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A couple of friends were in Lake City this weekend to attempt Redcloud/Sunshine and Handies. I wanted to finish the Lake City group, so Uncompahgre was my Saturday, followed by Handies, with Dan (JudgeK) and Debbie on Sunday.
OK, so my partners are from Missouri. I have hiked with Dan before, and know not to trash talk, but what are they putting in the water over there, because I want some. Debbie did her 1st and 2nd 14ers yesterday with Sunshine and Redcloud, and she (and Dan) were kicking my butt all the way up and down Handies.
We were being evicted from our hotel at 10am, and my wife would be stuck homeless without a car and with our dog, so we were interested in an early start and a quick hike.
We left the hotel at about 3:50am and got to the upper trailhead of American Basin at about 5:20am. It is a long way up there.
We started walking, and quickly got over our soreness from the day before. We got about all the way to Sloan Lake before we could even see a bit of light.
We scurried across the talus and quickly made it to the saddle.
Not even daybreak yet, the specks are snow
Near the summit, looking southwest. Frosty rocks, clouds rolling in, and good ole Mr. Sun
Back toward the saddle, and proof that I was ahead of these two once during the hike. Very windy and spitting snow at this point
Summit! Dan's 49th and Debbie's 3rd.
At this point, at about 7:20am we all started doing the math and the prospect of a warm shower before the 10am checkout time were dancing in our heads, so we departed quickly.
The south face of Handies, below the shoulder and above the talus traverse, is perfect for jogging down, even for a slow guy like me. Dan and Debbie were recognized by a group from the previous day. Those 4 though the two were youngsters, they were moving so fast on Redcloud.
After a brief stop at Sloan Lake, we were back at the car at about 8:30, piled in and made it back to Lake City at 9:45, in time for the shower before the long drive back to Denver.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Thanks for your report. I climbed Handies on the same route starting at 6:45 a.m. on 9/21/09. There was more snow and ice than I saw in your pictures (it snowed about an inch Sunday night) and it was very cold. I saw your names on the register: you were the only ones to climb on 9/20 and I was the only fool to try it on 9/21! = )
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