Facing Oncoming Traffic on Colorado’s Mosquito Pass Narrow Shelf Road
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2021
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Charles Wells Moab Book: amzn.to/3R6RSfu
Incredible moderate off-road Jeep trail to 13,186'. This was the first time I have been on Mosquito Pass. It was an interesting day wheeling with the Burro Races headed to the top of the pass. This is a cool trail worth running. It took me just about 2 hours to complete it. I started in Alma and headed over the pass down into Leadville. There are no real obstacles on this trail to speak of. It is bumpy but not terribly bad. No off-camber spots exist. The trail on the west side of the pass is most of a shelf road than the east side. Just make sure that you pay attention and keep your eye out for oncoming traffic. Thanks for watching!
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Thank you for the tour. My great-great-Grandfather co-owned a mine right next to the Orphan Boy mine in Mosquito Pass near Alma and his son was a Judge in Leadville.
That’s such a cool story! Thanks for sharing! - Geoff
Well done video - I very much appreciate the tour! I appreciate your commentary and also I liked the long stretches of silence - was like being out there and good to hear the engine.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
A lot of you wouldn't believe it if I told you my buddy and I drove this pass in a 1980 Volkswagon Scirocco, but we did. Those cars are pretty exceptional.
Thanks for sharing. I hadn't been on that trail since I was about 4 yrs old in my grandpa's '65 CJ5. He was shocked to see a VW bus at the top. I collected a handful of iron pyrite and he let me believe I was rich! 😄
What a great story!!! Thanks for sharing! That is funny about the pyrite. What a great memory and the fact that you remember it makes it a special one. Cheers! - Geoff
Some people don't know the rules of the road!
Vehicle going uphill has the right of way just like you pulled over on your way down. 👍
I know Earle. I assumed he had a spot picked out to pull over so I kept on going up. It’s kind of hard to hear in the video, but he still had some room between his passenger tire and the edge of the road. I could see that from where I was sitting. He then was saying that the edge of the road is soft (which it isn’t) and the funny part is his wife was yelling at him too. I was a little perturbed with this interaction and actually filmed myself ranting but didn’t put that in the video. I want to stay positive 👍🏻. Thanks for watching! - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 You could have left your vehicle and helped guide him from the front. Decent thing to do. And yes uphill has right of way, but sometimes, it is safer to relinquish right of way to downhill.
Trail is not as bad as it looks....
His wife was watching his passenger side
The uphill driver has the right of way, because it's dangerous to back going downhill.
Is this doable in my stock 2021 Z71 Silverado?
I was SHOCKED when I saw the words "going DOWN to Leadville!"
Enjoyed your windshield tour of Mosquito Pass! As a flatlander, the first thing I learned driving some of these Colorado offroad passes is do not try to sight see and drive at the same time. Thanks for all the great scenery!
Thanks! Oh yea, I maybe said it on one of my Hells Revenge videos. If you’re driving then your job is to drive, and not be looking around at the scenery, fiddling with the radio or texting your friends, or the day could be over in a hurry 😂
lol this is so true!!!
Awesome video!
1976 my dad took us over that pass in a 2 wheel drive ford pickup loaded with mobile home skirting to do a job in Leadville. I had heard it was paved today. Obviously Not.😅
That’s awesome! What a great story! Thanks for sharing. - Geoff
I finally got a chance to finish watching this video. Great job Geoff! I agree with Earle on that one guy not yielding to up hill traffic. I love our High Country Colorado trails above timberline!
Thanks buddy! I’m ready to get back out wheeling after this hunt! I want to fit in a couple more good trails before the snow starts falling!
@@Colorado4x4 oh yeah
Nice! We've been there several time and love it. Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Thanks for watching and commenting! - Geoff
It was a nice trip with you. Good to see it all looks pretty good still. It's been some years, heck decades, since last there. Keep the rubber side down. 👍✌
Really good video. Brought back nice memories of traversing that pass!
Thanks for watching Patrick! Check out my latest Red Cone video. I think it’s my best work!
czcams.com/video/gR1sT0d38vA/video.html
Best Mosquito Pass vid I’ve seen. 👏
Thanks Marco!
Geoff great video !!
Looked like a nice cool day for the trip. Mosquito pass is one of my favorite runs. You made good time on the crossing. 💪😊
Thanks Todd! It was a nice day. I’m glad the rain took it easy for the first half. Man I got ate up by mosquitos while airing down and then when airing up! I think I know why it’s called Mosquito Pass 🤣
Agreed, not kicking up clouds of dust
This was our favorite trail. Sometimes didn’t get over until well into August because of snow around the London Mine area. The west side is a bit narrow pass on. Thanks for the memories.
Thanks for watching!!! It’s a super duper trail. - Geoff
That area looks great, Reallylike the back countryThumbs up
It’s a great easy trail. Some awesome views up there and you stay above tree line for quite a while compared to a lot of other passes which is a big bonus for me. - Geoff
Great video! Thank you for not adding music!
Thanks Dale! Thanks for watching - Geoff
I have done this trail and the views are amazing. It's also an easy trail. However, if you don't like ledges and heights be warned. The ledge on the Leadville side must be at least a 1500 feet to the bottom from the top and is not very wide.
It’s a great trail and I agree, it is easy but that is all relative! 😜
love your show.....
Thanks!
During the summer of 1977 I lived in Alma. One day a group of us went to ski a snow field near the London mine, part way up the pass. While there, among the string of jeeps, down came a hippie in a VW bug. I also owned a VW, and I asked if he had crossed the pass. ""Oh yeah, and you can do it too' he said.
So,, a couple of weeks later, I decided to try it myself . One of my old roommates from CSU, who lived in Leadville, invited me over to do a "hike" up La Plata Peak. I got up before sunrise and left my cabin, figuring that if I was going to have a chance of making it, I needed to do it without traffic. It was hell, but I made it to the top. What that VW lacked in power it gained with fairly high clearance and a short wheelbase. There were some pretty serious spots where the oil light would flicker, suggesting I was about to stall or blow the engine. But I kept going and I was fortunate to only meet one jeep coming down. Once on top, I stopped and let that engine cool for a good half hour while I hiked and enjoyed the view. From the pass I could see La Plata Peak with the morning sun on it. The Mosquito Range cast a long shadow down towards Leadville.
On the way down the Leadville side, I encountered a lot of loose shale, and I was not sure I would have made it up from that side spinning wheels on some of that stuff (though obviously that hippie had done so). I was definitely worried about my brakes getting down. Anyway, I made it and met my friend for the climb. He, having grown up in Leadville, decided that the marked trail would be too easy, so we climbed the peak via Ellingwood Ridge. After about six hours to traverse 1.5 miles along that knife-edged ridge, and in a snow squall, we reached the top of La Plata Peak. The constant, near-death experience of Ellingwood Ridge erased the terror I had experienced driving my VW up Mosquito Pass. Your video refreshed my memory just a bit.
If I don't sleep tonight, hopefully it will be because the Nuggets won the NBA championship, and not because of the re-emergence of repressed terror of driving up the pass, initiated by your video.
Thanks for posting! God bless.
Peter, thanks for sharing your story! I really appreciate it! That was a great story! Such great memories. I didn’t start wheeling in Colorado until 2000 but started doing 14ers a couple years before that. I never did LaPlata but always wanted to try the Ellingwood Ridge route! It looks like a blast. GO NUGGETS!!!! - Geoff
My buddy and I did the pass in a 1980 Volkswagon Scirocco
That was awesome for a stock Jeep and what appears to be moderate off road ability 👍
Thanks! I just have a 3.5” lift and 35s. Not too crazy! Still drives nice on the road. Thanks for watching
I must admit I chuckled at the comment. Back in the day I saw VW's up there, but some folks were a little crazy back then.
A friend was a minister in Leadville for a few years. Originally a minister in Roswell, then transferred up there. Night and day difference. Thank you for the video - yes my job was to drive - if you wanted to look at something. Time to pull over (if possible) and then do it. Take care - God Bless
Amen! Thanks for sharing! I appreciate it. - Geoff
Roswell is a lot better.
I remember doing this trail and I encountered the same thing with other drivers. That's why I plan on going again during a Wednesday or Thursday.
Week days are so much better. It’s like going back 20 years or more on all of the Colorado trails! - Geoff
New subscriber here.
Fun stuff.
So many sharp rocks looks like they could eat tires!
Howdy! Thanks for subscribing! Yes, some of these trails can be pretty rough on tires, especially over time. We have had bad luck with some brands and 2 ply sidewalls ripping on the trails, so we’ve got to be pretty particular about tire selection and choosing E rated tires that have strong 3 ply sidewalls. Thanks for watching. - Geoff
Its a great trail
Such a great trail. I wish I would have ran it again this year and made another video with my drone. 😔 next year! - Geoff
That’s awesome country for sure!
It’s a pretty cool trail 👍🏻
Bro you should check out my recent Red Cone video! I think it’s my best work to date 🥳
@@Colorado4x4 Great video, great area to use a drone to show the dramatic mountains!
@@wheelinoutwest thanks buddy!
In 1977 I saw a 4 door Buick go over mosquito pass. I was shocked. I was in a 1976 red short wheel base 1/2 ton ford
😂😂😂
Back in 2000, national full size Bronco get together. Ran Mosquito pass (and others) in my '70 w/4" lift, 36's, and 460. Carburetor HATED the elevation. Also had a lightning storm hit up there when we were checking out one of the ghost towns. We were IN the storm and lightning was simultaneous with the thunder-strikes hitting within 200 yards. Good times!
Dang! Good times for sure! Check out this video of my buddies ‘72! czcams.com/video/_s1aDqF1JbM/video.html
Edit: '79
Than Mosquitoe Pass sign is amazing!
I love it!
@20:20 there's a a little side road to the right, my first time up Mosquito, 25 years ago, a friend, me and another buddy went up this in his 79 Chevy 2 wd truck, anyhow we went down that side road, scary as hell, real narrow. Also, close to the bottom of the pass, there are a few less traveled roads, more fun than driving the road over the pass.
Nice!!! That’s awesome! There’s so many places to explore up there. Thanks for sharing. - Geoff
We used to take weekend trips on these roads. Scared me half to death!
It’s great up there! Such beautiful country! - Geoff
I did this twice in my Subaru GL10 4X4. I even got a quarter of the way up in my SAAB 9000.
Yes! That’s awesome!!!
I’m gonna come join you soon buddy !! Love all your videos 🤘🏼🤘🏼
Thanks! I appreciate it! Where are you located?
@@Colorado4x4 Amarillo Texas , not far ! I’m used to traveling for work so I do the same on weekends lol
Nice! Definitely a lot of places to come wheeling up here. You can probably get to the Sangre De Cristos pretty quick and hit Medano Pass and Blanca
@@Colorado4x4 Sounds like I’m going to firsthand knowledge on where I can make it to pretty quick. Is there some pretty good dispersed camping in there with my off-road trailer, I’d rather anything but a fire Road to be honest.
@@maximumoverland You know I’ve spent some time up there but haven’t hit those trails I mentioned. I spent a summer west of Trinidad and did a bunch of camping out there. There aren’t any real hard trails there but some good places to get away. Medano looks cool I wouldn’t doubt there’s some great camping up there too. Do you have the Charles Wells trail book?
lol i lived in Leadville, CO for years. Ive done this trail in a stock 2004 Dodge Dakota 3.7 manual.
It is not a difficult trail
Saw two girls in 2WD Corolla there. No big deal.
Two jennies in a car, hoof drivers?
I made it over the same day, I was a few hours behind you. Made it to the pass/sign just as the last burro team did. Rained the entire way down into Leadville. My F150 definitely needs a lift and 35s
Nice! Yea I made it up there when the first group came up. That rain was something else! Check out my latest Red Cone video. My buddy Todd came with us on that trail and he’s got an F-150 on 35s and it does great! - Geoff
You did this with a stock f150?
@@openyourcoconut4774 Stock F150, Wrangler Duratracs(33s), RCI skidplates, and N-Fab rocker rails.
🥳 I would drive it in a stock rig for sure, as long as it has low range 4WD. I saw a stock older Tundra up there that wasn’t having any problems. Just make sure you have a full size spare and maybe some air too!
@@user-tx9mv2cg7e I love the Duratracs but their sidewalls are only 2 ply. Make sure you have a full size spare!
I did this drive in my 1996 manual 5-speed Geo Metro in the Summer of 2002. As you might imagine, that was fun...🤣
YES! That’s awesome! I love these stories! I had a late 90s Nissan Pathfinder and I took it on a ton of the San Juan passes around the same time in 2002 to 2004. It was awesome! It helped me find the paths! Would be cool to have some video of the Geo Metro!!! 😝
@@Colorado4x4 Funny you should mention my Metro. I still own it and drive it as my only vehicle. Now in my mid-70s, comfortably retired alone since December 2010 and currently living just northeast of El Paso in "The Mile High Desert" of far northwest Hudspeth County, I had a remanufactured engine installed in January 2020 then replaced all the sensors and most everything else on the little 3-cylinder beast. I pamper my Metro and in return, it still averages 40mpg city/highway. I never travel anywhere out of the El Paso region and drive about 3500 miles per year.👍🤗
That is excellent! We are just up the road in Castle Rock. 40 mpg is really great and that is good that you were able to put a remanufactured engine in the Metro and keep it on the road! I like older cars anyways - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 The late 90s pathfinders were surprisingly capable rigs.
thanks for the vid! does your jeep have an exhaust or is it running rough? i think it may just be the exhaust along with some wind noise and just how the mic was picking it up
It had a flowmaster exhaust 🤭. Some wind noise too. I got an external mic that I am using now that cuts down on some wind noise - Geoff
Do you need an ohv pass or anything? Cool video, just moved out here cant wait to take the rig to some trails
No OHV pass is needed for this trail. There are some trails here that require an OHV pass though. Pick up the Charles Wells guidebook. It’s the best for figuring out where to go wheeling! - Geoff
Cool video never done mesquite pass yet but its on the list for sure.. what's next for you I usually go out solo but it would be nice to tag along with you sometime!
Hey Mike! It is a cool trail! I’m glad I ran it. Where do you live? What are you driving? Yea you can come along for sure. I’m not sure what is next. I’ve got an elk hunt coming up in a couple weeks so wheeling is put on hold! Probably will hit a Moab trip this fall as well and will try to squeeze a couple more trails in! I really wanted to hit Crested Butte but hasn’t happened this year. Pearl Pass, Devils Punchbowl.
@@Colorado4x4
I'm out of pueblo west.. I drive 2001 xj 6.5in lift 35in tires. I have been wanting to do devils punch bowl as well. Drove to Crystal mill from marble last year but did not take it all the way through up to crested butte.
@@mikemartin9098 nice! I love XJs. They’re super capable. Wheelbase is great and they do awesome out there. Shoot me an email and we can go hit a trail sometime : steinernm@gmail.com
Use of UHF radios by vehicles going up & coming down this pass would make for easier navigation for all drivers involved...
It would. Our group only uses HAM radio. Mostly VHF but I have a dual band Yaesu in my Jeep. - Geoff
Cant wait to do this thinking next weekend if weather holds up decent! Got a 460 w 32’s think I should be okay?
Nice! Yea you shouldn’t have any issues I wouldn’t think. There are no difficult spots, it’s just bumpy! You should have a full size spare in that rig so should be good to go! Have fun! - Geoff
You can also hit Peak 10 while you’re at it. It’s just outside of Breckinridge. That made for a nice day for me. I posted a video of Peak 10 last week.
Such an awesome video! I know you posted it a while ago haha but I will be going to Leadville this weekend and am thinking about taking my rig on the pass. How long did it take you to get from the top of the pass to Leadville??
Thanks Breanna! In this video I went from Alma to Leadville and the trip took me about 2 hours but I was cruising pretty good 😎 didn’t stop at all except for a few minutes at the top. It seems like the climb from Leadville to the top is shorter so that is good for you coming from the Leadville side. I would say maybe 1.5 hours for you to the top (or a little less) if you have a good pace and there is no traffic. Have fun and let me know how it goes! - Geoff
Awesome thank you! I’ll update you how it goes!
No problem! It’s a great trail, you will love it. - Geoff
They ain’t short on rocks up there. Did the trail noticeably slick up when it started raining?
It’s not bad at all. I would run it in a stock vehicle. Nah, it didn’t slick up at all with the rain. The shelf road coming down toward Leadville has a little lip on it. All of those broken up rocks usually give pretty good traction. 🤘
There's something uniquely appealing about the smell of rain high up in the Central Rockies of Colorado. Even if you were blindfolded, that smell would tell you where you're at.
There were passing problems when I did this pass many years ago especially the one lane Leadville side. I have done this since 79 and you see a lot more assholes in jeeps these days than then. And of course the occasional fool in a Suburban or big truck.
How long did it take to run the full length of the trail and how long to the peak?
I can’t remember exactly. Maybe 2.5 hours total and about an hour from the bottom to the top of the pass. Somewhere around there. I ran Peak 10 before this on the same day. I was solo so I was cruising along at a handsome clip. - Geoff
I do agree with the rule that those going uphill have the right of way; however some discretion should be applied.
If the one going downhill needs to reverse then who is going uphill? It's much easier to go uphill while driving forward.
IMHO some give and take should always rule.
It is always give and take, and I haven't had many problems with experienced off-roaders. Before I travel downhill, I always look for pull-outs and plan ahead in case if I run into oncoming traffic. Many times, I have been traveling uphill and see downhill traffic and I find a good pullout and wait for them to come down because I can see that they don't have a place to pull out, and they are always gracious and thank me for pulling out. There is no reason to create a train wreck if it can be avoided by anyone. When I am traveling uphill and downhill, I always take note of pull outs that I pass, so I have an idea of where I need to back up to in order to let traffic pass. Often times it is easier for a rig traveling uphill to find a pull-out and just wait for downhill traffic, but the general wheeling public understands that uphill traffic has the right of way and that is Colorado state law.
@@Colorado4x4 I totally agree, however the key word here is "experienced." I've found in my years the trails more enjoyable after the first wk in September after schools start.
I like your attitude. I wish the trails were all marked by waypoints marking suitable pull overs so one might know which way to jump next. 🤔
I hear you. I plan to do more weekday wheeling this summer anyways. It is always better with less people! That is a great idea about marking pull-out waypoints! I never thought about that, but it would help people prepare more. That is fabulous. - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 do you use Gaia or perhaps OnX? Be great to coordinate somehow with them to mark pullouts on trails.
what camera support do you use?
I just use the GoPro mount that has the 3M sticky tape on it and it’s on the top of my front windshield. Just make sure the windshield wipers won’t hit it if you put it there 🤣
in 2001 july , i got my crown vick 1988 up to where the river was near top , almost got stuck turning around , nearley torn my car up .. but i was very determaned ..
i aproached from the east slope
the river was wher the snow pack and water standen13: min 20 seconds in to video ..
very beautifull area ! 😁
tahanks for showing me the crest and other side👍 🫡🏔🏔
That’s awesome!!!!!
@@Colorado4x4 yes ! im a flat lander from n. east kansas ..
Mosquito pass . is awesome and beautifull , and was noted as being the highest moter vehicle pass in north america . i been there 3 times
What do you use to stabilize your camera?
It is a GoPro Hero 7 black and has in-body stabilization. It’s surprisingly good! - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 Yeah my father in law has a house in Silverthorn, and I have done a moderate amount of 4 wheeling in the area. One thing I would say is that the trails in general are quite bumpy, even if the trail is not particularly difficult. Given that, I was pretty impressed with how smooth your video was. I was thinking of doing Mosquito pass. Now that I have seen this video, I probably will, although I think I will start in Leadville.
Heck yea. Yea, they have gotten way more bumpy over the years. The GoPro stabilization is really amazing. It is hard to believe that it doesn't have a mechanical gimble on it. I would start in Leadville as it will make the shelf road portion less intimidating as you are going uphill and will have the right of way. Enjoy it! - Geoff
What's the red thing in the roll cage?
The red bars are a bolt in roll cage from Rockhard4x4
I was crossing mosquitoe pass every September before CZcams existed. Back then, it wasn't for tourists.
Good for you!
Colorado Rocky Mountain high, Ive seen it rain fire in the sky...........talk to God and get a casual reply........
Look at the critter at 15:30...
That’s hilarious! I never saw him in person or on the video 😂 that is a little Pika 🐀
@@Colorado4x4 Nice. Seems so inhospitable, yet there they are.
It’s so crazy. I don’t know if they migrate down in the winter or hunker down in the high country
Uhhh.... uphill has right of way. Don't let that dude by, you're teaching them bad habits. With all those stickers on that back window they should already know this. That guy was drunk and racist.
I don’t know why anyone would want to take that kind of beating. Nice country though.
It’s not too bad. The views are worth it!
I couldn’t drive this pass. I couldn’t walk this pass.
😂
I walked this pass from Leadville and back again last Thursday... It was awesome!
Heck yea! That is great! Is the road clear to the top from the Leadville side to where I can drive up, or are there still some big drifts?