Telluride, CO: Black Bear Pass (2177.3 miles)

We're blogging a little early today...only because we're high on that special adrenaline rush you get when you know you're doing something ridiculously stupid and yet you continue to do it because there's no turning back.

Today's trail was Black Bear Pass. It's pretty widely regarded as the most difficult trail in the Ouray area based on the steep downhill grade and sharp, dangerous switchbacks that you must follow down the mountain. The trail is so difficult that it is only open in the downhill direction-there's absolutely no room to pass. Anywhere. As you'll see in the video, there is a rock face on one side, and a cliff on the other. For two miles. Straight down hill.

We filmed today with the "Snorkel View" to get a good combo of scenery and road features. Bear in mind that as we descend, we're in low first gear, and are pumping the brake as well. Its extremely hard to slow the momentum, torque, and weight of the car with the regular brake. The e-brake was used on multiple occasions. Although the video is somewhat removed from the feel of the car bouncing down rocks on the hill, let me tell you...we were both extremely anxious to get past this point of the trail. Period. It was hard, with no room for error.


Enjoy these pictures and the video of us taking on Black Bear Pass.

If the embedded version below doesn't work, click here!

Black Bear Pass, 12,800 ft

Overlooking Telluride