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| East Face   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 37.91310°N / 107.5039°W Route Type: Hiking, Mountaineering, Skiing Season: Spring Time Required: Most of a day Difficulty: Advanced Snow Climb, Advanced Ski Descent Grade: II
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| Page By: kalet Created/Edited: Oct 25, 2006 / May 8, 2007 Object ID: 238448 Hits: 708 Loading... Page Score: 87.03% - 3 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewHandies' East Face provides an enjoyable snowclimb and ski descent. It is best to attempt this route in mid to late spring as soon as Shelf Road opens. If you attempt the East Face prior to the road opening, add an additional 7 miles and 900' of elevation gain to the roundtrip distance and elevation gain and use a mounain bike if the road is mostly snow free.
Handies' East Face Route |
Getting ThereDrive south on CO 149 out of Lake City. Turn right (west) onto the Lake Fork/Cinammon Pass Road. At 13 miles, you'll reach Sherman Junction at 9,500'. Snow closure is at Sherman Junction. Go right onto Shelf Road (also Cinnamon Pass Road) 3.5 miles to the Grizzly and Silver Creek Trailhead at 10,400'. Shelf Road opens as early as early May.
Route DescriptionHead west, cross a bridge over Lake Fork of Gunnison River and continue up a pack trail on the north side of Grizzly Gulch Creek to timberline at 11,800'. Climb southwest into the upper right (north) side of the basin below the Handies/Whitecross ridge. Climb the east face to the summit. The slope angle approaches 45 degrees. Descend the east face or north ridge. If skiing, stay on the south (north-facing) side of Grizzly Gulch Creek to extend the legnth of the ski descent.
Handies' East Face Route |
Roundtrip Distance: 7 miles
Elevation Gain: 3648'Essential GearIce axe and crampons if uncomfortable on frozen snow.
External LinksBrian Kalet's Trip Report
Chris Davenport's Trip Report Guide BookDawson's Guide to Colorado Fourteeners Vol. 2: The Southern Peaks Images
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San Juan Range
