Got a late start from Silver Creek trailhead at 9.49.
Trying to beat storms (which I didn’t- rain [fortunately no lightning] caught me about halfway up the ridge from the saddle), summited at 12.16. Passed a Texas father-son team before trail got steep, & a ~12 person teenage girl squad (& 1 20-something guy) about halfway up the ridge (who made it up after I did).
Left summit at 12.27, meeting my dad halfway down ridge. He continued up while I went down to my mom, who amazingly was almost at the saddle by that point. Went down & met up w/ her & made it to the summit, intercepting my dad ~200’ from the top. We all made it to the summit at 14.15. What a great feeling to be up on a 14er with both of them!
Made it back to the car by 16.53, encountering frequent yet soft rains on the way back. Returned to Little Texas (Lake City) & had a pizza at Poker Alice’s.
Slow progress and late start caused a late summit. Weather was moving in and lightning struck the area as I began to traverse to Sunshine. Retreated down to the ridge at 13,000 ft. as weather was clearing. Live to climb another day.
roozers42 - Jun 25, 2006 5:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2006
Route Climbed: Silver Creek
This was one of my favorite summits - great weather and the rock is fascinating.
Brian Kalet - May 1, 2006 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2006
Sunshine & Redcloud Ski
From Sunshine. Skied the northeast face from the summit. Climbed with bc44caesar. RT: 11.5 hours.
bc44caesar - May 1, 2006 4:18 pm Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2006
Multiple
29 Apr 2006 - From Sunshine/Northeast Face
Continued from Sunshine after skiing its NE Face. An easy ski along the ridge, although the winds on top of Redcloud were around 40-50mph. The snow wasn't quite as nice on the NE Face of Redcloud, but made for a mellow descent. We were able to stay on skis until reaching the South Fork of Silver Creek and hiked it out from there to the TH. Bikes made the 4x4 rd back to the road closure go quick! Back to the cars at 4:00pm, 11.5 hr day. With B. Kalet.
8 Aug 2004 - Northeast Ridge
An easy hike with hordes of people (maybe 30 people on the mountain that day), but the summit was nice and the weather was excellent
ClearSkiesAhead - Apr 26, 2006 4:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
Fun Times
Climbed in conjunction with Sunshine in late August. Some of the best views in Colorado Rockies are in the San Juans.
Mountain Jim - Apr 5, 2006 3:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 1968
Redcloud-Sunshine Traverse
Another pleasant San Juan day.
altitude14er - Mar 17, 2006 4:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2005
Northeast Ridge via Silver Creek Trailhead
I camped the night before right by the trailhead. I awoke early and tackled Redcloud. The views were great, the hike was uneventful..I then traversed to Sunshine Peak.
markhyams - Mar 3, 2006 1:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1998
Silver Creek
Uneventful hike on Redcould and Sunshine.
benjohnson - Feb 16, 2006 12:08 am Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2005
wind!
This was my first fourteener! Not too bad a first impression, I guess. Too many people on the fourteeners, though, keeping me to the 12s and 13ers.
Route Climbed: Redcloud-Sunshine route Date Climbed: September 2002
Did both of these together as usual. Cold morning and a very cold night. Had some frost inside the tent and on my sleeping bag. The creek was beautiful with all the ice however, pale blue Windex colour.
Had the summit to myself. Cold on top but not that bad really.
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: July sometime
I spent a very intense summer backpacking from base camp to base camp between Leadville and Silverton and climbing nearly every Centennial Thirteener and Fourteener along the way (that I had not yet climbed) All told that was 40 peaks and hundreds of miles of backpacking in two months.
This particular mountain was special because my mom came to resupply me here and decided to climb Redcloud with me. The year before we had climbed Crystal Peak (13,8xx or 9xx)in the Mos-Ten and the year before that Parkview Mountain (12, 5xx) in the Rabbit Ears. Redcloud was to be her first 14er. No Elbert or Greys for her, diving right into the San Juans instead.
I made sure we got a super early start and could hike very moderately on what I found to be the absolute most pleasant class 2 14'er route in the entire state. I could spend a lifetime in the gentle bowl beneath the east side of Redcloud. It took us five hours to summit. From there I ran across to Sunshine and back and we then hiked down. The next day I hit UN 13, 832 and 13,811 along the same ridge.
The real mountaineering part of the trip began shortly after this climb as I got into the Grenadiers and Needles.
Route Climbed: Standard Route with Sunshine Date Climbed: October 7, 2005
The straight forward trail was obliterated under 6"-12" of snow above 12,800' making for a great snow climb. Needed ice axe for the early morning ascent for safety on crusty snow on a few steep sections.
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Trail Date Climbed: September 5, 2005
Wow, I was blown away with the beauty of this peak - definitely underrated in terms of how scenic it is. Steep stretch right below the summit makes you earn it - very nice
Route Climbed: From Grizzly Gulch Trailhead Date Climbed: August 16, 2005
Started at 4am with my sister. Stayed with her the whole time until we reach above treeline.
This is a great scenery route.
Was going to climb Sunshine too, but I didn't have much time. Total trip is 10 hr... Sister didn't make it to the summit... I should have take off on my own earlier.
Diggler - Jul 13, 2006 4:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2006
standard route from Silver CreekGot a late start from Silver Creek trailhead at 9.49.
Trying to beat storms (which I didn’t- rain [fortunately no lightning] caught me about halfway up the ridge from the saddle), summited at 12.16. Passed a Texas father-son team before trail got steep, & a ~12 person teenage girl squad (& 1 20-something guy) about halfway up the ridge (who made it up after I did).
Left summit at 12.27, meeting my dad halfway down ridge. He continued up while I went down to my mom, who amazingly was almost at the saddle by that point. Went down & met up w/ her & made it to the summit, intercepting my dad ~200’ from the top. We all made it to the summit at 14.15. What a great feeling to be up on a 14er with both of them!
Made it back to the car by 16.53, encountering frequent yet soft rains on the way back. Returned to Little Texas (Lake City) & had a pizza at Poker Alice’s.
bklowe - Jul 5, 2006 9:30 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
Route Climbed: Silver CreekSlow progress and late start caused a late summit. Weather was moving in and lightning struck the area as I began to traverse to Sunshine. Retreated down to the ridge at 13,000 ft. as weather was clearing. Live to climb another day.
roozers42 - Jun 25, 2006 5:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2006
Route Climbed: Silver CreekThis was one of my favorite summits - great weather and the rock is fascinating.
Brian Kalet - May 1, 2006 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2006
Sunshine & Redcloud SkiFrom Sunshine. Skied the northeast face from the summit. Climbed with bc44caesar. RT: 11.5 hours.
bc44caesar - May 1, 2006 4:18 pm Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2006
Multiple29 Apr 2006 - From Sunshine/Northeast Face
Continued from Sunshine after skiing its NE Face. An easy ski along the ridge, although the winds on top of Redcloud were around 40-50mph. The snow wasn't quite as nice on the NE Face of Redcloud, but made for a mellow descent. We were able to stay on skis until reaching the South Fork of Silver Creek and hiked it out from there to the TH. Bikes made the 4x4 rd back to the road closure go quick! Back to the cars at 4:00pm, 11.5 hr day. With B. Kalet.
8 Aug 2004 - Northeast Ridge
An easy hike with hordes of people (maybe 30 people on the mountain that day), but the summit was nice and the weather was excellent
ClearSkiesAhead - Apr 26, 2006 4:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
Fun TimesClimbed in conjunction with Sunshine in late August. Some of the best views in Colorado Rockies are in the San Juans.
Mountain Jim - Apr 5, 2006 3:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 1968
Redcloud-Sunshine TraverseAnother pleasant San Juan day.
altitude14er - Mar 17, 2006 4:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2005
Northeast Ridge via Silver Creek TrailheadI camped the night before right by the trailhead. I awoke early and tackled Redcloud. The views were great, the hike was uneventful..I then traversed to Sunshine Peak.
markhyams - Mar 3, 2006 1:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1998
Silver CreekUneventful hike on Redcould and Sunshine.
benjohnson - Feb 16, 2006 12:08 am Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2005
wind!This was my first fourteener! Not too bad a first impression, I guess. Too many people on the fourteeners, though, keeping me to the 12s and 13ers.
Kiefer - Jan 26, 2006 12:11 pm
Route Climbed: Redcloud-Sunshine route Date Climbed: September 2002Did both of these together as usual. Cold morning and a very cold night. Had some frost inside the tent and on my sleeping bag. The creek was beautiful with all the ice however, pale blue Windex colour.
Had the summit to myself. Cold on top but not that bad really.
sprosseda - Jan 25, 2006 5:26 pm
Route Climbed: standard Date Climbed: September 2000Combined with Sunshine. Nothing special, ok views of San Juans.
chicagotransplant - Jan 9, 2006 8:20 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Route Date Climbed: September 25, 2005First trip the San Juans a successful one!
CODave - Dec 30, 2005 12:25 pm
Route Climbed: Sliver Creek Date Climbed: September 7, 2005Beautiful day, went on to Sunshine afterwards.
LS - Dec 26, 2005 4:53 pm
Route Climbed: standard Date Climbed: 10-sep-2005See the trip-report here: http://distantpeak.com/web/mountains/n-america/redcloud_peak
colint - Oct 15, 2005 4:57 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: July sometimeI spent a very intense summer backpacking from base camp to base camp between Leadville and Silverton and climbing nearly every Centennial Thirteener and Fourteener along the way (that I had not yet climbed) All told that was 40 peaks and hundreds of miles of backpacking in two months.
This particular mountain was special because my mom came to resupply me here and decided to climb Redcloud with me. The year before we had climbed Crystal Peak (13,8xx or 9xx)in the Mos-Ten and the year before that Parkview Mountain (12, 5xx) in the Rabbit Ears. Redcloud was to be her first 14er. No Elbert or Greys for her, diving right into the San Juans instead.
I made sure we got a super early start and could hike very moderately on what I found to be the absolute most pleasant class 2 14'er route in the entire state. I could spend a lifetime in the gentle bowl beneath the east side of Redcloud. It took us five hours to summit. From there I ran across to Sunshine and back and we then hiked down. The next day I hit UN 13, 832 and 13,811 along the same ridge.
The real mountaineering part of the trip began shortly after this climb as I got into the Grenadiers and Needles.
csmcgranahan - Oct 8, 2005 6:12 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Route with Sunshine Date Climbed: October 7, 2005The straight forward trail was obliterated under 6"-12" of snow above 12,800' making for a great snow climb. Needed ice axe for the early morning ascent for safety on crusty snow on a few steep sections.
sbkelley - Oct 7, 2005 12:38 pm
Route Climbed: Silver Creek Trail Date Climbed: September 5, 2005Wow, I was blown away with the beauty of this peak - definitely underrated in terms of how scenic it is. Steep stretch right below the summit makes you earn it - very nice
IdahoSummits - Aug 31, 2005 10:09 am
Route Climbed: Sliver Creek Date Climbed: 8/11/2005Summited in low visibility conditions. Continued the trek by heading over to Sunshine.
undallas - Aug 24, 2005 9:50 pm
Route Climbed: From Grizzly Gulch Trailhead Date Climbed: August 16, 2005Started at 4am with my sister. Stayed with her the whole time until we reach above treeline.
This is a great scenery route.
Was going to climb Sunshine too, but I didn't have much time. Total trip is 10 hr... Sister didn't make it to the summit... I should have take off on my own earlier.