11/26/2017 Route: East face Posted On: 11/27/2017, By: Ptglhs Info: East face very snowy. Postholing in some places 4 feet. I tried wearing crampons from 12.3 on, which was probably a mistake as snow wasn't quite consolidated enough to hold up to crampons. I used snow shoes on descent from 12.8 to snowline ~12.2 which was MUCH better. I needed crampons and an ice ax for last 300ft of summit push. Slopes steep, snow is deep, but well bonded. |
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7/20/2017 Route: Iowa Gulch Posted On: 7/22/2017, By: JasonKline Info: Summer conditions. Snow was easily avoidable. |
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6/28/2015 Route: West Ridge via Mt. Spalding Posted On: 7/3/2015, By: Alejo43 Info: Attempted to do this route, but didn‘t know that the road to the summit lakes parking area/trailhead is closed until early August, so I bailed. If you want to do this route before august, be prepared to add an extra 9-10 miles RT. |
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5/2/2015 Route: Mosquito Pass from Leadville Posted On: 5/2/2015, By: JosephG Info: Mosquito Pass road out of Leadville is snow-free and easily drivable to the winter closure. After that ... snow. Snowshoes highly recommended, mostly for the descent. Or skis, if that's your thing. There's a lot of snow up there, although it's solid in the early a.m. The route is straightforward. We'd aimed to traverse to Dyer but encountered an impressively, impassively loaded ridge, particularly at the crux. It was difficult to distinguish ridge from snow and cornice. It could be done with proper care, axe, and crampons (spikes likely insufficient), but one of our team lost their axe and that was that. After the crux, the route looked fine. The entire range is draped with snow. |
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3/22/2015 Route: W Slopes/N Ridge Posted On: 3/22/2015, By: BagginPeaks Info: The beauty of Leadville is that you can casually wake up and decide to go climb a nearby peak. Drove up County Road 7 all the way to the mine, passed the normal winter parking for MOsquito Pass. Road is fully snow covered and it was a little squirly in my truck even in 4wd. I was worried about leaving after the snow was baked by the sun for hours but I had no issues. (Photo 1 is a view from where I parked). Followed the snowmobile track on Mosquito Pass up to where the slope begins and from there I just climbed straight up, staying left of the power lines. (Photo 2 shows the crux slope from a distance, and Photo 3 is a view of Evans as I started up the crux slope). Snow was bomber and would have been ideal for cramponing but it was not steep enough and with my trekking poles and hard planting of my feet I felt safe climbing the slope without traction). Was very windy on the ridge and snow was patchy and mostly avoidable up to the summit. (Photos 4 and 5 show the summit and ridge). |
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9/18/2011 Route: Mosquito Pass Posted On: 9/19/2011, By: IHikeLikeAGirl Info: A couple inches of snow, but not a hindrance. Just need to watch your step with all the wires, cables, and barbed wire on the ground. Came up Mosquito Pass Road from the east. Road only had a dusting of snow and little ice on it near the top. Went up in a Ford Ranger with good clearance and tires. Could not have made it in my Jeep Liberty. Were a few small boulders on the road, but was able to squeeze by. At least 4 other vehicles and 2 ATVs made it up as well (all with high clearance). |
