Handies Peak Trip Report 08/20/2016

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Handies Peak - 14,058 feet
Date Posted	08/20/2016
Modified	08/21/2016
Date Climbed	08/08/2016
Author	Yikes

Handies via Boulder Gulch
Who: Team of three - me, myself and I Distance: 6.5 miles RT Planning on wrapping up the Winter 14ers this upcoming season, I want to have some familiarity with the routes. Especially considering that the winter routes are not always the well-worn summer trails. For Handies, the typical winter approach is via Boulder Gulch, and not via the summer routes of American Basin or Grizzly Gulch. The few Boulder Gulch trip reports mention an unclear start to the trail, especially when trying to locate it in the dark (which is the expected condition when starting the hike in winter). I thought I should test-drive the route in summer to make sure I won't be slowed down in winter with unclear direction. And I figured some people may want the gpx file... I drove down to Lake City on Sunday evening, thinking a few hours of sleep in the back of the truck at the trailhead was a little better than leaving the house at 3am. The familiar drive to Lake City passed by quickly and I made my way down to the Cataract Gulch trailhead. The road roughened up a bit for the remaining 2.5 miles to Boulder Gulch. A bit rocky and lots of waterbars, probably not something for a Suburu (but I could be wrong). The trail starts shortly after you drive across the creek (the only water crossing on the road up to that point). At the top of the short hill there is a decent camping/parking spot on the left. It was taken, so I drove another .2 miles to another larger parking area. I had a trouble finding a level spot, so spent my few hours of rest sliding downhill in the back of the X. The hike is pretty short, so I waited until sunrise before starting on the trail. I wanted to record the best route on the GPS and didn't want to walk around in circles in the dark. There is a small cairn (3 rocks) next to the road where the trail starts (half way up the hill from the creek to the parking spot), but it was difficult to find the trail in the small meadow. Once in the trees, several trails converge onto the primary trail. The trail is occasionally faint and passes through some tall willows, but in general is pretty obvious all the way up to the basin. The lower section of the creek has lots of cascades and waterfalls, so I'm not sure how easy it is to just "walk up the creek" in winter. The trail remains on the left side of the creek, although it may be tempting to walk the tundra on the less vegetated right side of the creek. Start of the Boulder Gulch "trail" (trail starts in the near aspen) Cascades in Boulder Gulch Looking back to Half Peak Start of the SE Ridge I decided to ascend the SE ridge and descend the S ridge, so I could determine which path would be easier in winter. I think I favor the grassier SE ridge with the short scramble, as the talus fields on the S ridge weren't as enjoyable. Looking across to the S Ridge (descent) There was one short scramble on crumbly rock with some cliffs, but it was only a few moves. If you really don't like scrambling, it seems like you can traverse a little lower on the left side and regain the ridge via a gully. Only scrambling section on this ridge Final ridge to Handies summit Looking into Grizzly Gulch Talus field coming off S Ridge There was a nice lake which would have been a good place to hang out, but the storm clouds were building and I wanted to get down to the truck before the rain (I didn't make it). Gentle basin At lake, looking back at Handies GoogleEarth Later for now Handies, see ya this winter! My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map... Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Handies via Boulder Gulch

Who: Team of three - me, myself and I
Distance: 6.5 miles RT

Planning on wrapping up the Winter 14ers this upcoming season, I want to have some familiarity with the routes. Especially considering that the winter routes are not always the well-worn summer trails. For Handies, the typical winter approach is via Boulder Gulch, and not via the summer routes of American Basin or Grizzly Gulch. The few Boulder Gulch trip reports mention an unclear start to the trail, especially when trying to locate it in the dark (which is the expected condition when starting the hike in winter). I thought I should test-drive the route in summer to make sure I won't be slowed down in winter with unclear direction. And I figured some people may want the gpx file...

I drove down to Lake City on Sunday evening, thinking a few hours of sleep in the back of the truck at the trailhead was a little better than leaving the house at 3am. The familiar drive to Lake City passed by quickly and I made my way down to the Cataract Gulch trailhead. The road roughened up a bit for the remaining 2.5 miles to Boulder Gulch. A bit rocky and lots of waterbars, probably not something for a Suburu (but I could be wrong). The trail starts shortly after you drive across the creek (the only water crossing on the road up to that point). At the top of the short hill there is a decent camping/parking spot on the left. It was taken, so I drove another .2 miles to another larger parking area. I had a trouble finding a level spot, so spent my few hours of rest sliding downhill in the back of the X.

The hike is pretty short, so I waited until sunrise before starting on the trail. I wanted to record the best route on the GPS and didn't want to walk around in circles in the dark. There is a small cairn (3 rocks) next to the road where the trail starts (half way up the hill from the creek to the parking spot), but it was difficult to find the trail in the small meadow. Once in the trees, several trails converge onto the primary trail. The trail is occasionally faint and passes through some tall willows, but in general is pretty obvious all the way up to the basin.

The lower section of the creek has lots of cascades and waterfalls, so I'm not sure how easy it is to just "walk up the creek" in winter. The trail remains on the left side of the creek, although it may be tempting to walk the tundra on the less vegetated right side of the creek.

Start of the Boulder Gulch "trail" (trail starts in the near aspen)

I decided to ascend the SE ridge and descend the S ridge, so I could determine which path would be easier in winter. I think I favor the grassier SE ridge with the short scramble, as the talus fields on the S ridge weren't as enjoyable.

There was one short scramble on crumbly rock with some cliffs, but it was only a few moves. If you really don't like scrambling, it seems like you can traverse a little lower on the left side and regain the ridge via a gully.

There was a nice lake which would have been a good place to hang out, but the storm clouds were building and I wanted to get down to the truck before the rain (I didn't make it).

Later for now Handies, see ya this winter!

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

jkirkwood6136

Winter
3/7/2017 8:34am

I was wondering if you have completed this in winter yet. A friend and I are headed there in a little over a week. We are using your GPX and where wondering if you had any further information. Thanks and hope to hear back.

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