Trip Suggestions for 10/3-10/7?

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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MrJohnnySpot
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Trip Suggestions for 10/3-10/7?

Post by MrJohnnySpot »

Hi all,

I'm taking a trip at the end of this week (hopefully, this weather may cancel it all) but am trying to figure out where my best bet is going to be to *try* and get some peaks in. I was looking at some in the San Juans, but with the snow recently everywhere I'm not sure if anything is going to be possible. Unfortunately, I'm also limited to 2WD roads so that muddles matters a bit. While I was looking at the San Juans, I live on the Front Range and am willing to travel wherever in the state.

Right now, I was looking at:
Sneffels
Redcloud/Sunshine
Uncompahgre
Handies

But, those all seem to have snow and looks like may get more right when I'd like to be climbing them (figures!).

Does anyone have any suggestions at this time? SJs or otherwise?
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bergsteigen
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Re: Trip Suggestions for 10/3-10/7?

Post by bergsteigen »

Sneffels - As long as the road is passable and you don't mind a possible scramble at the top of the Lav Col, this could work
Redcloud/Sunshine, Handies - The road may be your worst part. Otherwise these are doable
Uncompahgre - The road should be passable to the 2WD TH

Gaiters, microspikes and warm clothing will be useful. These are the easiest SJ's, the others will be much harder with snow.
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Mel McKinney
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Re: Trip Suggestions for 10/3-10/7?

Post by Mel McKinney »

Ditto everything that Bergstigen shared.

We drove the road to Sunshine/Redcloud/Handies earlier this year. I saw a Subaru Outback and a Honda Element at the Grizzly Gulch & Silver Creek trailheads. However, if the road is snowy I would not try it. Hike Handies from Grizzly Gulch if you get up there. Getting to Handies' American Basin would really be a challenge. I would not try it if you have low clearance 2WD, even when dry.
I would check the trailhead updates on this site. http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/trailheads1.php

I hope you get to hike these peaks. Fun hikes with amazing views. :-D
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Re: Trip Suggestions for 10/3-10/7?

Post by peter303 »

That big rain in Seattle is supposed to beceome a big snow in the Rockies on Thursday.
Might be the first Denver freeze Sat overnight.
Could stay north of us.
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Re: Trip Suggestions for 10/3-10/7?

Post by MrJohnnySpot »

Thanks all.

I'm going to head West tomorrow and hope that the Lake City area stays as it is forecasted right now, which is cold but not as much precip forecasted as pretty much everywhere else in the state.

Fingers Crossed!
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Re: Trip Suggestions for 10/3-10/7?

Post by SharonH »

I drove up to the Grizzly Gulch trailhead this past Sunday. The road was completely dry and passable. I attempted to go up Cinnamon Pass but the road became snowy and icy at the fork with American Basin.
As of Sunday, there was 6-8 inches of snow on the Handies trail above 12,000 feet.
I drove up the road to Yankee Boy Basin yesterday (Tuesday). The road was dry and passable. I did turn around before reaching the basin as there was one spot on the road I was not comfortable with in my Jeep Liberty (dip in road where a stream had eroded the side). I would usually not worry about the dip, but I was solo and did not want to get stuck without a passenger to help me out.
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Re: Trip Suggestions for 10/3-10/7?

Post by MrJohnnySpot »

SharonH wrote:I drove up to the Grizzly Gulch trailhead this past Sunday. The road was completely dry and passable. I attempted to go up Cinnamon Pass but the road became snowy and icy at the fork with American Basin.
As of Sunday, there was 6-8 inches of snow on the Handies trail above 12,000 feet.
I drove up the road to Yankee Boy Basin yesterday (Tuesday). The road was dry and passable. I did turn around before reaching the basin as there was one spot on the road I was not comfortable with in my Jeep Liberty (dip in road where a stream had eroded the side). I would usually not worry about the dip, but I was solo and did not want to get stuck without a passenger to help me out.
Thanks very much for the conditions report/beta. While it'll be pretty cold it looks like the incoming storm shouldn't hit that area much/at all. I'm stoked!
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