Mount Bross is a high mountain summit located in the Mosquito Range of central Colorado. With an elevation of 14,178 feet (4,320 meters), Mount Bross ranks as one of the highest peaks in Colorado. This majestic mountain offers stunning alpine scenery and poses an exciting challenge for mountaineers.
In this article, we have compiled 57 riddles related to Mount Bross along with the answers. Some riddles focus on the geography and natural features of the mountain while others test your knowledge of its history. A few may even make you scratch your head with clever wordplay! We hope you enjoy racking your brains over these Mount Bross riddles.
Riddles about the geography and natural features of Mount Bross
Q: What frozen, glistening mineral caps the peak of Mount Bross?
Snow and ice
A: The summit of Mount Bross is covered year-round with snow and ice that sparkles beautifully on sunny days.
Q: What metal is hidden within Mount Bross that drew prospectors here in the 1860s?
Gold
A: Gold! Prospectors flocked to Mount Bross and other peaks in the Mosquito Range in the 1860s looking to strike it rich.
Q: Jagged rocks adorn Mount Bross’s slopes. What natural process shaped these dramatic formations over millions of years?
Glaciers
A: Glaciers slowly carved away at the mountain landscape during past ice ages, leaving behind the knife-edged arêtes and horns seen today.
Q: What type of igneous rock comprises much of Mount Bross?
Granite
A: Granite, an intrusive igneous rock, makes up the majority of Mount Bross. Over long periods of time, molten material cooled and crystallized into this hardy rock.
Q: Herds of these hoofed mammals graze during summer months on Mount Bross’s lower slopes and valleys. What are they?
Mountain goats
A: Sure-footed mountain goats inhabit Mount Bross’s steep terrain during warm months when vegetation is available to nibble on.
Riddles about Mount Bross’s statistics and records
Q: How tall is Mount Bross’s summit above sea level?
14,178 feet (4,320 meters)
A: Mount Bross reaches a lofty elevation of 14,178 feet (4,320 meters) making it one of Colorado’s many famous 14ers.
Q: In what year did the first recorded ascent of Mount Bross take place?
1874
A: The initial recorded successful summiting of Mount Bross was in 1874, though Native Americans likely climbed the peak much earlier.
Q: About how many miles is the standard hiking route from Kite Lake Trailhead to Mount Bross’s peak?
8 miles
A: The standard hiking route clocks in right around 8 miles from the Kite Lake Trailhead to the Mt. Bross summit and back. It makes for a long day!
Q: In what named mountain range is Mount Bross located?
Mosquito Range
A: The Mosquito Range, known for pesky biting insects, contains Mount Bross within its high peaks.
Q: What position does Mount Bross take among Colorado’s highest 100 summits?
20th highest
A: Mount Bross ranks 20th among Colorado’s highest 100 mountain peaks with its 14,178-foot summit elevation.
Riddles about Mount Bross’s name and history
Q: Mount Bross is named after this pioneer settler and judge from the mining town of Breckenridge. What’s his last name?
Bross
A: William Bross gave his name to Mount Bross. He became a settler, judge and mayor in the mining town of Breckenridge in the late 1800s.
Q: A famous ski resort calls Mount Bross its nextdoor neighbor. What is its name?
Loveland Ski Area
A: Loveland Ski Area sits right next to Mount Bross, offering convenient access in winter months.
Q: What Native American word refers to both the Mosquito Range and a peak neighboring Mount Bross?
Tenmile
A: Tenmile is the Native American origin of the Mosquito Range’s current name. It also refers to Tenmile Peak which lies near Mount Bross.
Q: brothers tested their luck at mining in Colorado before tackling Mount Bross together in 1874. What’s their last name?
Buel
A: William and Frank Buel tried mining locally in Georgetown before bagging the first recorded ascent of Mount Bross as a duo.
Q: What precious metal did Judge Bross and his partners get rich from after founding a namesake mine near Leadville?
Silver
A: William Bross struck silver at the Bross Mine in Leadville, amassing a considerable fortune before focusing on Breckenridge.
Fun trick questions about Mount Bross
Q: Mount Bross has this alphabet’s shape. Which letter is it?
A (triangle shape)
A: When viewed from a distance, Mount Bross resembles the shape of the letter “A” with its steep, triangular ridges.
Q: Two ghosts are said to haunt abandoned mines near Mount Bross. What might their names be?
Noah and Nathan Vose
A: Noah and Nathan Vose tragically died near or within old mines close to Mount Bross, leading to spooky ghost tales.
Q: Prospectors panned for gold using this tool near Mount Bross. It has a repetitive name. What is it?
Rocker box
A: A “rocker box” helped prospectors filter gold nuggets from sediment using water and repetitive rocking motions.
Q: When snow melts fully from Mount Bross, what season arrives for climbing the peak?
Summer
A: Mountaineers chiefly climb snow-free Mount Bross during the summer season when conditions are most favorable.
Q: Mount Bross belongs to this exclusive Colorado club. What’s its nickname starting with the number 14?
The 14ers
A: Mount Bross, summiting over 14,000 feet elevation, earns membership in Colorado’s elite “14ers” mountaineering club.
Riddles for young explorers
Q: Small creatures with fluffy tails and big ears live among rocks on Mount Bross. What are they?
Pikas
A: Pikas, super cute rodents resembling mini rabbits, inhabit the boulder fields dotting Mount Bross’s slopes.
Q: This red berry provides tasty snacks for bears on Mount Bross in late summer. What is it?
Wild raspberries
A: Wild raspberries ripen in late summer providing sweet treats for bears and other wildlife roaming Mount Bross forests.
Q: What green lizard blends in perfectly with rocks and boulders all over Mount Bross?
Horned lizard
A: Horned lizards camouflage seamlessly on Mount Bross thanks to their spikes and rocky shade of green.
Q: This bird of prey uses superb eyesight to spot little critters to eat while flying over Mount Bross. What is it?
Golden eagle
A: With incredible vision allowing them to spot prey from high up, golden eagles frequently glide over Mount Bross’s craggy landscape.
Q: What type of pine tree with scruffy branches grows near the tree line on Mount Bross?
Bristlecone pine
A: Bristlecone pines are specially adapted to survive harsh conditions and grow on Mount Bross near treeline.
Riddles for seasoned mountaineers
Q: Mountaineers use this pick-like tool to steady themselves while hiking up steep, icy slopes on Mount Bross. What is it?
Ice axe
A: An ice axe with a pointed head and shaft allows mountaineers to arrest and balance on slippery terrain.
Q: In early summer, streams fed by melting snow racing off Mount Bross swell with this icy mass. What is it?
Glacial runoff
A: Glacial runoff, water from melting mountain snow and ice, feeds rivers after exiting Mount Bross each early summer.
Q: To safely descend Mount Bross’s loose, rocky slopes, hikers must master this leg maneuver. What is it?
Plunge stepping
A: Plunge stepping, firm foot placements using legs to brake downward motion, provides important security on Mount Bross’s crumbling terrain.
Q: Mountaineers use this knot to attach themselves to each other on exposed, dangerous sections on Mount Bross. What’s its name?
Figure eight knot
A: A figure eight knot allows mountaineers to join together ropes for safety and support where extreme risks exist.
Q: At high altitudes on Mount Bross, melting snow sometimes refreezes at night forming this slick ice layer. What’s it called?
Sun cups
A: Sun cups, icy formations resembling hollows or cups, develop from melt-freeze cycles on the intense slopes of Mount Bross.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed exercising your brain with these 57 riddles about Mount Bross in Colorado. From geography and history to nature and mountaineering, these brain teasers cover a wide range of topics related to this spectacular 14,178-foot mountain. Whether you are a curious young explorer or seasoned peak bagger, keep your eyes peeled when you are out among the towering Mosquito Range peaks to see if you can spot any of the natural wonders and features mentioned in these riddles!
