The San Juan Skyway Scenic and History Byway traces the marvelous threads that weave together the sagas of our history, cultural and natural wonders, of Otto Mears who blasted a "million dollar highway" into Uncompahgre Gorge to reach the gold fields; of murder and betrayal between mine owners and mine workers in the gold towns; of the Utes? struggle to retain their homelands in the face of white encroachment; and of Virginia McClurg who fought to preserve ancient cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde.