| Ref: 14ers.com
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Mount Arkansas
(left) and Mount Tweto in front of Quandary Peak.
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RT 8.75 (includes Kuss and Mosquito Peaks, Treasurevault Mountain and
Mount Arkansas); 1.25 up from Treasurevault Mountain. The hike to
Mount Tweto is clearly longer but remains very straightforward and
enjoyable. As I got closer to Mount Arkansas I started evaluating the
traverse, it looked like I would be able to negotiate the snow slopes
without crampons or an axe. I still needed to know whether or not I
could get down that mountain without having to backtrack to Mount Tweto
and so
on. The thought of having to repeat all these summits back to Leadville
was discouraging, I was really hoping a way down from Mount Arkansas
would reveal itself before I reached Mount Tweto. When the connecting
ridge took a bend and started
heading in an easterly direction, I started to see Arkansas' west
slopes
all the way to the highway. I was able to pick out wind-scoured ribs,
that's exactly what I was hoping to see! I
was thrilled, now I knew I could execute my plan and I was
happy that I didn't have to backtrack; today was a good day. I made my
way to the ranked summit where I had a longer break.
There
still wasn't a single cloud in the sky and the absence of wind was
delightful. It was early in the day when I reached the top of Mount
Tweto, 11:15
AM to be exact. Mount Democrat's west
face really stood out, so did the Climax Mine but I couldn't stop
looking at Mount Arkansas, the traverse to that peak would be the apex
of this outing!
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Mounts
Arkansas and Tweto again from closer along the traverse.
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Easy
hike to Mount Tweto with several 14ers in the background.
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Looking
back at Treasurevault Mountain and Mosquito Peak.
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Mount
of the Holy Cross of the northern Sawatch Range steals the show.
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I'm
happy to see there's safe descent lines off of Mount Arkansas' west
face.
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Getting
closer to peak #4 of the traverse.
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View
east with Mount Buckskin and Loveland Mountain.
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South-eastern
view with Loveland, London and Pennsylvania Mountains.
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Mounts
Democrat, Cameron (left center) and Bross (right center).
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Beautiful
basin to the north with several 13ers in front of Quandary Peak.
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A
glimpse over the terrain I've travelled. |
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Western
view beyond highway CO-91 and Buckeye Peak.
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Mount
Arkansas' appealing south ridge.
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View
north towards Bartlett Mountain and the active Climax Mine.
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Summit
plaque.
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Continue
on to Mount Arkansas |
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