Cochetopa Pass

Cochetopa Pass
Cochetopa Pass

Just East of Cochetopa Pass
Elevation 10,032 ft (3,058 m)
Traversed by NN-14 Rd. / FR 750
Location
Location Saguache County, Colorado,  United States
Range Rocky Mountains
Coordinates 38°09′47″N 106°36′01″W / 38.163007°N 106.600192°W / 38.163007; -106.600192

Cochetopa Pass is a mountain pass in Colorado. It lies between the city of Gunnison and the town of Saguache. It lies on the Continental Divide, which separates the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests. It is named after the Cochetopa Hills that it lies within, Cochetopa being the Ute Indian word for "pass of the buffalo"[1] The original pass is traversed by Saguache Count Road NN14, a maintained gravel road. The new Cochetopa Pass is more often called "North Pass," and is located nearby on Colorado State Highway 114, which is paved, and at a slightly higher elevation.

Contents

History

The area of the Cochetopa Hills was a hunting ground of the Ute Indians. The area of the pass would be explored by many men in search of a route over and through the Rocky Mountains. Many would end in disaster.

1848

In 1848, St. Louis business men in an effort to have the intercontinental railroad pass through St. Louis, financed an expedition to find a route over Cochetopa Pass. These men set out with John Charles Fremont leading them. The expedition crossed over the San Juan Mountains at Bill Williams Pass but soon after reaching Pool Table Mesa in mid December the men and mules began freezing to death. After one rescue party failed to reach help and began resorting to cannibalisim, Fremont with the help of the Ute Indians led the men out to Taos, New Mexico Fremont left the men behind in Taos and ran for California. It took until January to rescue the remaining expedition from the mountains. The expedition was a failure and took the lives of 10 men.[2]

1853

In the Fall of 1853 Captain John W. Gunnison explored and surveyed the area in search of a route for the intercontinental railroad.[3] Not long after exploring the area Captain Gunnison was killed by Indians and his second in command, Lt. Edward G Beckwith took over and decided that the best route for the railroad would be further North through Wyoming across the Great Divide Basin.

References

  1. ^ Cochetopa Pass Looking up Sahwatch [Saguache] Creek. Unknown Date. Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum. 29 Mar. 2008. http://cprr.org/Museum/USPRR-Wm_Husson-PANZOOM/07coo.htm
  2. ^ Railroad Surveys. Unknown Date. National Park Service. 29 Mar. 2008. http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/WestwardExpansion/EarlyExplorers/Railroad.htm
  3. ^ Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean:. 1855. University of Michigan 29 Mar. 2008. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/AFK4383.0002.001



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cochetopa Hills — The Cochetopa Hills are a ridge of uplands on the Continental Divide in southern Colorado. The ridge bridges the southern terminus of the Sawatch Range to the northern terminus of the La Garita Mountains. The Cochetopa Hills are characterized by… …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado State Highway 114 — State Highway 114 Route information Maintained by CDOT Length: 61.7 mi …   Wikipedia

  • List of mountain passes — This is a list of mountain passes. Africa *Halfaya Pass *Moteng Pass (Lesotho) *Mahlasela pass (Lesotho)Asia* Khunjerab Pass Pakistan China (highest international border crossing at 4693 m.) * Khyber Pass Pakistan Afghanistan * Kotal e Lataband * …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado mountain passes — The following tables list some important mountain passes in the Rocky Mountains of the U.S. State of Colorado. Contents 1 High elevation Colorado highways not on a pass 2 Colorado mountain passes traversed by paved highways 3 …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der befahrbaren Pässe in Colorado — Diese Liste befahrbarer Pässe im US Bundesstaat Colorado enthält alle asphaltierten Passstraßen, die einen Namen besitzen. Name Höhe in Meter Erschließung Wasserscheide I Wasserscheide II Cameron Pass 3132 State Route 14 Michigan River Joe Wright …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Midland Trail — For the trail s section in West Virginia see: The Midland Trail in West Virginia. The Midland Trail in Ceredo, West Virginia. The Midland Trail, also called the Roosevelt Midland Trail, was a national auto trail spanning the United States from… …   Wikipedia

  • John Williams Gunnison — Infobox Person name = John Williams Gunnison image size = 150px caption = birth date = birth date|1812|11|11 birth place = Goshen New Hampshire death date = death date|1853|10|26 death place = Millard County near Delta, Utah death cause = Murder… …   Wikipedia

  • Uranium mining in Colorado — Uranium mining in Colorado, United States, goes back to 1872, when pitchblende ore was taken from gold mines near Central City, Colorado. The Colorado uranium industry has seen booms and busts, but continues to this day. Not counting byproduct… …   Wikipedia

  • Southern Rocky Mountains — Range Mount Elbert is the highest peak of the Southern Rocky Mountains …   Wikipedia

  • San Juan Mountains — Range San Juan Mountains, looking northeast from Mt. Wilson …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”