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| Route 108 through Smugglers' Notch |
Route 108 in Vermont is the direct connection between the towns of Stowe and Jeffersonville, a distance of about 14 miles. The road passes through a section known as Smugglers Notch, so named because of its use during the War of 1812 to move and hide supplies .
The twists, turns, and boulders that line the scenic route present a challenge to traffic. The road is closed during the winter months, because snowplowing through the notch is impossible. During the summer months, trucks, buses, and other large vehicles are warned not to attempt the winding climb.
But, of course, there are those who apparently see these warnings as some sort of challenge, so that every month or two (about 5-8 per year), we see yet another news report about some driver that ignored the sign and suffered the inevitable consequences and fines.
Why do the drivers continue to attempt the notch road? (Some thoughts here: LINK)
Many simply trust the route laid out by their GPS regardless of the signs, trying to lop eight miles (and 10 minutes) from their commute. For others, maybe it's misplaced bravado; one driver's explanation: "I've taken this rig down Colorado's Million Dollar Highway; the Notch can't be worse than that" .
A convenient segue for me here....
If you're unfamiliar with the Million Dollar Highway, it's the roughly 25 mile section of U.S. Route 550 between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. The origin of the name, according to a Colorado website, comes from either "it cost so much to build, the amount of gold ore that remained in the roadway's fill or the figurative price for those amazing San Juan Mountain views."
I'll go with that last description - the highway truly does provide some million dollar views. We experienced it in our 30-foot motorhome back in 2009, on our way from Colorado Springs to Durango. John drove while I just held my breath, not only because of the breath-taking mountain views, but because I was on the "downhill" side of the road and could see the 2,000 foot drop to the valley below.
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| Colorado's Million Dollar Highway |
Did I mention that parts of the highway have no guardrails, and wind around in such a way that you don't always see what may be coming from the other direction --- and that the stretch has an average of 40 accidents and seven fatalities per year?
So, on our trip out west this past June, we again found ourselves in Colorado Springs, heading to Durango. John was eager to return to the Million Dollar Highway in that same RV, but I managed to convince him otherwise; we took a safer, but less scenic route.
If you're faint of heart like I am, and would like to experience the scenic drive from Ouray to Silverton from the safety of your easy chair, there are any number of Youtube videos available: CLICK HERE for the vicarious thrills.
For something closer to home, come on up to Vermont and take a trip through Smugglers Notch - but pay attention to those road signs!
