Berthoud Pass, Colorado
After passing through Middle Park (see my earlier posts with the California Zephyr here and here), I had to cross the Great Divide one final time on my shooting trip, this time at Berthoud's 11,307 feet. US Highway 40 takes one over this spot.
The pass was discovered (I can't imagine that the Arapaho hadn't been here prior to this) by Edward Berthoud who was traveling with the ubiquitous Jim Bridger. Berthoud was looking for a pass suitable for a railroad, but it would not be this one given its rugged nature.
I've always loved this image of mountain man Harry Yount on the pass, taken by the great William Henry Jackson...
William Henry Jackson[1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Color image above by Richard Koenig; taken September 25th 2025.