Framedlight

  In Chama we turned northeast on to Highway 17 and into Colorado. As we ascended towards the Cumbres Pass (10,022 ft) the weather worsened and finally we were driving on compacted snow with very little traffic around. It was quite frightening and we were glad of the 4x4 we had rented. Descending the weather improved although it was still very cold. The road then turns east and follows the Conejos River and we stopped by the side of the road several times to look at it. Finally we were driving through Antonito, a very small town whose prosperity is now helped by the legal selling of marijuana which has been illegal in New Mexico until only recently. We stopped to look at the northern terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad but the goods yard was not as extensive as the Chama one.