Sunshine's east ridge is often climbed in Spring when the road is not open to the standard, Silver Creek trailhead. It requires nearly as much elevation gain as the standard Redcloud+Sunshine combination route and the first 2,500' of elevation is on a steep, rugged slope.
Near the entrance to the Mill Creek campground (
1), locate the start of the trail at a green utility box, approx. 50 yards up the road and on the north side -
2. After a short distance, the trail turns east and traverses below some rock outcroppings before turning west and ascending broad ledges -
3. Follow trail segments and/or cairns to reach the end of a ledge, before a gully -
4. Turn right here and continue north up steep, forested terrain (
5) and a couple of talus fields (
6 and
7) to reach easier terrain, near 11,600'. Continue northwest to reach tree line, near 12,000' -
8.
Gain the crest of the east ridge and turn left for your first view of the summit -
9 and
10. Hike west along the ridge to reach a flat spot at 12,500' -
11. Continue west/northeast and ascend a large ridge bump (
12,
13 and
14 to reach 13,300' on the narrowing ridge -
15. Follow the Class 2 ridge (
16 and
17) to a small, 13,600-foot saddle, below the final pitch -
18. Ascend the final 400' by staying on or right of the ridge crest (
19,
20 and
21) to reach Sunshine's summit -
22 and
23.