Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Tornado, Mt Evans, CO

Paul on this forum alerted me to this:

From this Accuweather page:




Another good picture and article: Denver Post Mount Evans twister rates a second in the record books

Another: http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/sc...-164208736.html

And a slide show of several pictures: http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/tornad...#slide=50757931

...or just go for the Google Images, at least 30 pictures!

Steve, that is super eerie. If you've ever driven that road, promoted as "America's Highest Road", you know that it's one of the most dangerous strips of high-elevation pavement in the country. That section where the tornado is pictured is typical - winding, absolutely no shoulder, and often crumbling pavement with thousands of feet of fresh air inches away. Oh yeah - and snow/ice often present between 12,000 and 14,000 feet, along with wind conditions. Being on that road, with a tornado that close, makes my palms sweat - and I go out of my way to drive windy, scary roads.

I believe the highest tornado the article refers to was in the vicinity of Rockwell Pass (named for Some Guy) which Secor cites as being 12,000+ feet. This pass is the one SouthWest of Shepherd Pass which provides access to the Upper Wright Lakes area from Tyndall Creek.

Once again, California is #1. With all those Rocky Mountains, you would think Colorado would top us somehow, he wrote thinking it would bait a response.

The drive up Mt Evans is a great way to experience the effects of 14,000 ft elevation very quickly. I recall being lightheaded, short of breath, with a slight headache. Great views, but its just not the same as climbing a trail.

Here is the 2004 tornado over Rockwell Pass in the Sierra:



It is posted here: Tornado, Rockwell Pass, Sequoia National Park, July 7, 2004


And from the hikers' trip, Snow Nymph and Snow Dude:  2004 (July 7) Rockwell Pass, Wright Lakes Basin