VFW WARRIORS

MEET YOU ON THE HIGH GROUND CHALLENGE 

1.       Dept. of CO VFW Warriors Motorcycle Organization has developed a program to reward members for accomplishing mountain pass riding here in Colorado. Colorado State is home of 26 paved mountain passes and mountain pass summits. The maximum award is a tab for 25 passes visited and the minimum award is a tab for 10 passes visited.

2.       The challenge begins January 1^st and ends December 1^st so that awards can be prepared for presentation at the December General Membership Meetings.

3.       The challenge will award completion of mountain passes visited in the following increments:

a.       10 passes at or above 10000 feet in elevation

b.       15 passes at or above 10000 feet in elevation

c.        20 passes at or above 10000 feet in elevation

d.       25 passes at or above 10000 feet in elevation

4.       To qualify at a level of the challenge the rider (and passenger) will take a photograph of the rider and as much of the bike as possible in front of the pass sign. In addition a current copy of the VFW Magazine (recommend putting it in a zip lock bag for protection against the elements) Sample photos of acceptable signs are available on the website. Not all passes have elevation markers or signs naming the pass so it is important for a competitor to get the right picture for the competition. The form for submitting passes is located on the Warriors website and must accompany the pictures. Use caution with the jiffy stand at many of the passes-not all areas are solid.

5.       Participants may use their current year tab from the annual Harley Davidson Harley Owners Group #405 5-N-1 High Altitude Club Ride as 5 of the passes for the challenge.

6.       Pictures can be submitted via email or disc when the challenge is completed. The recognition for completing 25 passes will be held at the general membership meeting after the photos and application are submitted as the riders complete 25 passes. All increment awards (10, 15, or 20 pass tabs) will be awarded at the December General Membership Meeting. 25 pass-tabbers will be recognized at the December General Membership Meeting as well.

7.       As a safety reminder, competitors will be traveling above 10000 feet and weather conditions can change rapidly and dramatically throughout the course of the ride on any given day. The competitor should pace him/herself and be prepared for a variety of extreme weather (snow, sleet, wind, rain, hail, hot sunshine), road conditions (four lane, single lane, and the barely a road, speed limits 75 to 10 mph, potholes, washouts, gravel, sand, debris, leaves, pine needles) and falling rocks (pebbles up to entire mountain side avalanches), animal-life (elk, bears, deer, bicyclists, goats, mountain sheep, marmots, hikers, cows, and disgruntled chipmunks), and scents (fresh mountain air, river water, fresh pine, burning brake pads on cages, and of course rotting dead bug carcasses).

8.       Not all passes have signs stating how much farther it is to the summit; keep your eyes open. Below is a list of the eligible passes and the type of marker at each pass.

9.       For additional assistance or any questions, please visit and click on the events tab.

Good Luck, Be Safe, Have Fun

Eligible Passes/Summits and type of marker

(listed from North to South)

CAMERON PASS                               GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

FALL RIVER PASS                            ALPINE VISITOR CENTER SIGN

MILNER PASS                                    BROWN/WHITE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SIGN

ICEBERG PASS                                  REST STOP ON TRAIL RIDGE ROAD ELEVATION SIGN

BERTHOUD PASS                             BROWN/YELLOW CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SIGN

JUNIPER PASS                                    BROWN/YELLOW ARAPAHO NF PICNIC GROUND SIGN

LOVELAND PASS                              BROWN/YELLOW CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SIGN

VAIL PASS                                           GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

KENOSHA PASS                 GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

FREMONT PASS                                GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

HOOSIER PASS                                  BROWN/YELLOW CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SIGN

TENNESSEE PASS                             BROWN/YELLOW CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SIGN

INDEPENDENCE PASS                    BROWN/YELLOW CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SIGN

GRAND MESA SUMMIT GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN “ELEVATION 10,839”

COTTONWOOD PASS                       BROWN/YELLOW CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SIGN

MONARCH PASS                               BROWN/YELLOW CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SIGN

NORTH PASS                                      RIO GRANDE NF PAVILLION OR  CO 114 SIGN “SAGUACHE 31-GUNNISON 40”

SLUMGULLION PASS                      GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

SPRING CREEK PASS                      GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

RED MOUNTAIN PASS                    BROWN/YELLOW NATIONAL FOREST SIGN

LIZARD HEAD PASS                        PAVILLION AT THE PASS

MOLAS PASS                                      GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

COAL BANK PASS                            GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

WOLF CREEK PASS                          PAVILLION AT THE PASS

LA MANGA PASS                              GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN

CUMBRES PASS                                GREEN/WHITE HIGHWAY SIGN