Wade Hall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
. . . the pass in that area with less rigorous
> winter conditions is Cochetopa Pass (pro-
> nounced "Coach-uh-tope" by locals, the "a"
> is silent),
which was never traversed by
>
a railroad.
Probably because a line from Pueblo to Salida to Gunnison via Cochetopa Pass would also have involved traversing Poncha Pass, and would have been many miles longer than either the Monarch or Marshall routes. Likewise, getting to Gunnison via Alamosa would have involved La Veta Pass in addition to Cochetopa Pass. No point climbing two high passes when one will do
. . .
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/2016 01:46PM by Russo Loco.