11/13/2012 Route: Southwest Ridge / Southeast Face Posted On: 11/14/2012, By: JosephG Info: Road is passable for any vehicle all the way to the parking area at the Mosquito Pass junction. Sorry, Mosquito Pass itself is closed. After that, the 4WD road into the basin towards Buckskin and Tweto has 1-4" of snow with minimal drifting. The basin to Tweto’s ridge holds even less snow. The ridge itself has small pockets of snow in between the talus, but nothing to get excited about. Snowshoes completely unnecessary. Carried but did not even think of using microspikes. Generally speaking, the northern Tenmile and Gore ranges have a decent cover of snow. The southern area is fairly dry, including North Star, Quandary, Hoosier Ridge, Bross, and Lincoln. |
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7/2/2011 Route: FS Rd 856, SW ridge Posted On: 7/4/2011, By: IHikeLikeAGirl Info: Couldn't drive far up FS Rd 856 beyond Mosquito Pass Rd, before deep snow crossed the road. Deep and long snowfields remain in the basin. Most can be avoided by staying on the eastern side of the basin. Short snowfield just before the ridge, couldn't really be avoided (pic 1), but was melting fast. I ascended the middle of the basin and motored on up using micro spikes, my partner just kicked in. The ridge to the summit was basically snow free (pic 2). BEWARE: ~1/2 way up the basin, I ascended a snowfield that apparently made a snow bridge with a cliff band and I almost fell through. Ascended the solid snow with a 1-2 ft high, benign looking, line of rock across the top. Near the top, 2-3 ft from rock, my right leg punched through up to my hip. I tried to push myself up with my right hand, that too punched through. I looked down and saw my leg dangling in an airy void, with rock quite a ways below me. Not sure of the depth...10' maybe?...wasn't concerned with estimating at that time.... Fortunately, my left leg and hand stayed on top of the snow and I gingerly got my leg out of the hole and onto the rock. Tried peering down into the hole, but couldn't see the bottom from my vantage point (pic 3). Upon the descent. I, avoided the area, but saw at least 2 other sets of footprints heading up the same snowfield. :-o |