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{{short description|Mountain pass in Colorado, US}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Cochetopa Pass
| name = Cochetopa Pass
| photo = East of Cochetopa Pass.jpg
| photo = Cochetopa Pass, Saguache County, Colorado, USA 01.jpg
| photo_caption = Just east of Cochetopa Pass
| photo_caption = Cochetopa Pass
| elevation_ft = 10067
| elevation_ft = 10067
| elevation_ref = <ref name=cpr/>
| elevation_ref = <ref name=cpr/>
Line 12: Line 13:
}}
}}


'''Cochetopa Pass''' is a [[mountain pass]] in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado. It lies on the [[Continental Divide]] between the city of [[Gunnison, Colorado|Gunnison]] to the northwest and the town of [[Saguache, Colorado|Saguache]] to the southeast. It also lies on the boundary between the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests. Its name is taken from the Cochetopa Hills that it lies within, Cochetopa being the Ute Indian word for "pass of the buffalo".<ref name=cpr>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</ref> The original pass is traversed by Saguache County Road NN14, a maintained gravel road. Another crossing, sometimes called North Cochetopa Pass and more often simply [[North Pass]], and is located nearby on [[Colorado State Highway 114|State Highway 114]], which is paved and reaches a slightly higher elevation.
'''Cochetopa Pass'''{{Refn|Pronounced {{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Cochetopa.ogg|k|oʊ|tʃ|ᵻ|ˈ|t|oʊ|p|ə}}<ref name=benson>{{cite book|last=Benson|first=Maxine|title=1001 Colorado Place Names|location=Lawrence|publisher=University Press of Kansas|year=1994|isbn=0-7006-0632-7}}</ref> or sometimes locally {{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Cochetopa2.ogg|k|oʊ|tʃ|ᵻ|ˈ|t|oʊ|p}}.}} is a [[mountain pass]] in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado. It lies on the [[Continental Divide]] between the city of [[Gunnison, Colorado|Gunnison]] to the northwest and the town of [[Saguache, Colorado|Saguache]] to the southeast. It also lies on the boundary between the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests. Its name is taken from the Cochetopa Hills that it lies within, Cochetopa being the Ute Indian word for "pass of the buffalo".<ref name=cpr>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</ref> The original pass is traversed by Saguache County Road NN14, a maintained gravel road. Another crossing, sometimes called North Cochetopa Pass and more often simply [[North Pass]], is located nearby on [[Colorado State Highway 114|State Highway 114]], which is paved and reaches a slightly higher elevation.


==History==
==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 expeditions would end in disaster.
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 expeditions would end in disaster.


=== 1848 ===
===1848===
In 1848, St. Louis businessmen, in an effort to have the transcontinental railroad pass through their city, financed an expedition to find a route over Cochetopa Pass. The explorers set out with [[John Fremont|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 cannibalism, 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 remainder of the party from the mountains. All told, the expedition was a failure and took the lives of 10 men.<ref>Railroad Surveys. Unknown Date. National Park Service. 29 Mar. 2008. http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/WestwardExpansion/EarlyExplorers/Railroad.htm</ref>
In 1848, St. Louis businessmen, in an effort to have the transcontinental railroad pass through their city, financed an expedition to find a route over Cochetopa Pass. The explorers set out with [[John Fremont|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 cannibalism, 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 remainder of the party from the mountains. All told, the expedition was a failure and took the lives of 10 men.<ref>Railroad Surveys. Unknown Date. National Park Service. 29 Mar. 2008. http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/WestwardExpansion/EarlyExplorers/Railroad.htm</ref>


=== 1853 ===
===1853===
In the fall of 1853, [[John Williams Gunnison|Captain John W. Gunnison]] also explored and surveyed the area in search of a route for the transcontinental railroad.<ref>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</ref> 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]].
In the fall of 1853, [[John Williams Gunnison|Captain John W. Gunnison]] also explored and surveyed the area in search of a route for the transcontinental railroad.<ref>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</ref> 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 ==
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}

⚫
{{Colorado}}
==External links==
{{sister project links}}
* {{commons category-inline|Cochetopa Pass}}

⚫
{{Colorado|state=collapsed}}


[[Category:Mountain passes of Colorado]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Colorado]]
[[Category:Landforms of Saguache County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Landforms of Saguache County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Transportation in Saguache County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Transportation in Saguache County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Great Divide of North America]]

Latest revision as of 02:56, 21 March 2024

Cochetopa Pass
Cochetopa Pass
Elevation10,067 ft (3,068 m)[1]
Traversed byCR NN14 / FR 750
LocationSaguache County, Colorado, United States
RangeRocky Mountains
Coordinates38°09′46″N 106°35′59″W / 38.1629°N 106.5998°W / 38.1629; -106.5998
Topo mapUSGS North Pass

Cochetopa Pass[3] is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado. It lies on the Continental Divide between the city of Gunnison to the northwest and the town of Saguache to the southeast. It also lies on the boundary between the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests. Its name is taken from 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 County Road NN14, a maintained gravel road. Another crossing, sometimes called North Cochetopa Pass and more often simply North Pass, is located nearby on State Highway 114, which is paved and reaches a slightly higher elevation.

History

[edit]

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 expeditions would end in disaster.

1848

[edit]

In 1848, St. Louis businessmen, in an effort to have the transcontinental railroad pass through their city, financed an expedition to find a route over Cochetopa Pass. The explorers 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 cannibalism, 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 remainder of the party from the mountains. All told, the expedition was a failure and took the lives of 10 men.[4]

1853

[edit]

In the fall of 1853, Captain John W. Gunnison also explored and surveyed the area in search of a route for the transcontinental railroad.[5] 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.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 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. ^ Benson, Maxine (1994). 1001 Colorado Place Names. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 0-7006-0632-7.
  3. ^ Pronounced /koʊtʃɪˈtoʊpə/ ⓘ[2] or sometimes locally /koʊtʃɪˈtoʊp/ ⓘ.
  4. ^ Railroad Surveys. Unknown Date. National Park Service. 29 Mar. 2008. http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/WestwardExpansion/EarlyExplorers/Railroad.htm
  5. ^ 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
[edit]
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