Sometimes when I travel and hike in the Rocky Mountains, I am in awe of
how people used to live in and cross these peaks. Without the modern conveniences that we take for granted, how hard that must
have been. This hike up to Rollins Pass was one of those times.
Before the Moffat Tunnel was built, over 7 miles long crossing under the Continental Divide, the steam locomotives took travelers
over Rollins Pass – 11,660 ft. In fact. The first recorded use of Rollins Pass was by a wagon train in 1862. Wow – talk about
taking a walk through history.
Just getting back down to the entrance to the Needles Eye Tunnel, I took a break to soak in the atmosphere. The image on this page
is the view from that spot. You can see the railroad bed in the distance as it wound around the valley walls.
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