Handies Peak Trip Report 09/27/2015

Peak(s):	Handies Peak - 14,058 feet Sunshine Peak - 14,004 feet Redcloud Peak - 14,037 feet
Date Posted:	09/27/2015
Modified:	10/08/2015
Date Climbed:	09/26/2015
Author:	xrcdrvr

3 Peaks 1 day including decent Redcloud NW Face
Well, we set out to hike the Redcloud to Sunshine route described here on 14ers.com and then descend the Redcloud Northwest Face. After that, we then planned to head over to Handies (standard route) due to late season and no chance of a storm today. 15 miles and 7,300 ft of gain later we succeeded. I just wanted to add a note about descending the Northwest Face coming down Sunshine. We went this way to cut 2 miles off of our route and save us having to re-summit Redcloud knowing we wanted to get up Handies in the same day. Just a quick note about the "gully". Other reports say (as you are coming down) to look for the upside down white V and descend on the right side (again this is descending from above). This worked like a champ for us. The gully is steep but I did not feel in danger. It is important to go down through one at a time and then clear out of the way and yell up to the next hiker that they can begin their descent. We were a group of 4: myself, my hiking partner, and two other hikers that we didn't know. Everyone above knocks a lot of dirt and loose rock down the gully as they descend and the only danger in coming down, to me, was the person above me. You can find good footing to get down the gully but it is a little un-nerving to hear loose debris coming down from above. We just went one at a time and yelled up, and had no issue with the gully. I would only say there is about 100 ft of descent that you just need to be careful. I also just went down in a seated position such that I didn't go sliding but my partner pretty much walked down carefully watching his foot placement. In hind sight though, the talus field does sap a lot of energy and time out of you on this route and in hind sight we wondered if we really helped ourselves? BUT, we didn't have to go back up 500 ft to get back on Redcloud,so it's debatable. Otherwise the hikes were exactly as 14ers.com describes. Also, hardly any snow on the routes and it was a beautiful day to hike.

3 Peaks 1 day including decent Redcloud NW Face

Well, we set out to hike the Redcloud to Sunshine route described here on 14ers.com and then descend the Redcloud Northwest Face. After that, we then planned to head over to Handies (standard route) due to late season and no chance of a storm today. 15 miles and 7,300 ft of gain later we succeeded. I just wanted to add a note about descending the Northwest Face coming down Sunshine. We went this way to cut 2 miles off of our route and save us having to re-summit Redcloud knowing we wanted to get up Handies in the same day. Just a quick note about the "gully". Other reports say (as you are coming down) to look for the upside down white V and descend on the right side (again this is descending from above). This worked like a champ for us. The gully is steep but I did not feel in danger. It is important to go down through one at a time and then clear out of the way and yell up to the next hiker that they can begin their descent. We were a group of 4: myself, my hiking partner, and two other hikers that we didn't know. Everyone above knocks a lot of dirt and loose rock down the gully as they descend and the only danger in coming down, to me, was the person above me. You can find good footing to get down the gully but it is a little un-nerving to hear loose debris coming down from above. We just went one at a time and yelled up, and had no issue with the gully. I would only say there is about 100 ft of descent that you just need to be careful. I also just went down in a seated position such that I didn't go sliding but my partner pretty much walked down carefully watching his foot placement. In hind sight though, the talus field does sap a lot of energy and time out of you on this route and in hind sight we wondered if we really helped ourselves? BUT, we didn't have to go back up 500 ft to get back on Redcloud,so it's debatable. Otherwise the hikes were exactly as 14ers.com describes. Also, hardly any snow on the routes and it was a beautiful day to hike.

Comments or Questions

mcquentin	Sunshine Descent 10/3/2015 9:27pm Descending Sunshine would have saved you the effort and time of going back across the traverse to Redcloud. Why was this not an option for you? Did you at least consider it?
mcquentin	Handies 10/3/2015 9:32pm I did Handies after Redcloud and Sunshine too. It’s a lot to do in one day. Congratulations! I loved the gently meandering trail up Handies. I waited before ascending Handies so I could be on the summit at sundown. You? Pretty awesome if you did!!!
xrcdrvr	Descended Sunshine 10/8/2015 10:22pm Hey, we descended Sunshine. My comment was about do you save that much time with the time you lose hiking across all that talus. I just noticed I did say coming down Redcloud and I meant Sunshine. Congrats to you as well on getting all three.
Trotter	question 7/8/2016 4:19pm I might be doing this combo this next week, Would you think it would be better to do it in reverse? Hike up Sunshine NW ridge, then come down the Redcloud NE ridge? It would mean ascending the scree, instead of descending it. Do you see any problems with that plan?
jagorzynski	Thanks! 7/27/2016 9:08am I am planning on doing these same 3 on 7/29/16 and I am glad I found your report. I considered doing it the way you did, but I think I am going to opt for going back over Redcloud.

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