JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2003
Sunshine Peak
From Redcloud
Storms starting to roll in. Not much Sunshine.
MMclimbhigh - Sep 8, 2022 6:34 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2022
Redcloud/Sunshine
Standard Route. 7.5 hrs RT
BKiser90 - Jun 5, 2022 7:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2022
With Redcloud
Beautiful clear June morning for a hike of Redcloud and Sunshine. Started from Silver Creek TH around 5:30 am. Perfect conditions. Only a couple of small snow drifts over the trail. Scarily low snow for this time of year in the San Juans. Returned via Redcloud.
katelyngeselle - Aug 29, 2021 1:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2021
Combo w/ Redcloud
As long as the weather still looks good, go for Sunshine after Redcloud. Straightforward ridge-walk trail from peak to peak. Took us about 50 minutes each direction. Strongly recommend taking the same trail back over Redcloud and down the traditional trail to hike out. On top of sunshine we met some people who came up the "alternate" trail and popped up on the saddle between Redcloud and Sunshine. They said it took much longer and was harder than the typical trail even though it seemed like a "short cut."
wyatt_meyers - Aug 24, 2021 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2021
Definitely makes red cloud a harder hike
Standard route was faster and definitely the way to go. Passed others that started way earlier that went the other way. Great views of the San Juans!
Hiked Redcloud and Sunshine via the standard route on day 2 of our mega road trip. Very smoky day made it difficult to breath and see more than a couple of miles. Camped at Mill Creek outside Lake City.
BradBartick - Jul 3, 2020 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2020
With Redcloud
No Sunshine, though, if you do the descent off Sunshine. Do your homework. If you are with your wife, only descend Sunshine if your goal is divorce.
habaceeba - May 20, 2019 7:16 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2018
Sunshine
After Redcloud. Descended west slope and down a steep, loose gully in the north facing headwall of South Fork Silver Creek. There are 4 or so to choose from. More than one is passable, but be careful. It beats going back up and over Redcloud.
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 12:22 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2016
Traversed from Redcloud
With 14ers.com fall gathering; family and dogs and I traversed from Redcloud, perfect day
Four hours and twenty six minutes from the bridge by the campground to the summit. I absolutely would NOT recommend this trail for the descent sans snow unless you have climbing poles as it is very steep (few switchbacks) and occasionally covered in round gravel and pinecones making for treacherous footing. The area above treeline on the grass was not cairned (use your best judgement) but the talus section was excellent. I walked over to Redcloud next.
ericd - Aug 18, 2018 11:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2018
#42, mind the weather
Sunshine Peak's days as a 14er are limited. 14,001' and propped up by a stone cairn, erosion will eventually reclassify it. A 1.3 mile scenic ridge-line traverse with what started out as rain turning into something worse. Equipped for the slow progress in the clouds, Redcloud offered a retraceable 500' steady ascent preferable to wet steep scree in the saddle.
Wheelbarrow - Feb 6, 2018 12:15 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2017
#33
Highly recommend going up the Northwest Face and down the standard route via Redcloud. Did Handies via American Basin after for a very satisfying day in the mountains :)
Pete Castricone - Jul 2, 2017 10:57 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2017
Via Redcloud
Just under 2 hours out and back from Redcloud.
MissH - May 30, 2017 3:52 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2017
Lotsa snow
Climbed Redcloud from Grizzly Gulch/Silver Creek via north face. Great snow climb while in the shade. Bagged Sunshine via the ridge from Redcloud. Aptly named as the snow warmed up under the intense sunshine. Postholing was a fair price to pay for the fun glissades.
I walked the ridge from Redcloud with Kate, who was from Gunnison. We chatted on the summit of Sunshine for a bit since the wind had died down. The view down the southwest slope was amazing. I left the summit at 2:50 and reached Redcloud peak summit at 3:40. I can take briskly to catch up to the others and met them half way down the trail. We ran into Wayne about a mile up from the bottom of the trail - no luck with the tire repair. We returned to the TH at 6 PM.
jeffrawn - Sep 5, 2016 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2016
Cold, Wet August Double
Hike through the basin was nice. Wind, clouds and rain picked up on the switchbacks. Didn't even stop for a photo on Redcloud; just kept walking out towards Sunshine. But there were only clouds and wind, getting colder by the minute. Visibility at both summits only 40'. Sleet (horizontal, but fortunately at our backs) started on return to Redcloud. Soaked through, I was glad not to get hypothermic. Sun finally peaked out last 30 minutes of hike!
hgrapid - Jul 24, 2023 5:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2023
Sundog - Sunshine - RedcloudDid the loop starting with Sundog
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2003
Sunshine PeakFrom Redcloud
Storms starting to roll in. Not much Sunshine.
MMclimbhigh - Sep 8, 2022 6:34 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2022
Redcloud/SunshineStandard Route. 7.5 hrs RT
BKiser90 - Jun 5, 2022 7:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2022
With RedcloudBeautiful clear June morning for a hike of Redcloud and Sunshine. Started from Silver Creek TH around 5:30 am. Perfect conditions. Only a couple of small snow drifts over the trail. Scarily low snow for this time of year in the San Juans. Returned via Redcloud.
katelyngeselle - Aug 29, 2021 1:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2021
Combo w/ RedcloudAs long as the weather still looks good, go for Sunshine after Redcloud. Straightforward ridge-walk trail from peak to peak. Took us about 50 minutes each direction. Strongly recommend taking the same trail back over Redcloud and down the traditional trail to hike out. On top of sunshine we met some people who came up the "alternate" trail and popped up on the saddle between Redcloud and Sunshine. They said it took much longer and was harder than the typical trail even though it seemed like a "short cut."
wyatt_meyers - Aug 24, 2021 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2021
Definitely makes red cloud a harder hikeStandard route was faster and definitely the way to go. Passed others that started way earlier that went the other way. Great views of the San Juans!
utahjimk - Jul 25, 2021 3:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2021
with Wasatch Mountain Club groupwith Redcloud Peak (see that account).
birdhead - Sep 18, 2020 9:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2020
Standard Route with RedcloudHiked Redcloud and Sunshine via the standard route on day 2 of our mega road trip. Very smoky day made it difficult to breath and see more than a couple of miles. Camped at Mill Creek outside Lake City.
BradBartick - Jul 3, 2020 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2020
With RedcloudNo Sunshine, though, if you do the descent off Sunshine. Do your homework. If you are with your wife, only descend Sunshine if your goal is divorce.
mickeyCs - Mar 27, 2020 7:21 pm
--2012
habaceeba - May 20, 2019 7:16 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2018
SunshineAfter Redcloud. Descended west slope and down a steep, loose gully in the north facing headwall of South Fork Silver Creek. There are 4 or so to choose from. More than one is passable, but be careful. It beats going back up and over Redcloud.
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 12:22 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2016
Traversed from RedcloudWith 14ers.com fall gathering; family and dogs and I traversed from Redcloud, perfect day
technicolorNH - Sep 22, 2018 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2018
From Mill Creek campgroundFour hours and twenty six minutes from the bridge by the campground to the summit. I absolutely would NOT recommend this trail for the descent sans snow unless you have climbing poles as it is very steep (few switchbacks) and occasionally covered in round gravel and pinecones making for treacherous footing. The area above treeline on the grass was not cairned (use your best judgement) but the talus section was excellent. I walked over to Redcloud next.
ericd - Aug 18, 2018 11:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2018
#42, mind the weatherSunshine Peak's days as a 14er are limited. 14,001' and propped up by a stone cairn, erosion will eventually reclassify it. A 1.3 mile scenic ridge-line traverse with what started out as rain turning into something worse. Equipped for the slow progress in the clouds, Redcloud offered a retraceable 500' steady ascent preferable to wet steep scree in the saddle.
Wheelbarrow - Feb 6, 2018 12:15 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2017
#33Highly recommend going up the Northwest Face and down the standard route via Redcloud. Did Handies via American Basin after for a very satisfying day in the mountains :)
Pete Castricone - Jul 2, 2017 10:57 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2017
Via RedcloudJust under 2 hours out and back from Redcloud.
MissH - May 30, 2017 3:52 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2017
Lotsa snowClimbed Redcloud from Grizzly Gulch/Silver Creek via north face. Great snow climb while in the shade. Bagged Sunshine via the ridge from Redcloud. Aptly named as the snow warmed up under the intense sunshine. Postholing was a fair price to pay for the fun glissades.
utclimber - Oct 16, 2016 5:34 pm
Redcloud and SunshineNice hike
Garon Coriz - Sep 5, 2016 10:15 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2016
Second of the DayI walked the ridge from Redcloud with Kate, who was from Gunnison. We chatted on the summit of Sunshine for a bit since the wind had died down. The view down the southwest slope was amazing. I left the summit at 2:50 and reached Redcloud peak summit at 3:40. I can take briskly to catch up to the others and met them half way down the trail. We ran into Wayne about a mile up from the bottom of the trail - no luck with the tire repair. We returned to the TH at 6 PM.
jeffrawn - Sep 5, 2016 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2016
Cold, Wet August DoubleHike through the basin was nice. Wind, clouds and rain picked up on the switchbacks. Didn't even stop for a photo on Redcloud; just kept walking out towards Sunshine. But there were only clouds and wind, getting colder by the minute. Visibility at both summits only 40'. Sleet (horizontal, but fortunately at our backs) started on return to Redcloud. Soaked through, I was glad not to get hypothermic. Sun finally peaked out last 30 minutes of hike!