14ers.com • Peak Condition Update

Peak:	Mosquito Peak (13er)
Route:	Loop: Kuss > Mosquito > Treasurevault
Range:	Mosquito
Posted By:	jbealer
Date of Info:	12/05/2020
Date Posted:	12/05/2020

Details
4wd road was snow covered in places but we were able to drive to the parking spots in front of the true off road part of mosquito pass. We took the summer trail up to Tweto wearing spikes, left ice axes and snowshoes in the car. We were passed by some guys later on that broke the rest of the trail, thanks! We followed their tracks and cut up tweto before the gully/saddle section. It was steep, deep snow in stops with loose rocks, 2 of us had poles, 1 nothing, she wished she had her axe with her for support. Those guys headed to Arkansas and we didn't see them again. We continued on to treasurevault, mosquito and kuss, making a loop. The ridge was a mix of rock and deep snow patches that were not supportive. We discussed if snow shoes would have helped and decided based on the bare sections we would have been putting them on and off all day or scraping them on the rock. We suffered with the postholing. Spikes stayed on all day, could have used the axe on a few snow fields. The descent off Kuss held some of the deepest snow all day, be careful of the hiding rock, mosquito Pass Road off Kuss was covered in more snow then expected, we stuck to the outside edge where it was less deep. Overall not bad for Dec, lacking snow for sure, but enough to make everything extra work. Get it while you can! Photos (click for slideshow):

Details

4wd road was snow covered in places but we were able to drive to the parking spots in front of the true off road part of mosquito pass. We took the summer trail up to Tweto wearing spikes, left ice axes and snowshoes in the car. We were passed by some guys later on that broke the rest of the trail, thanks! We followed their tracks and cut up tweto before the gully/saddle section. It was steep, deep snow in stops with loose rocks, 2 of us had poles, 1 nothing, she wished she had her axe with her for support. Those guys headed to Arkansas and we didn't see them again. We continued on to treasurevault, mosquito and kuss, making a loop. The ridge was a mix of rock and deep snow patches that were not supportive. We discussed if snow shoes would have helped and decided based on the bare sections we would have been putting them on and off all day or scraping them on the rock. We suffered with the postholing. Spikes stayed on all day, could have used the axe on a few snow fields. The descent off Kuss held some of the deepest snow all day, be careful of the hiding rock, mosquito Pass Road off Kuss was covered in more snow then expected, we stuck to the outside edge where it was less deep. Overall not bad for Dec, lacking snow for sure, but enough to make everything extra work. Get it while you can!

Photos (click for slideshow):

Comments or Questions
Using your forum id/password. Not registered? Click Here