London Mountain, Mosquito Peak, Mount Tweto, Mount Buckskin Loop in Pike National Forest, CO

Hike London Mountain, Mosquito Peak, Mount Tweto, Mount Buckskin Loop Pike National Forest, CO

Class 3 11.3 miles 4800 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Aug 11, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

London Mountain, Mosquito Peak, Mount Tweto, Mount Buckskin Loop GPX Track

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This part of the Mosquito Range has lots of ATV roads and mining operations, but the sweeping tundra and easy access to the base of the peaks is nice, plus despite not being the most exciting area I'll never say "no" to a nearly-circular loop around a basin that snags multiple 13ers. This loop includes London Mountain, Mosquito Peak, Mount Tweto, and Mount Buckskin. I decided to hike it clockwise so I could possibly tack on Mount Arkansas if the weather looked good, and to descend via the super-steep slope from Mount Buckskin rather than ascend. Any car can make it to within a quarter mile of where I parked, but a large puddle stopped me from going the additional few hundred feet to the standard road junction. If you were planning to just hike London Mountain and not theis loop, a 4WD vehicle could likely make it another mile or so to the peak's western saddle. For me it would be a morning road walk. I passed the North London Mine, an old gold mine from the 1800s. A few trucks and ATVs passed me on their way to Mosquito Pass farther west.

I reached the saddle separating London Mountain from Kuss Peak, taking a well-defined social trail heading east toward London Mountain. Despite the rockiness along the crest of the peak, there was a pretty significant trail nearly to the summit. There were a couple of light Class 2 sections, but the trail managed to stick to the crest when possible and drop just below it when it became rockier. The peak protrudes away from the main ridge crest, so it's a fun 360 degree perspective toward the basins below and peaks to come along my traverse. I backtracked to the saddle and started up on a faint social trail toward Kuss Peak (aka Repeater Peak). The trail was short-lived, so I soon found myself mostly talus-hopping to this unranked 13er's summit, where the views were mostly obscured by its wide tundra-top.

Continuing north, I used a social trail down to an ATV road at the base of Mosquito Peak. Leaving the road almost immediately, I continued to Mosquito Peak's summit on mostly a steep tundra hike since there was no defined trail. It was more of the same pleasant ridge hiking to Treasurevault Mountain, with one steeper section of scree/talus coming down from Mosquito Peak.

I really enjoyed the sweeping views and pleasant terrain along the wide ridge from Treasurevault Mountain to Mount Tweto. More talus-hopping led me up to Mount Tweto's summit, where I noted some clouds accumulating around Mount Arkansas and since it required significant effort to drop from Tweto, head to Arkansas, and return to Tweto I decided not to risk the storms and instead head toward Mount Buckskin. At least I had a bail point if the weather turned on my way there, whereas I'd be in trouble on Arkansas.

I started down from Mount Tweto on immediately worse terrain, the talus becoming more rugged and loose. The ridge crest has a bunch of little rock outcroppings that I could avoid on the right, and the descent didn't exceed Class 2. Nearing the saddle the ridge became more jagged. I pulled a Class 3 move here and there, though these could be avoided by keeping to looser terrain on the right. I passed a bail point along the way, noting that it seemed to be Class 2/3 in case storms chased me off Mount Buckskin. My friend Yossi descended this way and said it worked, so I included his bail track on my attached map (purple). This could also serve as a decent bail point to return to after reaching Mount Buckskin if you prefer.

As I started up to Mount Buckskin, rather than stick to the scary-looking main crest, which included a significant cliff band, I stayed lower. Doing so meant I had to reascend on loose, steep Class 2 talus to regain the ridge crest. You might want to try to stick to the crest, though it might venture into Class 4 territory. Ahead I could see the summit block of Mount Buckskin. The crest was steep and exposed, so I trended to the right, traversing toward lighter-colored rock. I located a steep Class 2+ gully that led to some fun Class 2/3 scrambling on solid rock to the summit. I could make out the famous DeCaLiBron loop clearly from here, as well as down toward the standard route for reaching Mount Buckskin. The ridge was fun enough to recommend doing it opposed to the standard steep slope walk.

Rather than backtrack to the previously mentioned bail point, I continued along the ridge to Loveland Mountain with the hope I could find a way down later. Fortunately, I earlier had the foresight to look at the slopes and knew I could not safely descend at any point between Mount Buckskin and Loveland Mountain since the slope was riddled with cliffs. I hiked over a false summit of Mount Buckskin, its southeast peak, and then followed a social trail along the lovely ridgeline all the way to Loveland Mountain, an unranked 13er. Some Class 2 off the trail led to its high point.

Now was the time to consider ym descent options. Although steep, I knew I could get down directly from the summit. Rather than continue south along the crest in search of a tamer option, I stupidly decided to just descend directly using a steep, loose mess of Class 2/2+ scree/talus. 1500' of descent on this horrible terrain had me laughing at myself and shaking my head. The last few hundred feet introduced little cliffs that offered some solid rock to assist in scrambling rather than sliding, but it ventured into Class 3 terrain and due to the steepness, felt a little exposed. I do not recommend going this way. It was a good way to really make the hike a lot less fun. I recommend continuing south along the crest from Loveland Mountain and descending via a much more tame-looking grassy slope. I drew in a pink line on my attached map, though realize this is just an estimate since I didn't actually go that way. When you park at the trailhead before starting this loop, look up and note the best-looking one to you.

After my dumb descent from Loveland Mountain, I continued through pretty tundra, passed an old hidden mine, and met up with an old mining road, taking it back to my car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
London Mountain
13199 ft
544 rise
2
Kuss Peak (Repeater Peak)
13560 ft
275 rise
3
Mosquito Peak
13787 ft
567 rise
4
Treasurevault Mountain
13706 ft
280 rise
5
Mount Tweto
13683 ft
428 rise
6
Mount Buckskin
13871 ft
684 rise
7
Loveland Mountain
13707 ft
183 rise

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Starting the loop toward London Mountain (seen left), initially using a 4WD road.
Starting the loop toward London Mountain (seen left), initially using a 4WD road.
A view back (car far right) into the mining-riddled basin I'd be traversing around.
A view back (car far right) into the mining-riddled basin I'd be traversing around.
Passing North London Mine.
Passing North London Mine.
Mount Buckskin seen across the basin as I ascend to the saddle on the west side of Mount London.
Mount Buckskin seen across the basin as I ascend to the saddle on the west side of Mount London.
Starting up toward Mount London.
Starting up toward Mount London.
A trail leads pretty much all the way to the summit.
A trail leads pretty much all the way to the summit.
View back, Kuss Peak seen top left.
View back, Kuss Peak seen top left.
Progress up London Mountain's pleasant trail.
Progress up London Mountain's pleasant trail.
London Mountain summit, view toward the traverse to come. North London Mine seen bottom center.
London Mountain summit, view toward the traverse to come. North London Mine seen bottom center.
London Mountain, view east.
London Mountain, view east.
I backtracked to the saddle and started toward Kuss Peak.
I backtracked to the saddle and started toward Kuss Peak.
View back to the saddle, London Mountain seen center.
View back to the saddle, London Mountain seen center.
Mostly talus-hopping and tundra talking to Kuss Peak.
Mostly talus-hopping and tundra talking to Kuss Peak.
Kuss Peak, view toward Mosquito Pass.
Kuss Peak, view toward Mosquito Pass.
Kuss Peak summit building.
Kuss Peak summit building.
Onward to Mosquito Peak using a social trail down to the road.
Onward to Mosquito Peak using a social trail down to the road.
No trail from the road up to the summit of Mosquito Peak.
No trail from the road up to the summit of Mosquito Peak.
Mosquito Peak, view back toward London Mountain (left) and Kuss Peak (right).
Mosquito Peak, view back toward London Mountain (left) and Kuss Peak (right).
Onward to Treasurevault Mountain (left).
Onward to Treasurevault Mountain (left).
Some equipment near the saddle, Treasurevault Mountain seen ahead.
Some equipment near the saddle, Treasurevault Mountain seen ahead.
View back toward Mosquito Peak.
View back toward Mosquito Peak.
Treasurevault Mountain summit, onward to Mount Tweto.
Treasurevault Mountain summit, onward to Mount Tweto.
View back toward Treasurevault Mountain (center). It's mostly tundra with some embedded rocks.
View back toward Treasurevault Mountain (center). It's mostly tundra with some embedded rocks.
Mount Arkansas seen left, Mount Tweto center.
Mount Arkansas seen left, Mount Tweto center.
After following the pretty tundra slope/ridge, I reached the base of Mount Tweto, lots of rock-hopping.
After following the pretty tundra slope/ridge, I reached the base of Mount Tweto, lots of rock-hopping.
View back as I ascent Mount Tweto.
View back as I ascent Mount Tweto.
Mount Tweto summit, view toward Mount Arkansas. Clouds looked too bad for me to go out-and-back to add that peak. Another day!
Mount Tweto summit, view toward Mount Arkansas. Clouds looked too bad for me to go out-and-back to add that peak. Another day!
Onward to Mount Buckskin, seen center.
Onward to Mount Buckskin, seen center.
The terrain begins Class 2, definitely no trail here. Often the talus was loose.
The terrain begins Class 2, definitely no trail here. Often the talus was loose.
View back as I descend from Mount Tweto.
View back as I descend from Mount Tweto.
There are a bunch of little rock outcroppings along the crest that I was able to avoid, keeping the route Class 2 so far.
There are a bunch of little rock outcroppings along the crest that I was able to avoid, keeping the route Class 2 so far.
As I neared the saddle separating the two peaks, the ridge became more jagged. I pulled a Class 3 move here and there, though even though might be avoidable by keeping to looser terrain on the right.
As I neared the saddle separating the two peaks, the ridge became more jagged. I pulled a Class 3 move here and there, though even though might be avoidable by keeping to looser terrain on the right.
View back at my progress from Mount Tweto.
View back at my progress from Mount Tweto.
Steeper Class 2/2+ terrain.
Steeper Class 2/2+ terrain.
A shot back at a Class 2/3 downclimb along the crest.
A shot back at a Class 2/3 downclimb along the crest.
Starting my ascent to Mount Buckskin, loose Class 2.
Starting my ascent to Mount Buckskin, loose Class 2.
As I started up to the peak, rather than stick to the main crest, which looked scary, I stayed lower and had to deal with steep Class 2 talus. You might want to stick to the crest.
As I started up to the peak, rather than stick to the main crest, which looked scary, I stayed lower and had to deal with steep Class 2 talus. You might want to stick to the crest.
Mount Buckskin ahead. I trended toward the lighter-colored rock on the right.
Mount Buckskin ahead. I trended toward the lighter-colored rock on the right.
Ascending a Class 2+ gully.
Ascending a Class 2+ gully.
And then some fun Class 2+/3 to gain the summit. View back from the summit.
And then some fun Class 2+/3 to gain the summit. View back from the summit.
Mount Bucksin summit toward the DeCaLiBron loop. Lake Emma below Mount Democrat seen center.
Mount Bucksin summit toward the DeCaLiBron loop. Lake Emma below Mount Democrat seen center.
Rather than backtrack, I continued along the ridge to Loveland Mountain. I could have returned to the saddle with Mount Tweto and returned via a mining road to my car, alternatively.
Rather than backtrack, I continued along the ridge to Loveland Mountain. I could have returned to the saddle with Mount Tweto and returned via a mining road to my car, alternatively.
View back toward Mount Buckskin.
View back toward Mount Buckskin.
Onward to Loveland Mountain. There was a social trail almost the whole way. There's no safe bail point off the slope between Bucksin and Loveland because the slope is riddled with cliffs.
Onward to Loveland Mountain. There was a social trail almost the whole way. There's no safe bail point off the slope between Bucksin and Loveland because the slope is riddled with cliffs.
Loveland Mountain summit, view east.
Loveland Mountain summit, view east.
I decided, stupidly, to just descend directly west. I recommend heading farther along the ridge before descending, choosing a tamer slope that I outlined on my attached map. You can see Kuss and Mosquito center. The road I hiked up on earlier is seen far left.
I decided, stupidly, to just descend directly west. I recommend heading farther along the ridge before descending, choosing a tamer slope that I outlined on my attached map. You can see Kuss and Mosquito center. The road I hiked up on earlier is seen far left.
View back up the garbage descent slope I took.
View back up the garbage descent slope I took.
It was steep Class 2 with some loose Class 2+ mixed in. No fun.
It was steep Class 2 with some loose Class 2+ mixed in. No fun.
View back at the crap slope I came down (center). The way I came down worked, but barely. Had I descended sooner I would have been cliffed-out.
View back at the crap slope I came down (center). The way I came down worked, but barely. Had I descended sooner I would have been cliffed-out.
I passed some old mine.
I passed some old mine.
After hiking through the tundra, I reached an old road. This is a view up toward the ridge between Tweto and Buckskin.
After hiking through the tundra, I reached an old road. This is a view up toward the ridge between Tweto and Buckskin.
I descended back to my car using the road. London Mountain seen center.
I descended back to my car using the road. London Mountain seen center.
A shot toward a slope that would have been MUCH more pleasant to descend. I drew this likely much better descent in on my attached map.
A shot toward a slope that would have been MUCH more pleasant to descend. I drew this likely much better descent in on my attached map.

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