The Hardscrabble Pass through the Wet Mountain Range has historically been a route of tremendous beauty and danger. From the first documented expedition along Hardscrabble Creek in 1848 by John Fremont, the pass has proven to be hazardous. In the 1920s and 30s, state funds were used to improve the rough wagon track that existed so that motorized cars could come touring up from Pueblo as the former mining region of Silver Cliff and Westcliffe were looking to tourism for economic survival. Even in the modern era, the Hardscrabble is the artery that allows visitors and scenic motorists to access the region. Yet the winding road, steep grade, constant rockfall, unpredictable weather, and wildlife crossings make the Hardscrabble a dangerous road for most vehicles. Motorcycles…