Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.
Colorado 13er · Loop via Kuss and Mosquito
Overview
Treasurevault Mountain is the northernmost of three summits on the ridge north of Mosquito Pass. This loop climbs Kuss Peak's east ridge, walks north over Kuss and Mosquito Peak to Treasurevault, then drops into the basin at the head of Mosquito Creek and follows an old road back.
It is Class 1 to 2, mostly thin tundra with chiprock and scree. The half mile from Mosquito to Treasurevault takes about 15 minutes.
The loop is about 7.5 miles with about 3,000 feet of gain, usually 6 to 7 hours. Distances beyond Kuss are our estimates. Strong hikers keep going north to Mount Tweto.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on Mosquito Peak by 11 a.m.; if not, go back the way you came.
Crux
Choosing a safe line down into the basin from the ridge north of Treasurevault.
Route-finding
Ridge walking is easy. For the descent, go far enough northeast before dropping into the basin to avoid steeper ground that falls away to the east.
Water
None on the ridge. Streams in the upper basin. Filter it.
From Highway 9, about a mile south of Alma, turn west on Mosquito Gulch Road (County Road 12). Drive about 6.8 miles to where the road bends left and crosses Mosquito Creek, then starts climbing toward Mosquito Pass.
Park in the area about 0.1 mile past the creek crossing. Any car can get this far in dry weather. Above here the road to the pass is rough, rocky 4WD.
RidgeTalus and screeTundraRoadExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Mosquito Creek trailhead 11,560' · 0 mi
Follow the Kuss Peak route to Kuss's summit.
2
Kuss Peak 13,560' · 2.25 mi
Walk north along the ridge, drop to a saddle and climb to Mosquito Peak.
3
Mosquito Peak 13,787' · 3.1 mi
Walk down to the north on loose chiprock and scree, using bits of trail, to the Mosquito-Treasurevault saddle, where there are signs of mining.
4
Summit 13,706' · 3.6 mi
Stroll north up the gentle slope to Treasurevault's top.
5
Ridge to the north 13,500' · 4 mi
Continue north along the ridge, then east.
6
Drop into the basin 12,500' · 4.8 mi
Head northeast down into the big basin at the head of Mosquito Creek. Go far enough northeast before you drop to avoid steeper ground to the east.
Watch for: Don't drop too early. The slope to the east is steep.
7
Old road in the basin 12,000' · 5.4 mi
Find the old road (Forest Road 856) in the upper basin and follow it down to the start.
Getting down
The descent is part of the loop: down into the Mosquito Creek basin and out on the old road. If weather comes in early, go back over Mosquito and Kuss instead.
If things go wrong
Go back over Mosquito and Kuss and down Kuss's east ridge.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
This ridge-and-basin loop has no set trail. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.
Other routes
Every way up Treasurevault Mountain we list, with its class.
Treasurevault Mtn. South Ridgethis routeClass 1 11.5 mi
Loop: Kuss, Mosquito, TreasurevaultClass 2 7.25 mi
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.