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#31 Handies Peak. Doing the Lake City 14ers this week and started with the easy one for Silver Creek Trailhead. Late fall start at 10:20 am to finish at 2:20 pm. So only took 4 hours even with a half hour on the summit and break on the way down. No breaks on the way up as rain clouds kept me motivated.
Last 3 miles of road to trailhead is pretty rough. I personally wouldn't take the new nice 2wd car up it.Avalanche runs
First view of Handies Peak. Lot so dead trees I guessing from pine beetles. They appear to have taken a large toll on trees in the area
Cross creek with Handies in front
Start to head right to gain the ridge following a trail the whole way.
Looking back down at trialhead and ominous clouds kept me alert and motivated.
Handies getting closer
Summit in view
Summit views. Looking back down at trailhead and Redcloud and Sunshine Peak can be seen on the right.
From the summit looking down at the American Basin trail
Going back down all the rain clouds came close but missed in the end.
Camp for the night.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I'm planning on hiking Handies this week. I was curious whether there's any parking just past the creek crossing? I've heard the last 1/4 mile is especially rough; so I thought if there was room to turn around and leave our vehicle after crossing the creek, we could walk the rest of the way to the trailhad.
This trailhead had no creek crossing while driving in. Maybe the American Basin trailhead does but the one I did it from in this report did not and I would say the last 3 miles are rougher and more narrow but still doable in any higher clearance vehicle. There were Honda Accords and Nissan Maxima at this trailhead.
Thanks for responding! I may change the trail we go on...
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