7/10/2020 Route: Southwest Slopes Posted On: 7/11/2020, By: markschneller Info: My youngest son and I drove the Silverton route in and the Lake City route out. The Lake City route is easier and takes about the same time. If you do not have a high-clearance 4WD then you may be able to rent one and save beating your vehicle. Like other reports, tire location is key on this. We had discussed bivying at the summit but decided to camp at the nice campsites by the trailhead stream :) We did the hike on a Friday, started before 4 AM, and were treated to a nice sunrise. No snow on the trail other than a really small patch a little above the lake. Don't need any snow/ice stuff for this patch. Flowers are going off and now is the season to go! The last couple hundred yards is a bit steep for hiking on dirt and pebbles but a good pair of hiking poles helps alleviate much of this. Going down this stretch is tougher than up, unless you enjoy the chance of your feet slipping out and bouncing down & up with your butt... Between 2.5 and 3 miles up the 'easy' trail (hey, it's a 14'er, which still demands a bit of prep and decent health). Only needed to bring half of the water I brought up Mt Massive a couple of weeks earlier (looped the SW and SE trails on Mt Massive). Take your time and enjoy this one! Kudos to the young couple we met, backpacking with a newborn on the awesomest-looking baby jumper (down suit all around except for the face). |
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6/25/2020 Route: Southwest Slopes Posted On: 6/26/2020, By: Ugaboo4 Info: This is one of the most gorgeous hikes we have ever done. We were able to easily get to the top of the trailhead with our Jeep Rubicon. It does take about 1.5 hours to get to from Lake City. There is still some fresh snow on the ground through out the hike but very well packed down and did not in anyway need to use our crampons or ice ax. Guessing it will all melt in 1-2 weeks. Heads up- when you are about 1.25 miles into the hike from the trailhead, the trail is completely covered in snow and it is easy to lose. We noticed a very well travelled path that veered off to the right- DO NOT go that way. Most people that we talked to all have made the same mistake! We went off the trail 0.5 mi before we noticed that we are not going the right way. Make sure to stay left and go around the snow banks and you will pick up the rest of the trail without any problems. Summer conditions otherwise. Tons of beautiful wild flowers! |
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6/20/2020 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/20/2020, By: Unknown Info: Mostly summer conditions throughout. Two short snow crossings near 13,000' that will likely be melted out in a week or so. There is still a lot of snow on the upper slopes just below the ridge, but there is a path through it that avoids the snow all together. Brought gaiters and microspikes but never used them. Hiking poles were useful for descending the steep slope just below the summit. This was a beautiful hike and only saw 5 other hikers on this route all day. |
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6/20/2020 Route: Southwest Slopes Posted On: 6/21/2020, By: kmf61014 Info: Mainly summer conditions. There were a series of snow fields between 12,200' and 12,700 feet that caused us (and a few other parties that I noticed) to lose the trail briefly, but we just kept heading southeast and eventually ran back into it. Most people on the trail yesterday weren't using any extra traction; I put my spikes on briefly for 2-3 snow crossings above 13,000' just because I felt more comfortable that way. |
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6/14/2020 Route: Southwest Slopes Posted On: 6/15/2020, By: Rcole Info: There are still plenty of snow fields to cross on and off route, but most of them are small and post-holing wasn't a huge issue, even in the late afternoon. Deviations from the established trail are necessary. Once close to the lake, the trail disappears under snow for long stretches. We couldn't even follow it visually, so we just scampered up the col through the web of mini trails. Once on the south slope of the peak proper, the trail is snow free. At the peak, only cornices remain and are no impediment. |
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6/11/2020 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/12/2020, By: Thevirtualsherpa Info: Trail is basically dry until the upper slopes (photo 6) where you do still have snow. Personally I used spikes and an axe and felt sufficient but you could get away with spikes and hiking poles if the snow is soft enough. Once on the ridge, dry to the summit. Much prefer this approach vs the standard American Basin Trail. Gear needed: Trail runners or boots Mountain axe or hiking poles Spikes |
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6/8/2020 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/8/2020, By: DrSluice Info: there are a few snow crossings still but many can be avoided. Definitely bring an ice axe but snowshoes are unnecessary. I gained the northern ridge early and avoided all the steeper snow on the way up, glissaded on the way down. that same ridge is clear of snow up to Whitecross (13er), easy bonus summit that only added an hour to my outing. |
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6/4/2020 Route: Standard > Couloir Posted On: 6/4/2020, By: Unknown Info: Creek crossing was very high yesterday evening, but half the depth this morning. Parked 1/4 mile prior to creek crossing, (there is one minor prior) and booted up to the basin. Snow drift right after the crossing nobody has tried to go through yet, there are also signs posted after creek crossing saying no vehicles? Even though the road goes for another 1/2 mile. Snow was consistent on this route, started early and trenched to a small couloir, took that straight up about .2 mile from summit. 4 hours RT, used crampons, poles. Could've used snowshoes coming back |
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5/29/2020 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 5/31/2020, By: ultimategully Info: Road up to Grizzly is clear, but I wouldn't call it a cakewalk, lots of slide debris still littering the road, might be tough in a passenger car. Trail was good all the way to about 12k. You will encounter several significant snowfields up to that point, and then it's a VERY snowy hike to the summit with difficult and potentially dangerous (lots of loose sloppy and deep snow fields) post-holing from 12k to the top if you find yourself up there after 8am. |
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5/18/2020 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 5/19/2020, By: hogantheepic Info: Was going to attempt Handies today (May 19, 2020) after summiting Redcloud and Sunshine on the 18th, but due to the amount of post-holing that was done on the ascent and descent of Redcloud/Sunshine, due to the amount of snow that could be seen sitting up on the East route of Handies, and due to the fact that we didn't have flotation or proper winter equipment with us, we bailed on this attempt and drove home. It is doable with snowshoes, microspikes/crampons, and an ice axe. In the picture, you can see how much snow is sitting on top of the peak (it's the tall one on the left). This picture was take from on top of Sunshine Peak. |
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2/29/2020 Route: Southeast Ridge Posted On: 2/29/2020, By: supranihilest Info: I re-established an old trench (thanks blazintoes!). Depending on how much snow tomorrow's storm brings parts of mine may be visible after as I was sinking anywhere from a few inches to knee deep the entire way. The road section is about 2.5 miles long and then cuts into the trees. From this point until the scramble is all avalanche terrain. I ascended climber's right side of the Boulder Gulch drainage then crossed to the left and finally just stuck to the creek bed itself. Lots of loaded slopes but all stable - that is sure to change. Once in the flats above the drainage the snow is plentiful and deep but still stable. I wore snowshoes from the car all the way to the scramble then switched to spikes which stayed on til the summit. The rock on the scramble is stupid rotten but the Class 3 section is short. There are some massive cornices, stay far away from them - I was about 10 feet from the edge of one and put a leg through it. Not sure what was below, potentially a sheer drop off. I wore snowshoes for the descent past the scramble and used my axe as a fourth point of contact on the slick snow, but never needed it to arrest. Flotation is mandatory, traction is optional, and an axe is probably a good idea. I highly recommend a trekking pole for stability on the wet snow in the drainage. |
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11/17/2019 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 11/17/2019, By: Klad24 Info: Beautiful day on Handies' east slopes today. Warm, sunny, and springlike. Nobody on the trail or at the trailhead and the last entry in the trail register was over three weeks ago. Snow coverage through treeline ranged from dry to a couple inches packed. Despite the apparent lack of use there was still decent bootpack through the trees. Above treeline, the gulch is holding a bit more snow, but there are still plenty of options to walk around any deep sections. Only place where I felt like my gaiters earned their keep was climbing up to the north ridge. Once on the ridge and to the summit, it was mainly dry or easily avoidable snow. Didn't use my axe or spikes, though the spikes could have been helpful at times especially on the descent. Leave the snowshoes at home. |
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11/9/2019 Route: Southwest Slopes Posted On: 11/9/2019, By: WildWanderer Info: I didn't summit today (I was there for a 13er) but made it to the basin before leaving the trail. No one but a Moose has been there since the last snow. I made a posthole trench to treeline and then veered off the path. The snow varies from non existent to 4 foot drifts. It's sugary and snowshoes don't help much. Sunshine and Redcloud look almost dry: Handies is holding the snow. |
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10/12/2019 Route: Southwest Slopes Posted On: 10/14/2019, By: wintersage Info: Summer conditions all the way up, trail is completely dry. |
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10/5/2019 Route: Southwest Slopes Posted On: 10/8/2019, By: bjbatchelor Info: Still summer conditions all the way to the Summit. We made it to just across the stream in American Basin in a stock Outback. The fall colors were amazing driving in from Lake City & Slumgullion Pass. |
