continental divide south of Argentine Pass, just south of Argentine Peak. The Vidler Tunnel under Argentine Pass began with the Horseshoe tunnel, a silver mine. Reese Vidler purchased the mine in 1902 with a plan to extend it under the continental divide as a railroad tunnel. Tunneling progressed about from the west portal and from the east portal before work stopped in 1911 (after several changes in ownership). In 1952, Herbert T. Young purchased the unfinished tunnel, along with water rights on the west side of the divide, intending to finish the tunnel as a water tunnel. The tunnel was completed in late 1968, and is currently owned by the City of Golden. In 2007, major repairs were completed to the east portal and the mined-out area of the Flossie Vein. This water diversion project has a capacity of with an average annual diversion of around . Climate The peak wind speed recorded at the pass as of 1912 was , at which point the measuring equipment was blown away. Temperatures as low as were recorded, along with snow drifts as deep as and persisting until August. This climate data appears to have been taken by the builders of the Shoshone Transmission Line. The Road Today Vehicle travel is only possible on the Georgetown side of the pass during the summer months by a four-wheel drive vehicle with high-clearance. The trail on the Horseshoe Basin side is only accessible by foot or by mountain bike. The pass is the highest point on the American Discovery Trail. References External links Topographical Map of Part of Clear Creek and Summit Co's Colorado, anonymous undated map of the Argentine Pass Wagon Road from Georgetown to Montezuma; it shows the Vidler Tunnel, so it must be post 1902, and it does not show the Argentine Central Railway which opened in 1906. Rail transportation in Colorado Mountain passes of Colorado Landforms of Clear Creek County, Colorado Landforms of Summit County, Colorado Great Divide of North America Transportation in Clear Creek County, Colorado Transportation in Summit County, Colorado