For our last day of wheeling our Kansas Libertys in the Rockies this trip, we chose to do some trails to take us up high....
...so first we drove North to Leadville, CO then headed off on the
Mosquito Pass Trail (even though it was reported to have only barely opened via winching across snow fields less than two weeks before
).
When you see a sign like this in the moutains, you know there's a good chance the trail will be enjoyable.
The mountain ranges around Leadville all seem to be carrying a little more snow patches than those around Salida and Buena Vista.
These mountain wildflowers knew where to aim to find the morning sun.
Climbing the trail with lakes and mine ruins in the background. This area is covered with mines.
Write your own caption, but we're still climbing at 12,000 ft....
I don't know what kind of plant this was growing beside the trail above 12,000 ft, but it looked kinda alienish to me.
kskj climbing Mosquito Pass Trail.
Signage and history at the pass.
The Kansas-based Libertys enjoy being in the cooler temperatures above 13,000 ft.
Gorgeous surrounding views.
kskj goes on a little side trip to check out the nearby trail going around the bend above Mosquito Pass.
Headin' back to the pass.
Posing on a snow field on the Alma, CO side of Mosquito Pass.
Between a rock and ledge?
We get to this area where only about 2 weeks before, it was blocked by snow until a group of Wranglers was finally able to winch themselves across. I take the low, rocky route across...
...and kskj takes the high, one-tire-in-the-snow, route across.
Old Ingersol-Rand air compressor or pump at the North London mine site.
The old North London mine ruins.
Pure beauty in MtnLuvr's eyes for more than one reason.
Even this high, the run-off streams have some good volume and speed.
Doin' a little water crossing near another old mine site.
After getting back down the Eastern/Alma side of Mosquito Pass Trail, we turn around and see this
After climbing to over 13,000 ft on Mosquito Pass, we set our sights even higher and want to see how high we can get on the
Mount Bross Trail, which as of when I left, was still listed as closed part-way up due to snow. We take the Windy Ridge line up Mount Bross.
kskj playing in a mud puddle as all Jeeps should do.
Looking for directions up Mount Bross?
The KK on the Mount Bross climb, while still low enough for grass and flowers to grow.
Typical shelf road in the loose rock section above where much can grow.
The Renegade keeps climbing the trail.
MtnLuvr's KK and kskj's KJ Renegade at the top of Mount Bross.
Up at over 14,000 ft elevation.
Lunch spot with a view part-way back down Mount Bross.
Then it was off to
Breakneck Pass (a.k.a. Browns Pass) Trail.
This cabin hasn't survived the ravages of time and mountain winters.
kskj doing a little flexing coming down a descent.
Then we get to a pretty long mud hole, where I was concerned about making it through so I gun the KK as I'm going through. Unbeknownst to me, I lost a front fender plowing through. kskj tells me he saw it sinking in the mud hole as he was plowing through, so there's only one thing to do.....
...change into some sandals and go wading until I find it beneath the muddy surface
Spend a little time to reattach the front fender flare before we move on down the trail.
Back on the trail in some scrub aspens.
Breakneck/Browns Pass Trail connects into
Weston Pass Trail. We make an FJ eat our dust as we cruise up what little we have left to get to Weston Pass (at a mere 11,921 ft).
Heading down the Western side of Weston Pass to get back to the Arkansas Headwaters valley South of Leadville, CO.
Airing up before hitting the highway back down to our campground West of Salida, CO.
Back at camp as the sun is getting low so we have just enough time for an awesome kskj dinner and to start packing up the vehicles so we can leave early the next morning.
While MtnLuvr was still packing up (and showering from his mud-hole fender flare diving excursion), kskj went out for one last quick little night ride....
...unfortunately, something along the night ride didn't agree with his KJ.
The cool mountain mornings, and days, were wonderful. A dry 46F in the morning beats a 105F, high-humidity, Kansas afternoon in July or August anyday!
Following kskj back on US-50 toward Canyon City....before we split and went our separate routes back to Eastern Kansas homes.
A great mountain excursion with great scenery, enjoyable wheeling, comfortable weather and great company.
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