Handies Peak

Route: East Slopes
Posted On: 6/11/2016, By: Nelson
Info: Intermittent, unavoidable snow starts at 11,600. At about 12,000 it gets really nasty. I turned around at 12,900 when I started post holing with snowshoes on. All stream crossings are "interesting". 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 6/4/2016, By: dogballs
Info: Quick jaunt up Handies today. American Basin is full of snow. You can drive about 200yards past the creek crossing where you are stopped by the snow. Creek was about 8-9 inches deep. Snow was firm going up in the morning, but floatation was required coming down to prevent post-holing. Not a soul was out there today. Summit ridge from the saddle is pretty much snow free, but below is chalked full. Lots of ski options in the Basin if you want to run laps. Took me 2hr50min to summit and round trip was 4hr40min. Even had the pleasure of hearing some coyotes calling in the Basin and caught a glimpse of them by Sloan Lake. Lots of marmots as well, especially where you park. There is a large cornice of the summit that looks like its ready to fall any day know so don't walk on it. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 6/2/2016, By: Tim A
Info: Ascended the couloir on the west slopes of Handies this morning. Snow conditions almost perfect in the couloir. Most of the ascent was on great cramponing snow, with a few stretches of snow where I punched through to my knees. Started up from lower TH at 445am, base of couloir at 6, summit at 830. You'll want snowshoes in the basin: they were necessary even on my approach. Tried plunge-stepping down the couloir but the snow was still too firm, so ended up delicately cramponing down the first few hundred feet. Once I got onto softer snow, took off the pons and glissaded about 2K' in a few minutes. Once I returned to my snowshoe stash at the base of the coolie, immediately put them on, but it was nearly worthless. By 9am the snow down there was unsupportable, snowshoes or not. The entire snowpack was mashed potatoes, and postholed to my chest even with snowshoes. It got slightly better at the bottom of the basin where I tried to stay on an old track, but even still, lots of postholing on the exit. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 5/31/2016, By: freeinthehills
Info: Climbed Handies from American Basin. Lots of snow up there and everywhere right now. Summit riding potential from every aspect. The SW line won't last long - you mostly ride 15 foot wide cornice corridor down to the SW slopes. The lines to the west don't directly connect cleanly, however there are some intriguing options off the N. Ridge to the western gullies. The gem lines still lie to the east. The NE Chutes that connect from the ridge halfway down the East Face are still in. I recommend climbing from the East if you want to ride those. All in all riding potential is high in the Handies Group right now. Go get it. BTW Cinnamon Pass from Silverton is fucked up. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 5/21/2016, By: abreibart
Info: Parked a Honda Element at American Basin. Arrived around 7AM from CB and two vehicles were there. Winds were light to moderate in the parking lot and made the call to wear warm Kincos. Clear skies and warm. The whole time, I wore a soft shell OR hoody and when I transitioned to boots, I wore an ultralight OR goretex jacket to the summit and back. Skinned from the parking area and did hear a few whumps in the valley bottom. Snow was punchy. On the west side, put ski crampons and cruised until winds kept pushing my 115 lb body and 20 lb pack around. Winds were moderate (Snow, Weather, Avalanches USDA FS, 2004). On a traverse 300 feet above valley bottom, ipostholed a few times to my knees till hit the continuous snow line to the summit. Boot packed within 700 feet of summit ridge with no post holing. With ski crampons, skinned the last 700 feet to summit and saw Ned from CB and another person from Pitkin on ski down. Summit ridge: moderate winds transported snow, but no loading on north side. Skied edgable snow via climbing route back to car by 11AM. The west side had no avy debris. The north side (Cinammon Pass Road) was full of debris due to point release slides originating from all rock bands. At Grizzly Gulch T.H. met two guys from Durango who took this route and indicated they had corn (Time of meeting was around 3pm). On the drive: 3 elk herds, 2 moose, and 1 snowshoe hare. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 5/15/2016, By: reginaldpark
Info: Climbed and skiied West Slopes of Handies. Ascent took about 3 hours. Snow was continuous from summit to car. Parked right after creek crossing in American Basin about 3/4 of a mail from summer trailhead. 

Route: South slopes
Posted On: 3/3/2016, By: Summit Lounger
Info: Summited Handies via south slopes. 2 wd to Cataract TH. Snow supportive in am. Right side of Boulder cr. drying out. No loading above right side. One old wet slide (small one). No cornices on left side of cliffs up high. Best trail was in the creek bed. Went straight up snow tongue to summit. Scree surfing on descent. Some postholing on lower slopes during descent at 1pm. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 10/18/2015, By: sloppyj
Info: Small amount of snow, starting around 12,000‘, with about 2" of accumulation at the summit. Road is dry and stream near trailhead is hardly flowing. 

Route: East Slopes
Posted On: 9/14/2015, By: taboose395
Info: Drove to the trailhead over Cinnamon Pass Wednesday night. Road was in good condition and a breeze for my Ford Ranger. You do need 4WD and some clearance. Hiked Redcloud/Sunshine on Thursday and Handies from Grizzly Gulch on Friday. The trail conditions and weather could not have been better. I had at least 20 minutes alone on each peak. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 9/5/2015, By: WillRobnett
Info: Climbed Handies from Silver Crk/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead. Driving in, the Aspens were just starting to turn. Still mostly green. More fall colors showing here than near Telluride/Wilson Peak the day before. Snow free trails! 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 8/31/2015, By: ajlavigne
Info: Stream is running comfortably low on the 4wd road to upper TH - large rut from runoff is a bigger issue at this point. No snow visible on or around trail, although the higher peaks did get a dusting of hail/snow on the 25th - it was gone the next day. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 8/26/2015, By: Brimstone10
Info: I hiked this Friday 8.21.2015. I was able to drive to the upper TH in a Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland with no issues. It took me 1 hour 15 minutes to get to the summit from the upper TH, and 50 minutes to descend back to the TH. Trail is in good shape with no snow or issues. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 8/22/2015, By: Sunshineof1985
Info: This is my 27th fourteener summit this summer! I‘m goal is to climb them all in a summer. You can read more about this hike and others at Sunshineof1985.com! Enjoy! *Time it took: 4.5 hours with leisure time at the summit, a swim in the lake and photo op at a waterfall! *GEAR (to bring): GPS, extra socks, phone, SPOT Satellite Tracker, Map, Topo Map from 14ers.com, hiking boots with 2 pairs of socks on, long-sleeve, wind-guard/raincoat, light weight puffy coat, lightweight gloves, day pack with water sack, snacks. *Road Condition: Do not use Google Maps via the 14ers.com phone app! It takes you through Ouray where the Alpine Loop is only passable by 4WD! Go to Lake City! The road is rough with typical pot holes and pointy rocks, and I had to park where the directions from 14ers.com suggested. *Trail Condition: The trail practically starts above treeline, so you don‘t have to worry about bears on the trail (unless crazy bad luck). It‘s a very easy trail to navigate marked with cairns along the way. When you get near the lake, and the trail splits, take a left to continue up Handies. You‘ll see the switchbacks along the side of the mountain. The trail has a lot of scree, so make sure you have shoes with good grip. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 8/2/2015, By: freemanchuck
Info: Conditions couldn't have been better. Flowers are peaking, nothing to stop you. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 7/24/2015, By: craigprice52
Info: Handies still has several short snow fields, but no problems with or without trekking poles. Weekday hiking traffic has been steady, but not crowded. Go early for fewer hikers. Enjoy!