Where to find the first part(s) of the grade to Marshall Pass

Russo Loco Wrote:
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> Hi, Mal -
>
> IIRC, except close to Pagosa Springs, where the
> vegetation is different from that in your photo,
>
I'm assuming ya'al mean *Poncha* Springs?
From the Poncha Jct(MP 220.1) wye the grade goes SSW, crosses the South Arkansas and then climbs up the south side of the valley, finally turning back to a ESE heading, passing through a house and then a cut (gate in the cut these days) and emerge well above hwy 285 at about RR MP 221.75. This entire section is pretty much at level with the local ground. From this point to about MP 223 the grade is up on the West side of the Poncha Creek Canyon but the creek bed (and hwy 285) are rising faster than it is and meet it at about MP 223, just RR East of Otto(MP 224). From there to the Shirley Loop the grade is at or near creek level. Just as the creek level reaches the grade, it crosses hwy 285 and is on the East side of the hwy until they cross again just before Mears Jct.
Just South of the crossing of the South Arkansas on hwy 285 there is a road which turns off to the West and will take you up to the grade by the (RR) West end of the cut I mentioned above.
hank
ps the land on this strech is a mix of BLM & private. It's mostly *not* in the San Isabel National Forest until you get past Shirley. Please don't trespass on private land!