Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: July 2, 2004
My 2nd attempt after getting knocked off the year before by weather. Gorgeous this time. We made the summit in good time under totally clear skies. We didn't spend a lot of time on the summit before heading over to Sunshine but definitely a cool summit with an amazing view.
One thing to note, the route up from the saddle has been improved since last year. Someone did a lot of trail work and closed up most of the dirt alleys. This makes things a LOT easier (and better on the environment).
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: 07/06/04
What a great day! I felt fantastic the whole time (finally!) A nice hike up the creek. I liked the hike, though I wasn't thrilled that we had to walk all the way AROUND the mountain to get to the top. Met some neat people on top and even brought a guy down Silver Creek with us that had gone up Sunshine the back way. We gave him a ride back to his car and he gave us beers! GREAT trade if you ask me! Saw a TON of columbines, they were really beautiful!
A nice, easy, beautiful hike to the ridge line at 13,300'. Above the ridge line the route gets a little steep and loose in spots. No big deal and we were really much closer to the summit than we thought. We could see it, but it just seemed so far away. Then the next thing we knew, we were standing on top. Perfect day.
Route Climbed: From Silver Creek trailhead Date Climbed: May 25, 2003
Climbed this one last year on a stormy morning, last May. The climb itself was no more than a hike with post-holing, save for the last few, snowy feet up to Sunshine's summit, but I was gob-smacked by the obliviousness of the other people on the mountain to the threatening weather. I'm always surprised that more people don't get killed by the weather in Colorado.
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: September 28, 2002
We rushed up and down Redcloud, beating out some incoming weather. We wanted to climb Sunshine, so we stayed in Lake City for the night. A snowstorm arrived for my birthday, however, so we drove home instead.
Route Climbed: Silver-Creek/GrizzlyGulch Date Climbed: August 9, 2003
First Colorado 14er. Absolutely awesome, although it was snowing on top with lightning in the distance...decided not to go for Sunshine peak. If you've never been the San Juans are spectacular.
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: September, 26, 2003
After doing Wetterhorn, Matterhorn, Broken Hill, and Uncompahgre Peak we headed over to SIlver Creek, backpacked in and set up camp somewhere on the slopes of "Sundog".
The top of redcloud was very steep, I did not expect it to be so steep. I have to say it was the most strenous 14er I have done. The red rock on toop was stunning.
Route Climbed: Traverse from Sunshine via Mill Creek Date Climbed: 8/31/2003
We climbed Sunshine first via Mill Creek and then did the traverse to Redcloud. A fun traverse - took about 45 minutes or so. We were able to enjoy time on both peaks as the weather was good. We traversed back to Sunshine and then back down to Mill Creek TH.
big_g - Aug 16, 2003 10:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2003
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge
What a storm at the trail head last night! Felt sorry for those suckers tenting out. hehe. Anyway, woke up extra early and shot up the mountain.
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: August 2, 2003
My wife and I opted to take the standard route as we were doing a three day peak bagging marathon and needed an easy day to recover from only getting four hours of sleep. It was an easy hike up to Redcloud, but it got a little stormy as we reached the first saddle. At the first sound of thunder, my wife and I hung out on the east side of the ridge waiting for the sky to clear. We watched as a line of 15 to 20 hikers continued up the route like a line of ants mindlessly following each other into danger. Luckily, the clouds broke, and nobody got struck by lightning. We made the summit under blue skys, but with lightning striking adjacent peaks.
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge (standard) Date Climbed: July 5, 2003
Started early in the morning and caught the sunrise from just below Redcloud. This is a straightforward but very scenic route. The weather was perfect: warm and calm. I made the obligatory traverse to Sunshine Peak after summitting Redcloud.
The Handies Group is a real good intro to hiking the Lake City area of the San Juans. Redcloud was easy but fun. I realllly like the town of Lake City, I will go back.
Route Climbed: Silver Creek - 10,400 Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2001
The hike to the saddle (13,000’) was pretty easy. From the saddle I could see Redcloud Peak for the first time. This was the toughest part of the hike it was 800 feet of vertical in about a half mile although it wasn’t that tough. Once on the red summit I could see Sunshine Peak for the first time and the way the clouds were looking if I didn’t get going I might run into problems on the way back so off I went.
I would say that if you wanted to do two easy fourteeners in one day these would be on the top of my list.
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: October 12, 2002
Did not encounter snow until we reached the end of the basin at 12,000. The route up to the saddle and remaining ridgeline was snow covered. The snow was mostly frozen, but did posthole a few times.
Encountered high winds at the summit, and the temps were extremely cold. Due to amount of snow and temps we opted to forgo Sunshine this time.
Saintgrizzly - Aug 11, 2004 1:01 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: 80's or '90'sClimbed with Aaron, then did the traverse to Sunshine. Next day we did Handies. Nice time in the San Juans!
jrf - Jul 17, 2004 3:48 pm
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: July 2, 2004My 2nd attempt after getting knocked off the year before by weather. Gorgeous this time. We made the summit in good time under totally clear skies. We didn't spend a lot of time on the summit before heading over to Sunshine but definitely a cool summit with an amazing view.
One thing to note, the route up from the saddle has been improved since last year. Someone did a lot of trail work and closed up most of the dirt alleys. This makes things a LOT easier (and better on the environment).
Speedy - Jul 16, 2004 12:37 am
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: 07/06/04What a great day! I felt fantastic the whole time (finally!) A nice hike up the creek. I liked the hike, though I wasn't thrilled that we had to walk all the way AROUND the mountain to get to the top. Met some neat people on top and even brought a guy down Silver Creek with us that had gone up Sunshine the back way. We gave him a ride back to his car and he gave us beers! GREAT trade if you ask me! Saw a TON of columbines, they were really beautiful!
Bryan W - Jul 13, 2004 11:30 am
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: 7/6/04A nice, easy, beautiful hike to the ridge line at 13,300'. Above the ridge line the route gets a little steep and loose in spots. No big deal and we were really much closer to the summit than we thought. We could see it, but it just seemed so far away. Then the next thing we knew, we were standing on top. Perfect day.
Ratballs - Jun 24, 2004 11:53 pm
Route Climbed: From Silver Creek trailhead Date Climbed: May 25, 2003Climbed this one last year on a stormy morning, last May. The climb itself was no more than a hike with post-holing, save for the last few, snowy feet up to Sunshine's summit, but I was gob-smacked by the obliviousness of the other people on the mountain to the threatening weather. I'm always surprised that more people don't get killed by the weather in Colorado.
I have a trip-report (long, as always) here.
mountainmota - Jun 15, 2004 7:32 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: July 2002Easy 14er!
The Lower Marmot - Jun 10, 2004 10:54 pm
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: June 10, 2004; August 6, 2004Good climb, snow got tricky in the basin for our undergeared party.
Update: August ascent was with great weather and no snow to slow us down. I ascended a nearby unnamed 13er first.
DaveC - May 21, 2004 9:22 pm
Route Climbed: standard Date Climbed: aug 97with shon and royal (and G of course). threatened rain but no worries. my 9th 14er.
RyanS - Apr 12, 2004 12:24 pm
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: September 28, 2002We rushed up and down Redcloud, beating out some incoming weather. We wanted to climb Sunshine, so we stayed in Lake City for the night. A snowstorm arrived for my birthday, however, so we drove home instead.
Michael Crofford - Oct 20, 2003 10:33 am
Route Climbed: Silver-Creek/GrizzlyGulch Date Climbed: August 9, 2003First Colorado 14er. Absolutely awesome, although it was snowing on top with lightning in the distance...decided not to go for Sunshine peak. If you've never been the San Juans are spectacular.
Steven Cross - Sep 29, 2003 3:45 pm
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: September, 26, 2003After doing Wetterhorn, Matterhorn, Broken Hill, and Uncompahgre Peak we headed over to SIlver Creek, backpacked in and set up camp somewhere on the slopes of "Sundog".
The top of redcloud was very steep, I did not expect it to be so steep. I have to say it was the most strenous 14er I have done. The red rock on toop was stunning.
We then went to do Sunshine.
My 6th 14er.
mtnhiker13 - Sep 10, 2003 8:49 am
Route Climbed: Traverse from Sunshine via Mill Creek Date Climbed: 8/31/2003We climbed Sunshine first via Mill Creek and then did the traverse to Redcloud. A fun traverse - took about 45 minutes or so. We were able to enjoy time on both peaks as the weather was good. We traversed back to Sunshine and then back down to Mill Creek TH.
big_g - Aug 16, 2003 10:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2003
Route Climbed: Northeast RidgeWhat a storm at the trail head last night! Felt sorry for those suckers tenting out. hehe. Anyway, woke up extra early and shot up the mountain.
Number 30!
charms - Aug 5, 2003 8:39 pm
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: August 2, 2003My wife and I opted to take the standard route as we were doing a three day peak bagging marathon and needed an easy day to recover from only getting four hours of sleep. It was an easy hike up to Redcloud, but it got a little stormy as we reached the first saddle. At the first sound of thunder, my wife and I hung out on the east side of the ridge waiting for the sky to clear. We watched as a line of 15 to 20 hikers continued up the route like a line of ants mindlessly following each other into danger. Luckily, the clouds broke, and nobody got struck by lightning. We made the summit under blue skys, but with lightning striking adjacent peaks.
Matt Mahoney - Jul 27, 2003 10:39 pm
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Date Climbed: July 17, 2003Stormed off day before, then tried again and made it the next day with Sunshine
mmoerk - Jul 12, 2003 11:59 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge (standard) Date Climbed: July 5, 2003Started early in the morning and caught the sunrise from just below Redcloud. This is a straightforward but very scenic route. The weather was perfect: warm and calm. I made the obligatory traverse to Sunshine Peak after summitting Redcloud.
Kane - May 27, 2003 7:48 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: 1996The Handies Group is a real good intro to hiking the Lake City area of the San Juans. Redcloud was easy but fun. I realllly like the town of Lake City, I will go back.
Grant - Feb 4, 2003 12:56 pm
Route Climbed: Silver Creek - 10,400 Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2001The hike to the saddle (13,000’) was pretty easy. From the saddle I could see Redcloud Peak for the first time. This was the toughest part of the hike it was 800 feet of vertical in about a half mile although it wasn’t that tough. Once on the red summit I could see Sunshine Peak for the first time and the way the clouds were looking if I didn’t get going I might run into problems on the way back so off I went.
I would say that if you wanted to do two easy fourteeners in one day these would be on the top of my list.
mr_g - Oct 14, 2002 8:16 am
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: October 12, 2002Did not encounter snow until we reached the end of the basin at 12,000. The route up to the saddle and remaining ridgeline was snow covered. The snow was mostly frozen, but did posthole a few times.
Encountered high winds at the summit, and the temps were extremely cold. Due to amount of snow and temps we opted to forgo Sunshine this time.
rmjwinters - Oct 5, 2002 9:30 pm
Route Climbed: East ridge Date Climbed: August 7 1999Beautiful