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My girlfriend (now wife) Leah and I were looking for some easier peaks in Colorado to hike over the weekend, and within reasonable driving distance from Albuquerque, NM. It turns out the drive was exceptionally long, and we didn't make it into the basin until 2:00am driving from Highway 285. We put up for the night and woke up quite late for this time of year (at 10:00 a.m.) given the lightning danger (we were later to learn the folly of our ways). The plan was to bag Redcloud and Sunshine that day. On the right is a view of the range surrounding Grizzly Gulch to the west. So after setting up our packs and hitting the trail, we were off to the races.
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The trail up to Redcloud's Northeast ridge is exceptionally easy to follow all the way to the summit. We were graced with incredible views of the San Juan Range's continuity off to the west once leaving treeline. Handies' peak is quite visible when looking back down into the basin towards the trailhead at this point. The San Juan Range is by far the most colorful, with red rock and green tundra contrasting each other in almost every direction you look (Leah on the left changing socks). After cresting the ridge, we saw a few marmots and many more dark clouds arriving from the southwest. We decided to go for the summit in hopes that the storm would bypass us. The trail separates in two different directions near the top of the ridge that meet up at the same point later.
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We were starting to get really concerned when we heard thunder that was quite loud, but plotted on. The ridge itself that leads to the summit is quite slippery, being scree and dirt. This trail has seen many a footstep before, contributing to the loose nature of the route. The route is loose, but not really that steep (it did make for a really quick descent). The final section of ridge eases after reaching the highest western point, leaving maybe 70 yards to the summit proper. We were in quite a hurry to get down off the ridge, leaving Sunshine Peak for another day (which actually turns out well because I have since refined my peak bagging standards so as not to count a ridge traverse as an ascent: 3,000'+ vertical or not climbed).
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Having summitted at 2:00, we were racing down to avoid getting struck by
lightning. Just as we got off the ridge back into the basin, bolts were
striking on the ridge and rain started to fall. We made it back in one piece
and drove into American Basin that afternoon. I've never seen so many
wildflowers in my life! The next morning I summited Handies Peak, but given the elevation of the trailhead, I don't count it as a real 'ascent' of Handies.
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