Lobby of the San Luis Inn
“Oh dear!”
It was early Sunday morning, and we had another full day in San Luis. Tomorrow we would head up the interstate for home. I had just left my room and wandered into the guest area where the coffee was brewing. A glance outside indicated a cold, wet start to the day. And I encountered a woman fretting about it.
“We should have left earlier so we could get over LaVeta Pass. I wanted to go to church this morning!.”
“You have to drive over LaVeta Pass to go to church?” I asked.
“No–we live in Trinidad. LaVeta Pass can often be dicey!”
Oh yes, I remembered how dicey it could be! We crossed it in December 2007 with a blizzard right behind us all the way back to Denver. Well, we shouldn’t have too many problems, I decided. After all, we were leaving in the morning, so the weather could straighten out by then.
The sun was shining when we left San Luis early the next morning–something that increased my optimism. However, the forecast was not favorable. Snow started falling when we arrived in Fort Garland.
A rain and snow mix in Fort Garland
We could barely see the Fort when we stopped at a store.
Fort Garland
The weather calmed considerably when we reached LaVeta Pass, causing us to believe the storm was over.
Mount Blanca from the town of Blanca
Our perception quickly proved not to be the case.
Entering LaVeta Pass
And the road became dicey really fast!
Snow collecting on the ground below the summit
Snow on the ground on LaVeta Pass
Icy road on LaVeta Pass
Crossing the summit at LaVeta Pass
We certainly found out why the county maintains tall snow fencing beside the road!
Snow fencing along the road
Walsenburg was a welcome sight! We stopped at a cafeteria on the edge of town. I took a picture of this eagle just outside the cafeteria door.
Eagle statue near Walsenburg
And I was really glad I had taken my pictures in Walsenburg two days previously. While it wasn’t snowing in Walsenburg on our return trip, it certainly was raining!
Park on the edge of Walsenburg
Just beyond the park
Walsenburg in the rain
By the time we reached downtown Walsenburg, the rain had stopped–
Walsenburg business district
The edge of the business district
–only to start up again while heading north on I-25.
Wind generators along I-25
Presently, the Denver skyline came into view marking the end of a memorable trip and an interesting anniversary celebration.
Downtown Denver
We were home!
