And youвЂ™re up for the challenge, hereвЂ™s more on what you can expect when traveling on the Red Mountain Pass. This provides a huge rush and If this hasnвЂ™t already deterred you. Especially during the winter and at night. The narrow road is in fact very steep in various places and without any guardrails and other protection at some points, making it very dangerous to travel on. Those few who are daring enough to venture on this treacherous and daunting road will experience some of the most stunning views in the entire country. Insider Tip: Whether you decide to brave this route, we highly recommend a visit as there are so many fun things for kids to do in Durango. It was one of the most beautiful sights, and similarly terrifying. Finally letting out a breath at the bottom. After waiting an hour or so in Sliverton for them to finish blasting for avalanche danger, I gripped the truck handle all the way down the windy road. We thought since the storm had passed that the drive would be smooth.

It was winter and a snowstorm had just dumped lots of fresh white powder. But a couple of years back, we took it home after a trip to Durango to ride the Polar Express. I have driven this million dollar highway a handful of times, mostly during the summer. The pass also happens to be the highest section of road throughout the drive, reaching 11,018 ft above sea level at its summit. It is situated between Silverton and Ouray, about 20 miles north of Molas Pass. You will find this scenic route along the San Juan Mountains (American Alps). It doesnвЂ™t seem to raise concerns about the safety of communities or increase the difficulty of suppressing either of the fires at this point.Often referred to as the вЂњMillion Dollar Highway,вЂќ the Red Mountain Pass is a 25 mile stretch of scenic highway thatвЂ™s part of U.S. Rather than being a concern, the two fires growing together could stabilize both incidents, allowing firefighting resources to be moved to areas where there are concerns about homes and properties.ДЄs we continue through the fall, it will be interesting to see the progress of the two fires. In fact, the merging may drop activity in that area of the fire with only interior fuels continuing to burn with no forward movement. It is unlikely that fire activity will increase if the two fires merge. With limited fuel to burn, the likelihood of quick, fast-moving fires occurring in their neighborhood is reduced. This could be good news for communities around the fire. Similar to the technique firefighters use to fight fire with fire or fire behavior seen when a fire moves into an old burn scar, without fuel a fire cannot continue to burn. If one fire does have a high activity day, when it reaches the already burned area of the other fire, this would likely stop the forward progress of the fire. If the fires grow together somewhere between the two current areas of fire activity, it is likely to be smoldering and creeping. Without fuel and a continuous path for the fire to travel, fast-moving fire is unlikely. While there is vegetation in drainages, it is not the tall trees and thick undergrowth that occurs at lower elevations. Elevations are at or over 9,000 feet with sparse vegetation and rocky outcroppings. The area between the two fires is the вЂњAlpsвЂќ of the Trinity Alps. On Backbone Ridge, Hot Shot crews worked each day, while both helicopters and the air tankers made water drops to check the fireвЂ™s spread.ДЄnother factor is topography. Shorter days and increased overnight humidity is a factor on fire growth as we move into autumn.Д®ven as fire growth slowed, fire suppression activity continued. For the River Complex it was September 8. The last day of large growth on the Monument was September 9. The fire area will begin drying out Tuesday with a potential for increasing activity each day. He estimates that fire activity isnвЂ™t likely to begin increasing again until Friday of this week. The Long-range Fire Modeling Specialist for Northern Rockies Team 2 on the Monument Fire, Tim Bumgarner, saw a good amount of rainfall at the higher elevations yesterday. With our current wetter and cooler weather, it is unlikely that the fires will grow together any time soon.

Oftentimes weather is difficult to predict more than a day or two in advance. There are many factors that will determine if the two fires merge together, weather being one of them. Is it likely the fires will merge? Will fire activity increase? Is it dangerous for local communities in the area if the fires grow together? Is it important to keep the fires apart?

Currently, there is a little more than 4 miles separating the two fires. Looking at the fire incident maps for the Monument Fire and the River Complex Fire, anyone can see they are close together.

Alpus of the dangerous forest