Day 9 brought us to our final day of the 2009 Colorado High Pass Tour. Today we would pass through Leadville and complete pass number 9, Mosquito Pass. Mosquito will take off from Leadville to Alma and will be the highest summit of the whole trip at 13,185 feet.
With only one short pass to cross we were able to have a leisurely breakfast while waiting for the sun to dry all the tents. Letting them dry meant there would be no need to unpack once home and dry them the rest of the way, a welcome result of the slow start. After our final morning in camp together we headed into Leadville for a stop at the local Coffee shop and a look around.
Heading east out of town took us through part of the Leadville mining district where we were able to check out some of the old mining structure and get some nice photos. We also spent some time at an old tailing’s pile so LJ could do a little rock hunting.
Waiting to climb the switch backs
Once out of the mining district the high clearance jeep road begins. The road climbs up the ridge gaining altitude fast. At the bottom of the switch backs we stopped had lunch and a break. It is a good spot to check for any large groups’ descending the pass and wait for them to clear the road.
The road is cut through the talus slopes
Nancy took off hiking for the summit and we started the slow drive up. The road is not that technical but is very exposed climbing the face of the mountain. One wrong turn and it is a long way down. There are a few pull outs on the way up that facilitate passing.
LJ Running for the top
I picked LJ up a few hundred feed below the summit after she had run for some of the climb. She was out of breath and I had to remind her that she was running at almost 13,000 feet, a good reason to be out of breath.
The 3 FJ's on the final climb
We reached the top only to find 50+ miles per hour winds making it hard to get photos or enjoy the summit. We got our photos had some fun playing in the wind the got underway heading down the east side of the pass.
Top of Mosquito on a WINDY day
Our final group photo wearing our T-Shirts designed by LJ
There a few cool old mining structures that we stopped at on the way down. Getting to one required a short fun ford.
Finally reaching blacktop it was time to air up the tires for the drive back to Colorado Springs. What a fantastic finish to a wonderful trip.
Airing up for the drive home