ways, from Grizzly Gulch and from American Basin, which route would you recommend?
Is one route considerably more scenic? considerably more difficult? I'll be going in early-mid Sept.
Both TH's seem doable with a 4WD Nissan.....
Thanks for any opinions you may have!
Handies: for those who have climbed it both
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mtnduck9
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
Grizzly Gulch is better all around in my opinion.
The Dalai Lama when asked what surprised him most about humanity:
“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
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traderaaron
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
If you could go up Grizzly Gulch and down American Basin that would be ideal, that's what I did last week and really enjoyed it for the views and wildflowers going that direction.
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madbuck
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
Agreed, agreed, I like up Grizzly, down American Basin.
There's some hatin' of walking on the roads any more than necessary on this site, but for my money, it's a pleasant walk back, and since you save the extra slow driving back and forth, the -net- time to walk the road isn't bad at all. I consider it a blessing to get out of the car as quickly as possible!
Otherwise, slight preference for Grizzly Gulch, nicer view of Handies, less crowded, more interesting route up. But American Basin is also strikingly beautiful with the wildflowers and cirque, it is nice to do both.
Have fun!
There's some hatin' of walking on the roads any more than necessary on this site, but for my money, it's a pleasant walk back, and since you save the extra slow driving back and forth, the -net- time to walk the road isn't bad at all. I consider it a blessing to get out of the car as quickly as possible!
Otherwise, slight preference for Grizzly Gulch, nicer view of Handies, less crowded, more interesting route up. But American Basin is also strikingly beautiful with the wildflowers and cirque, it is nice to do both.
Have fun!
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mtnduck9
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
Wow, it never even occured to me to do it that way. Any idea how far a walk it would be from the American Basin TH back to the Grizzly Gulch TH?
Would you expect there to be any wildflowers left in Sept??
Thanks much for the input you guys!!
Would you expect there to be any wildflowers left in Sept??
Thanks much for the input you guys!!
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kaiman
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
It's about .9 miles from the trail head in American Basin back down to the Cinnamon Pass Road and then about 4 miles down to the Grizzly Gulch/Silver Creek trail head for a total round-trip distance of about 11.25 miles +/- (4 + 2.25 + .9 + 4 = 11.15 miles) (a long day, but doable, especially since only the first 4 miles are up hill). Also, if you had someone with a second vehicle you could shorten it to 6.25 miles by parking another truck/SUV at the AB trail head.mtnduck9 wrote:Wow, it never even occured to me to do it that way. Any idea how far a walk it would be from the American Basin TH back to the Grizzly Gulch TH?
Would you expect there to be any wildflowers left in Sept??
Thanks much for the input you guys!!
Happy Trails!
kaiman
P.S. The wildflowers will be mostly gone by September... sorry!
"I want to keep the mountains clean of racism, religion and politics. In the mountains this should play no role."
- Joe Stettner
"I haven't climbed Everest, skied to the poles, or sailed single-handed around the world. The goals I set out to accomplish aren't easily measured or quantified by world records or "firsts." The reasons I climb, and the climbs I do, are about more than distance or altitude, they are about breaking barriers within myself."
- Andy Kirkpatrick
- Joe Stettner
"I haven't climbed Everest, skied to the poles, or sailed single-handed around the world. The goals I set out to accomplish aren't easily measured or quantified by world records or "firsts." The reasons I climb, and the climbs I do, are about more than distance or altitude, they are about breaking barriers within myself."
- Andy Kirkpatrick
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keystone4me
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
does anyone know how the standard route for the crestons is for dogs?
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highpilgrim
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
Don't feed the trolls...keystone4me wrote:does anyone know how the standard route for the crestons is for dogs?
I'm sure your Yorkshire terrier will be fine on either of the Crestone standard routes...
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
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auriel
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
Up from Grizzly, down into American Basin; I have never had a problem getting a ride back to Grizzly once I started walking down the road.
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paully
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Re: Handies: for those who have climbed it both
My wife and I made this climb last week (up Grizzly Gulch, down American Basin). Other than receiving some choice words from my wife during the slog back to Grizzly Gulch TH (didn't have a shuttle vehicle, didn't hitch a ride), this was a great choice. After we were back, my wife even admitted that it was a great way to climb the mountain. I thought that Grizzly Gulch was more scenic (certainly less populated) and had the better wildflower display overall. But toward the end of the descent of American Basin, we ran into some of the most impressive wildflower fields that I've ever seen, and by far the biggest field of Columbines I've ever seen. So my vote is to go up Grizzly Gulch, down American Basin. The positioning of the sun when doing it this way is also conducive to good picture taking.
