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Rocky Mtn Arsenal: Sunday Drive

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Billstek

Billstek

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Pleasanton, CA, US
I was hoping the snow would bee deeper, but good weather lately melted a lot of it. These were all taken in mid afternoon.



Lots of prairie dogs
Lots of prairie dogs



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From far away...
From far away...



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Red tailed hawk?
Red tailed hawk?



On the way home, near Greely.
On the way home, near Greely.

I always accept constructive criticism.

--
www.justofftheroad.smugmug.com
 
mfinley said:
Great information, thanks for all the details. I had no idea the buffalo herd there was free roaming right over the road. Hard to believe there hasn't been some Darwinian thinning of our human herd by them.
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There will always be some of 'those people' that don't play be the rules, but the Arsenal is pretty well patrolled so they are few and far between. I worry when I see motorcyclists on the wildlife loop (a bison could easily knock a motorcycle over), but I have never witnessed or heard of any issues.
mfinley said:
I don't see any info on the website about a fee, free to get in?
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The Arsenal is free to get in, and the visitor's center is also free.

When I was going there regularly, I would buy my annual National Parks pass at the visitor's center - even though they are not a national park, they are run by the same agency and sell the passes (it was cash only back then - not sure if that has changed). It was easier than internet / mail and faster than waiting in line at a National Park. But, to reiterate, the Arsenal is free.
 
Mike - I saw your Donner Pass post on your website ... have you done Rollins Pass here in Colorado? It's also a former railroad grade ...
 
I have not, is it similar, do you go through the old tunnels?
 
The combination of wildlife and landscape in a single image is especially beautiful. Your fifth image catches my eyes.
 
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Nice pictures. Looks very familiar:
 
+1 Great information on your website, mfinley.

I shared it with some of my friends who love to hike/travel.
 
Mike -

I have only been as far as the current railroad goes, and not up the abandoned grade. The current railroad still has a number of tunnels, and others have ben daylighted over the years.

The most famous tunnel on the old grade is Needles Eye tunnel, which is at or near the summit. It had a cave-in a number of years back and they closed it due to safety concerns, severing the 4x4 road over the pass. My understanding is that you can still drive up to either side in a 4x4 and hike over the top of the tunnel.

There was an old website I had linked in my browser that had a map and lots of general info, but it had not been updated since the late 90s. The group has apparently joined forces with another historic group and moved a portion of their content to the following website:

Loading…

tmp.moffatroad.org

There are numerous books and other websites about the Moffat Road in general and the pass in particular. The RPRA has he best info I have found about current conditions (which are poor).

CPLittleton
 
Great shots! I haven't seen or even thought about "The Arsenal" in many years and your pics activated some very pleasant memories for me. My dad used to take me there to go fishing when I was a boy and I remember using a small pole to catch perch and then release them. Of course, this was before the place was declared a Superfund Site...I"m glad to see that it seems to have transitioned to a wonderful wildlife refuge, as evidenced by your interesting photos.
 
Interesting, I will look into it for the summer, sure not going up there this time of year. :-D

The best tunnel hike I've ever done was in Italy near Trento, it is called the Strada delle 52 Gallerie (Road of 52 Tunnels), built as a WWI supply route for the Italians to get their troops and supplies by mule to the front lines when they were fighting the Austrians. As the name suggests there are 52 tunnels along the route and the views are spectacular. I would love to go back and do that one again.



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--
Thanks,
Mike
 
Neat shots Mike.

No, I would not recommend Rollins Pass in winter. The winter conditions were one reason for construction of the Moffat Tunnel that shortened and lowered the trip over the continental divide. Opened in 1927, the tunnel is coming up on its 100-year anniversary in a few years. There are some informative plaques at the eastern portal (also a trailhead), which is a few thousand feet from where the Rollins Pass grade splits off from the current tunnel alignment.
 
Nice pictures! I visited the Arsenal for the first time November 2021 during the peak of the deer rut and got some wonderful shots.

If anyone plans on visiting I would suggest a sunrise drive. The animals are more active and you can do two complete loops before the light gets harsh. A great resource right smack in the middle of 2+ million people!
 
The lone bison and the hawk are my favs! Nice captures!
 
Hello, Looks like a super sharp nice photo of the hawk, and very nice ones of the other wildlife. I have the Nik9n z 50 as well, and just got the 100 400mm s z lens. I was wondering how good it preform on the z 50. I have used it a little on my z 6 2 camera with good results.
 
I like the 100-400z lens. It takes the 1.4 tc well, too, although all of these with that lens were without the tc. You’d have to spend a lot more to surpass it, in my opinion.
 
Billstek said:
I was hoping the snow would bee deeper, but good weather lately melted a lot of it. These were all taken in mid afternoon.

Lots of prairie dogs
Lots of prairie dogs

d8e16441358246cdb7cbdac6a48e5f45.jpg

Red tailed hawk?
Red tailed hawk?

I always accept constructive criticism.
Click to expand...
Sir, three photos above are my selections of the shot I consider being wonderful. Also, you and I are soul brothers being two humans that expect and accept constructive criticism.

--
Alex
Vincit qui se vincit
 
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