down elevation enough to where the road was no longer icy, just wet, and we rode back full speed into Pagosa Springs.

Keep in mind, Jared did this without wearing gloves.

Sash's gloves were too small to fit his hands. I just couldn't imagine the pain he was in.

We got back into Pagosa Springs and thanked Jared and Taryn up and down and all over. If we were dogs, we'd lick their faces for a good 5 minutes, Sash maybe longer.

Interestingly, the night before all this happened, Sash's father came to her in a dream.  She said he was proud of her, among many other things he expressed in the dream.  After Sash had dumped the bike in the snow, she couldn't help thinking that her Daddy was there to lessen the impact.  I thought it was odd to see her sitting on the motorcycle while it did a 360 degree turn and then some, and gently laying her down on the roadway.

In Pagosa Springs, we booked a room for two nights, giving us time until the storm passes by.  I'm looking out the window of our hotel room as I write this, seeing snow falling like it was January.

I guess Wolf Creek Pass won this time.

Chimney Rock, US-160 eastbound, Colorado

Having a beer for lunch at Pagosa Springs Brewing.

US-160 gets wet just east of Pagosa Springs

At the first hairpin turn, going up Wolf Creek Pass, snow is coming down hard

Sash pulls ahead going up Wolf Creek Pass

Sash continues to lead the way up Wolf Creek Pass with snow flurries

Visibility gets worse further up Wolf Creek Pass. My windshield is frozen solid, and Sash is way up ahead.

Where Sash spun out of control. Jared is putting on her gear which is too small for him

I'm riding back down Wolf Creek Pass, probably 10mph at this point. Sash took this photo inside Taryn's truck. Jared is way up ahead of me.

Jared waiting for me. Taryn had passed me by, creating tire tracks for me to ride in, and Sash snapped this photo.