We did a two night truck camp (sleeping in the Xterra) to Colorado August 18-20, 2017.  First night at the Mosquito Pass road 2wd parking west of Fairplay.  Second night at the Avalanche Trailhead (Colorado Trail) outside of Buena Vista. The Saturday night dinner in Buena Vista at the House Rock Restaurant patio was Outstanding!

We had great weather in the mornings for the hikes, but clouds and precipitation building between noon and 2pm, so we plan on getting off the high wide open spaces before the rain! 

Saturday's hike was an 8 mile loop with 3,000 feet of vertical gain to climb three thirteeners along a ridge line:  Kuss Peak 13,548,  Mosquito Peak 13,781, and Treasurevault Peak 13,701.  We walked up the very bad Mosquito Pass 4x4 Road, glad we didn't beat up the Xterra driving it!  The area has a lot of mining history.  The North London Mine was a very profitable gold, silver and lead operation.  We also encountered more wildflowers than anticipated for mid August.

Sunday was two shorter hikes along the Cottonwood Pass Road outside of Buena Vista.  3+ mile hike to Lost Lake (not really lost...).  Then a shorter, higher 2+ mile hike on the Continental Divide Trail at Cottonwood Pass (starting at 12,026 feet). We'll be back to go much further on the CDT !