Dogs on NW Face route of Sunshine Peak?

Dogs, dogs and even some cats
Forum rules
  • This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
  • Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
  • Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
  • Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
Post Reply
gergs22
Posts: 1
Joined: 8/20/2018
14ers: 50 
13ers: 17
Trip Reports (0)
 

Dogs on NW Face route of Sunshine Peak?

Post by gergs22 »

I'm going to be attempting the Handies group in the next several days, and bringing my dogs, one 6yo WPG and a 1yo cattle dog. Attempting both Redcloud and Sunshine together, but trying to decide if I should make it a loop either ascending/descending the NW face of Sunshine, or do the out and back suggested by many of summiting Redcloud first, then go over the ridge to Sunshine and retrace my steps for the dogs' sakes.

I'm looking for trip report beta on if others have taken their dogs on this as a loop and what their experience has been based on the owner's and their dogs' comfort and skill levels. For context, my 6yo dog is a well-seasoned hiking dog and has summited over 25 14ers, including a few class 3 peaks and been fine (Crestone Peak, Snowmass). Both dogs have done the Harvard-Columbia traverse, so I'd say they are competent hiking dogs, but I do not want to push them into a situation that might be uncomfortable based on how loose/unstable the rock is. Thanks for your suggestions.
User avatar
yaktoleft13
Posts: 426
Joined: 4/17/2017
14ers: 58  15 
13ers: 262 22
Trip Reports (21)
 

Re: Dogs on NW Face route of Sunshine Peak?

Post by yaktoleft13 »

Your dogs should do great! I took my at the time 2 year old Brittany on the nw face and he had no issues. He wore booties to save his paws, but whatever you choose on that front is fine. Very doggable route!
bigredmachine
Posts: 388
Joined: 7/30/2012
14ers: 58 
13ers: 34
Trip Reports (1)
 

Re: Dogs on NW Face route of Sunshine Peak?

Post by bigredmachine »

I might suggest skip the nw face and follow the ridge down and then up sundog, then descend sundog back to the trail. If I recall the elevation gain to summit sundog was very minimal. I did this loop with my 85lb boxer and had issues at all.
Post Reply