Highest Paved Road in America
The road to Mt Evans in Colorado reaches to 14,130 feet. Mt Evans' altitude is 14,271 feet. With an average annual snowfall of 300 inches, the road doesn't get cleared until late May. It's open only part of the year; they close it around Labor Day. Weather conditions can change very fast at the peak; high-winds and lightning. It can snow any time of the year, even in July. (click pics for HI-RES)
At the top, people climb the final few feet among the rocks by the parking lot. The thin air: lower % oxygen and lower air humidity is evident. You notice breathing is more laboured. The top of Mt Evans is rocky and barren – except for plants like moss and grasses, nothing can grow here. We were surprised to see mountain goats, pika, and marmots living at this altitude.
View from the top: the "Crest House" was built atop Mt Evans in 1941. At the time, at 14,260 feet, it was the tallest structure in the world. The ruins are now an observation deck.
At this altitude, oxygen in the air is only 58% of sea-level. You notice breating is more difficult just walking around the area. My wife felt a little light-headed. The intensity of ultraviolet rays increases with altitude: 4% to 5% per 1,000 feet. At the top of Mt Evans UV rays are 60% to 70% more intense than sea level. Cover your skin, because you can sunburn faster. Temperature in Summer averages 40° to 60° F, remember to bring a sweater.
At about 11,000 feet, there is a nature preserve on the way to the peak where bristlecone pines grow (below). They grow very slowly and have weathered the hardships of altitude for over a thousand years. Believe it or not, these trees are over 1,600 years old! The oldest known bristlecone pine in Colorado is estimated to be 2,500 years old.
The tree line is the point above which trees cannot grow. In Colorado it lies at about 12,000 feet. For pine trees to grow, the temperature must be at least 45° F for at least 90 days of the year. Above 12,000 only lichens, algae, moss, and some grasses grow. Pics below from the Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes, CO. The altitude there is 12,183 feet; notice the pine trees in the background tapering off at 12,000 feet; and plant growth on the rocks. This biome is "Alpine Tundra." The pics were taken in June on the Ute Trail near the peak of the park. An old trail used by the Ute indians on their way to their Summer hunting grounds.
The "mile high" 5,280 feet elevation marker is on the steps of the Capitol Building in Denver. Driving to the top of Mt Evans at 14,130 we were 2.7 times higher than Denver. I paused to reflect that base camp at Mt Everest starts at 16,000 feet – and that Mt Everest at 29,029 is twice the elevation of Mt Evans. I can't even imagine..
A few years ago we drove to Florida's highest point. Below, the view from that road..
Hey! Don't knock Florida! Each US state has its merits: beaches! ☺
