Traveling Through a Bomb Cyclone
As we departed Denver on Amtrak's historic and scenic California Zephyr, the rain quickly turned to a heavy wet snow. We had already been warned that we would be trying to get through a bomb cyclone snow storm before it was impassable.
We slowly made our way into the Rocky Mountains. We had been looking forward to seeing the scenery on this part of our journey because everything we read about it told us it is spectacular. This route is actually famous for the beautiful scenery through this section of the country so we were definitely looking forward to this part of our journey.
Passing through this bomb cyclone turned out to be a good news-bad news sort of thing. The good news was that the snow would probably add interest to the landscape and particularly the expansive views out the windows of our roomette. As a photographer, I was excited about that. The bad news is that while the snow is falling from this monstrous cyclone circling far overhead, we probably won't have much visibility.
It turns out that the diminished and limited visibility actually added an atmospheric eeriness to our views...
We've been told that the scenic views through this area are spectacular and, even with limited visibility, it was clear that all we heard was correct. The one frustrating problem we did experience is that the wet falling snow was sticking to the windows of the train as you can see in many of these photos. Regardless, the scenery through this bomb cyclone snowstorm was indeed spectacular but for different reasons than we would have experienced on a clear and sunny day. This made for a rather eerie landscape because our visibility was so limited. In some areas, we couldn't even see beyond the track right-of-way!
In order to pass through the Continental Divide, a tunnel had been dug through the mountains. This is yet another historic sight to see and experience. It is definitely an experience!
Moffat Tunnel is 6.2 miles long and only slightly wider than today's Amtrak trains that carefully and slowly navigate through it. The tunnel is so tight that the train travels very slowly to avoid rocking so much that the train hits the inside of the tunnel.
The altitude through this tunnel is at 9,239 feet. We were not allowed to venture from our sleeper car while in this very long tunnel because traveling car to car would allow diesel exhaust in the tunnel and the thinly oxygenated air to enter the train. Our train was dark as we slowly ventured through the tunnel... for about 15 minutes... this was the time for a quick cat nap...
Looking forward, below, as the train enters yet another tunnel. The California Zephyr passes through 64 tunnels between Denver, CO and Roseville, CA... that's quite a few tunnels through a lot of rugged mountainous terrain!
Shortly after arriving at the Colorado River, which we followed alongside for a good segment of this route, we had emerged from the bomb cyclone snowstorm. Next, I will show photos of our journey through the expansive west...
We slowly made our way into the Rocky Mountains. We had been looking forward to seeing the scenery on this part of our journey because everything we read about it told us it is spectacular. This route is actually famous for the beautiful scenery through this section of the country so we were definitely looking forward to this part of our journey.
Passing through this bomb cyclone turned out to be a good news-bad news sort of thing. The good news was that the snow would probably add interest to the landscape and particularly the expansive views out the windows of our roomette. As a photographer, I was excited about that. The bad news is that while the snow is falling from this monstrous cyclone circling far overhead, we probably won't have much visibility.
It turns out that the diminished and limited visibility actually added an atmospheric eeriness to our views...
We've been told that the scenic views through this area are spectacular and, even with limited visibility, it was clear that all we heard was correct. The one frustrating problem we did experience is that the wet falling snow was sticking to the windows of the train as you can see in many of these photos. Regardless, the scenery through this bomb cyclone snowstorm was indeed spectacular but for different reasons than we would have experienced on a clear and sunny day. This made for a rather eerie landscape because our visibility was so limited. In some areas, we couldn't even see beyond the track right-of-way!
In order to pass through the Continental Divide, a tunnel had been dug through the mountains. This is yet another historic sight to see and experience. It is definitely an experience!
Moffat Tunnel is 6.2 miles long and only slightly wider than today's Amtrak trains that carefully and slowly navigate through it. The tunnel is so tight that the train travels very slowly to avoid rocking so much that the train hits the inside of the tunnel.
The altitude through this tunnel is at 9,239 feet. We were not allowed to venture from our sleeper car while in this very long tunnel because traveling car to car would allow diesel exhaust in the tunnel and the thinly oxygenated air to enter the train. Our train was dark as we slowly ventured through the tunnel... for about 15 minutes... this was the time for a quick cat nap...
When we emerged from this long tunnel, we were in Winter Park at a ski resort. Will and I briefly ventured out into the snow to check out the ski resort and capture a photo or two...
Looking forward, below, as the train enters yet another tunnel. The California Zephyr passes through 64 tunnels between Denver, CO and Roseville, CA... that's quite a few tunnels through a lot of rugged mountainous terrain!
Shortly after arriving at the Colorado River, which we followed alongside for a good segment of this route, we had emerged from the bomb cyclone snowstorm. Next, I will show photos of our journey through the expansive west...
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