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The pass is at an elevation over 7,000 above sea level, and therefore is subject to difficult driving during heavy winter snowfalls.
The pass was part of a Townes Van Zandt song "Snowin' on Raton". During a live performance, Townes commented how he liked playing a show in Colorado because he didn't have to explain what Raton was. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
The pass is also mentioned in C.W. McCall's (Bill Fries) song "Four Wheel Cowboy", from his album Wilderness. "Four Wheel Cowboy" also appears on his compilation release titled; The Best of C.W. McCall.
Clint Black makes reference to the Raton Pass in the song "The Goodnight Loving" from the album "Put Yourself in My Shoes."
Ridin' against the wind in east New Mexico. His skin is dry and worn as the Texas plains. He's headed where the air is thin and the cold blue northers blow. Up through the raton pass but he'll have to beat the early snow.
Lyrics from http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/black-clint/the-goodnight-loving-3802.html
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