Climbing Soldier Summit (elevation 7477 feet) is a daunting task for both Route 6 and for the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad, a major passenger and freight route between Denver and Salt Lake City. (May 2001 photo)

This May 2000 photo, looking down the south side of Soldier's Summit, shows the old Route 6 in the right foreground, the current Route 6 in the middle, and the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad on the left. A major transportation corridor it was and still is.