Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
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Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
For a new climber who takes a little while to get acclimated which peak is the best to start on between these two? I heard that although Umcomahgre is a longer hike to get there it's a little more of a gentle climb and that the views along the way are great. I don't know a lot about Red Cloud other than it will be in the general area of where I'm staying.
- highpilgrim
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
Unc is a pleasant hike throughout. Wonderful grassy basin, only one little talus/rocky field to cross near the summit plateau. And as a bonus: awesome view of a future more challenging peak in Wetterhorn.
A great hike, all around. Red Cloud nice but a distant second.
A great hike, all around. Red Cloud nice but a distant second.
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
- HikerGuy
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
Uncompahgre all the way, one of the prettiest 14ers IMO. This assumes your vehicle can get to the trailhead. If not, Redcloud might be better.
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
I will be the contrarian and say Red Cloud. If you get to the top and don't feel too bad, you can always head on over the Sunshine; it's not too far away.
You can climb them both from your tent at the Mill Creek campground if that makes things easier, although I will say that is a TOUGH trail that hits you almost immediately.
Uncompahgre is a great mountain, but to me it was tougher. Probably because I was climbing it the same day as Wetterhorn. Climbing those 2 in one day is a much taller order.
Sean Nunn
You can climb them both from your tent at the Mill Creek campground if that makes things easier, although I will say that is a TOUGH trail that hits you almost immediately.
Uncompahgre is a great mountain, but to me it was tougher. Probably because I was climbing it the same day as Wetterhorn. Climbing those 2 in one day is a much taller order.
Sean Nunn
"Thy righteousness is like the great mountains." --Psalms 36:6
- mountainrev
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
I agree about Uncompahgre being a prettier and more fun climb than Redcloud (and Sunshine). But the biggest factor in your decision will be your vehicle. If you want to park at or near the Uncompahgre trailhead, you'll need a high-clearance 4x4. You can get to the Red Cloud trailhead with a normal passenger vehicle.
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
It depends on when you're coming and whether or not you have a 4wd vehicle. If the Nellie Creek road is open and you have 4wd, then Uncompahgre is easier. If not, then Redcloud is easier by a wide margin. But the easiest 14er in the area for a person who's just getting acclimated would be Handies from American Basin
Every village has at least one idiot. Successful villages choose someone else to be their leader.
- strayster2
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
Uncompahgre was a top 5 hike for me in terms of beauty and fun. I did it from the 2WD parking on the Henson Creek Rd and I didn't feel like the Nellie Creek Rd added too much effort (though you should take this with a grain of salt since I loooooove hikes from 2WD parking).
Redcloud/Sunshine is nice (great views of Handies on the way down) but in retrospect they feel more like check marks than hikes I actually enjoyed.
Redcloud/Sunshine is nice (great views of Handies on the way down) but in retrospect they feel more like check marks than hikes I actually enjoyed.
- disentangled
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
Funny... I very much like hikes from the 2WD TH as well. Weirdos.strayster2 wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 11:33 am Uncompahgre was a top 5 hike for me in terms of beauty and fun. I did it from the 2WD parking on the Henson Creek Rd and I didn't feel like the Nellie Creek Rd added too much effort (though you should take this with a grain of salt since I loooooove hikes from 2WD parking).
- strayster2
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- disentangled
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
noted.strayster2 wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 11:55 amI see you've yet to do Antero. That's an unsung 2WD TH classic. Highly recommend
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
It most certainly is not unsung. I see more complaining on here about hikes from that 2WD TH than any other.
- disentangled
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Re: Uncompahgre or Red Cloud?
hahaha.... complainers suck (she says).mtn_hound wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 1:25 pmIt most certainly is not unsung. I see more complaining on here about hikes from that 2WD TH than any other.shelly+ wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 12:45 pmnoted.strayster2 wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 11:55 am
I see you've yet to do Antero. That's an unsung 2WD TH classic. Highly recommend