Short-sleeved t-shirts on top - perfect day from Grizzly Gulch.
eapikula - Sep 24, 2010 2:37 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2010
Late Afternoon Summit on Beautiful Sunday September 19th 2010
Wanted to tackle a 14er for the weekend, decided Handies was close and accessible. No snow or inclement weather, no wind, temps in the sixties+. When NOAA idnicates weather like this - don't feel discouraged about late starts. Started at 12:45 or thereabouts, summited about 3:30PM, back at Jeep @ 5:15PM. What took me 1.5 hours from lake fork area only took me 30 minutes back, was back at American Basin Parking area in about 1hr and 15 minutes. If you haven't traveled Alpine Loop before from Silverton, do be prepared with a high clearance 4X4 vehicle with skid plates + AT tires! I've taken my Grand Cherokee and Commander thru this area, no problems but if you don't have skid plates and AT tires you risk sidewall punctures and oil pan punctures. Info online is lacking coming from Silverton - my simple notes is 5.9 miles from Animas Forks, basicly up over the pass and down and right at botton of Cinnamon Pass is the turn to American Basin and the trail head.
Sarah Simon - Sep 19, 2010 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2010
Via American Basin
In Colorado, September can be summer, September can be winter, and...if we're lucky...September just acts like September. Warm, crisp, clear, sunny days...not too hot, not too cold. No snow, no thunderstorms. We slept until 7:30 AM, ate a big b'fast, left the Bed & Breakfast at 10:00 and didn't reach the trailhead 'til 11:00. I love this time of year...when it behaves like September.
Brad Snider - Aug 29, 2010 8:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2010
Sunrise!
Enjoyed watching the sunrise from Handies summit to end my 2010 trip to Colorado. Hiked in from American Basin.
Beautiful approach. The summit lived up to its reputation--amazing!
dakotaconcrete - Aug 8, 2010 12:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2010
Sultry
With Arien, Tom and Ben, we topped out from grizzly gulch trailhead. Nice approach made for a great advance with a summit finish that leaves you elevated for days afterward.
Brian C - Jul 28, 2010 7:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2010
Sunrise
Headed up early in time for sunrise from Grizzly Gulch. A bit of a long time in the dark but made for a great day!
This was the last peak in the area after climbing Uncompahgre/Wetterhorn and Redcloud/Sunshine the previous two days. It was a perfect day for climbing, sunny skies and no wind going up the normal route in 3 hours. I had the summit to myself the whole 30 minutes I was there. This one has the best views of the 5 local 14ers. Made it down in 1:10.
Meetup.com Fierce Planet hike. We climbed Uncompahgre the day before, then camped at Grizzly Gulch. This one was a lot tougher, but the weather was almost perfect, and the views are even better than Uncompahgre. The views of Uncompahgre and The Wetterhorn are amazing! We had planned to continue along the ridge and knock off a few unnamed 13ers, but it looked a little dodgy, so we returned the way we came. The next day, we would finish off the weekend by climbing Redcloud & Sunshine.
skorpeo - Jun 26, 2010 10:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2010
World Cup Day
I watched the US beat Algeria and then drove to American Basin. My noon start was the latest on any 14er. Absolutely no clouds at ALL. Two hours up.
Gorgeous views.
theREALCarpeDM - Apr 8, 2010 6:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2008
Beautiful hike!
One of - if not the - most beautiful 14er hike (from Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch).
metal4lyf - Feb 18, 2011 1:20 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2010
With Sunshine and RedcloudThis was a nice easy hike from American Basin. Surprised at all the snow in September.
JohnnyCO - Feb 7, 2011 7:48 pm
Beautiful Hike!Just a great all around hike/climb. Views were exceptional.
mattpayne11 - Feb 4, 2011 12:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2010
From American BasinAwesome father's day jaunt with the old man.
http://www.100summits.com/trip-reports/150-handies-and-whitecross-june-2010.html
centrifuge - Jan 13, 2011 12:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2009
American basinwith wild flowers everywhere
thatnissanguy - Dec 20, 2010 9:09 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2010
San Juan BackpackingDone along with 5 other 14ers during a week long backpacking trip in the San Juans. Did the standard route. Beautiful hike!
seano - Dec 17, 2010 2:14 pm
Grizzly GulchI've done it from American Basin, too. Fun quick hike.
rockymountaindiva - Oct 11, 2010 1:00 am Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2003
Beautiful fall dayShort-sleeved t-shirts on top - perfect day from Grizzly Gulch.
eapikula - Sep 24, 2010 2:37 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2010
Late Afternoon Summit on Beautiful Sunday September 19th 2010Wanted to tackle a 14er for the weekend, decided Handies was close and accessible. No snow or inclement weather, no wind, temps in the sixties+. When NOAA idnicates weather like this - don't feel discouraged about late starts. Started at 12:45 or thereabouts, summited about 3:30PM, back at Jeep @ 5:15PM. What took me 1.5 hours from lake fork area only took me 30 minutes back, was back at American Basin Parking area in about 1hr and 15 minutes. If you haven't traveled Alpine Loop before from Silverton, do be prepared with a high clearance 4X4 vehicle with skid plates + AT tires! I've taken my Grand Cherokee and Commander thru this area, no problems but if you don't have skid plates and AT tires you risk sidewall punctures and oil pan punctures. Info online is lacking coming from Silverton - my simple notes is 5.9 miles from Animas Forks, basicly up over the pass and down and right at botton of Cinnamon Pass is the turn to American Basin and the trail head.
Sarah Simon - Sep 19, 2010 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2010
Via American BasinIn Colorado, September can be summer, September can be winter, and...if we're lucky...September just acts like September. Warm, crisp, clear, sunny days...not too hot, not too cold. No snow, no thunderstorms. We slept until 7:30 AM, ate a big b'fast, left the Bed & Breakfast at 10:00 and didn't reach the trailhead 'til 11:00. I love this time of year...when it behaves like September.
Brad Snider - Aug 29, 2010 8:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2010
Sunrise!Enjoyed watching the sunrise from Handies summit to end my 2010 trip to Colorado. Hiked in from American Basin.
Vagabond Manifesto - Aug 26, 2010 4:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2010
Grizzly GulchBeautiful approach. The summit lived up to its reputation--amazing!
dakotaconcrete - Aug 8, 2010 12:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2010
SultryWith Arien, Tom and Ben, we topped out from grizzly gulch trailhead. Nice approach made for a great advance with a summit finish that leaves you elevated for days afterward.
Brian C - Jul 28, 2010 7:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2010
SunriseHeaded up early in time for sunrise from Grizzly Gulch. A bit of a long time in the dark but made for a great day!
pacojgarza - Jul 28, 2010 12:18 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2010
Nice hikeThis was the last peak in the area after climbing Uncompahgre/Wetterhorn and Redcloud/Sunshine the previous two days. It was a perfect day for climbing, sunny skies and no wind going up the normal route in 3 hours. I had the summit to myself the whole 30 minutes I was there. This one has the best views of the 5 local 14ers. Made it down in 1:10.
belexes - Jul 6, 2010 2:48 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2010
Grizzly GulchMeetup.com Fierce Planet hike. We climbed Uncompahgre the day before, then camped at Grizzly Gulch. This one was a lot tougher, but the weather was almost perfect, and the views are even better than Uncompahgre. The views of Uncompahgre and The Wetterhorn are amazing! We had planned to continue along the ridge and knock off a few unnamed 13ers, but it looked a little dodgy, so we returned the way we came. The next day, we would finish off the weekend by climbing Redcloud & Sunshine.
skorpeo - Jun 26, 2010 10:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2010
World Cup DayI watched the US beat Algeria and then drove to American Basin. My noon start was the latest on any 14er. Absolutely no clouds at ALL. Two hours up.
Gorgeous views.
theREALCarpeDM - Apr 8, 2010 6:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2008
Beautiful hike!One of - if not the - most beautiful 14er hike (from Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch).
Misa - Feb 24, 2010 5:50 pm
great daywith my mom and our dog.
bryangast - Jan 7, 2010 10:03 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 1992
An early summitLots of wild flowers.
Darren9 - Nov 7, 2009 12:16 am
Wilderness PursuitsMy first time guiding a group in the mountains...a great trail and a great day.