| Ref: 14ers.com
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Starting on the
Mosquito Pass Road.
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trip:
RT 6.5; 3.75 up. When I arrived in the Colorado Rockies
for a second time this spring, I brought unstable weather along with
me! After squeezing a quick ascent of North Star Mountain on friday,
storm cycles moved in. Tim and I planned an outing despite the poor
weather forecasted over the weekend; we figured we may as well get
out and try an ascent, sometimes you get lucky!
Tim wanted to do Mount Silverheels, a centennial 13er. We gave it a
shot but encountered gale winds
on the ridge; after our
experience on Atlantic
Peak, we agreed it was safest coming back in
better conditions. Monday's weather was also dodgy but I was
going a bit stir crazy so I decided to try Mount Evans B. In
Leadville's
backyard, I didn't have to drive far and the ascent seemed like a good
candidate given the current conditions. From the winter closure, I
hiked the Mosquito Pass road to Diamond Mine and beyond. I made my way
towards Mosquito Pass but instead of ascending to the pass, I followed
the powerlines towards some shacks on the ridge line. The dark clouds
coming over the Sawatch Range were intermittent with blue holes,
I felt safe continuing to the summit a short distance away. My biggest
struggle was battling the wind, every time I took pictures my fingers
froze. I carried on to the top without stopping much. The climb itself
wasn't anything special but the view of all the familiar peaks was
fantastic. I especially liked seeing Dyer Mountain's west
ridge from this angle and how the Sawatch Range appeared to be squished
by heavy dark clouds. I didn't stay that long because of the wind;
actually, I beelined off the ridge the minute I got the opportunity to
do so. Instead of backtracking to my ascent, I glissaded down a gully
on the west face and made my way back on the snow-packed road. I was
quite happy to have gone out today! |
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Diamond
Mine looks like it was part of a recent mining resurrection.
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Mount
Evans Gulch with Mount Evans B on the right.
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Roughly
following the powerlines to gain the summit ridge.
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On
the summit ridge I find shelter from the strong wind behind a shack.
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Just
a short distance from the top.
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Very
easy hike.
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Looking
west towards Mounts Elbert and Massive with Turquoise Lake on the right.
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Behind
the cairn is Dyer Mountain, Gemini Peaks (left) and Mount Sherman (left
center).
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Northern
part of the Mosquito Range beyond Mosquito Pass.
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A
close up of Dyer Mountain and its infamous west ridge.
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North-eastern
view with 14ers in red and 13ers in yellow.
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Prospect
Mountain and Buckeye Peak on the right.
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On
my way down.
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Beelining
down the west face. |
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Taking
shelter behind another shack while I call Tim, my emergency contact.
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The
shortcut was great, it was both fast and fun!
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A
closer look at Mount Massive across the valley.
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Relics
of the mining era.
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Mindless
hiking on the road.
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| Back
to home page
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