Peak Condition Update | Handies Peak

Peak:	Handies Peak
Route:	Southwest Slopes
Range:	San Juan
Posted By:	SnowAlien
Date of Info:	4/29/2012
Date Posted:	4/30/2012

Details
Hiked and skied Handies from American Basin. The TH is open and drivable to Grizzly Gulch TH by Subaru and to American Basin TH by high clearance 4x4 (e.g. Xterra). Snow coverage on Handies is pretty thin (but plenty of snow in the basin itself so snowshoes would be a must for non-skiers). The "snow route" as described by Bill looks thin and rocky and as we discovered, has melted near the top. The east side of Handies also looks patchy and we glad we did not hike in from the Grizzly Gulch as we would be carrying skis for the most of the way. With some creativity, the standard route was skiable. Image 1 - Snow route Image 2 - near the summit Image 3 - Grizzly gulch Image 4 - American basin

Details

Hiked and skied Handies from American Basin. The TH is open and drivable to Grizzly Gulch TH by Subaru and to American Basin TH by high clearance 4x4 (e.g. Xterra).
Snow coverage on Handies is pretty thin (but plenty of snow in the basin itself so snowshoes would be a must for non-skiers). The "snow route" as described by Bill looks thin and rocky and as we discovered, has melted near the top. The east side of Handies also looks patchy and we glad we did not hike in from the Grizzly Gulch as we would be carrying skis for the most of the way. With some creativity, the standard route was skiable.
Image 1 - Snow route
Image 2 - near the summit
Image 3 - Grizzly gulch
Image 4 - American basin

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