Due to some snow drifts on the Alma side of the pass, we decided to drive up to Mosquito Pass from the Leadville side and then head back down the way we came. OnX rates the trail 4/10 in difficulty, but I think it's definitely tougher. The road up the pass is rough from the start, but the last couple of switchbacks have some pretty challenging obstacles to clear in the LC. The final stretch to the top included a rocky shelf road that would've been nearly impossible to pass someone going in the opposite direction. Thankfully, we never ran into anyone going either way on this part. Going up and down the shelf road was some of the easiest driving, but definitely the most white-knuckle for me (especially down!) The LC rubbed a few times on the skids and touched the Slee rock sliders twice (just a little rubbing is ok, right?!) I spent most of the ride up and down in low 4, keeping the center diff locked. On the steepest and most technical stretch, I locked the rear diff just to be sure that everything went smoothly (and it did!) I engaged MTS on the steeper sections (rock) when the rear diff was unlocked. The power delivery and control was smooth and the LC behaved beautifully up and down. This was the first big challenge for us in our LC and a great learning experience for a newb. Now for the good stuff - some pics from the ride in no particular order! You'll see the two tallest peaks in Colorado in the background of some of the picks. Mt. Elbert (14,433') is on the left and Mt. Massive (14,429') is on the right.
Mt. Massive is off the right side of the LC in the background.
Mt. Massive is the snow covered peak in the center, but Mt. Elbert is the peak off to the left. Elbert is taller, but massive is much bigger.
A better pic to identify the peak of Elbert, which is at the far left. Massive is the snow covered monstrosity closer to the center.
Nothing to see here. (Checking an obstacle before using my skid plates and rock sliders to carefully clear it.)
Hard to tell, but this is the shelf road on the way down. It's a steep and very long drop off the side.
Mt. Massive is off the right side of the LC in the background.
Mt. Massive is the snow covered peak in the center, but Mt. Elbert is the peak off to the left. Elbert is taller, but massive is much bigger.
A better pic to identify the peak of Elbert, which is at the far left. Massive is the snow covered monstrosity closer to the center.
Nothing to see here. (Checking an obstacle before using my skid plates and rock sliders to carefully clear it.)
Hard to tell, but this is the shelf road on the way down. It's a steep and very long drop off the side.
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