Handies Peak | My First 14er

[IntrepidXJ]

One of the goals I set for myself this year was to hike a 14er. Yesterday morning two friends and I hopped into my Jeep and headed down to the San Juan Mountains to try Handies Peak. Handies Peak is 14,048 feet high and ranked 40th out of the 53 14ers in Colorado. I chose this mountain because it's relatively close to home, but mainly because it is one of the easier trails to the top of a 14er. From American Basin the trail is only 5.5 miles round trip with about 2500 feet of elevation gain.

Since we were in my Jeep, we headed south to Animas Forks via Silverton and headed over Cinnamon Pass to reach American Basin. We ended up starting the hike a little later than we had planned, but we did end up reaching the summit by around noon. There were a number of dark clouds forming around us when we reached the top, but luckily we only had a few sprinkles of rain fall on us during our descent. I definitely struggled a little from the saddle to the peak, but am happy to report that I did make it all the way to the top :)

Here's a few photos from our climb.

Handies Peak towers above my Jeep in American Basin before we get started.
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/175890-2/IMG_0328.JPG

Hiking to the top
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Andrew
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Me.
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Andrew and the trail ahead
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Climbing above Sloan Lake
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[IntrepidXJ]

View from the saddle
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Almost to the summit
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Andrew at the summit
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176118-2/IMG_0358.JPG

Great views from the top
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176115-2/IMG_0359.JPG

Jim taking a photo of me
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High above Sloan Lake....a storm in the background
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[IntrepidXJ]

Me at the summit
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176073-2/IMG_0373.JPG

Jim was happy to make it to the top
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176061-2/IMG_0377.JPG

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176046-2/IMG_0382.JPG

Sea of Peaks
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We all signed the log
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With dark clouds around us, but clear skies above, we headed back down quickly....just in case.

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176025-2/IMG_0389.JPG

We made a stop at Sloan Lake on our way down
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/176019-2/IMG_0391.JPG

[IntrepidXJ]

The storms missed us and the skies started clearing again...looking back up at Handies Peak.
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Back at the Jeep in American Basin
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On our way back to Silverton we took the route over California Pass and Hurricane Pass.

California Pass
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Lake Como below.
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When we reached Silverton, we stopped at Handlebars for some dinner before heading back home. We had a great time and accomplished something we had all wanted to do. Now I need to prepare for my next 14er....whichever one that will be....

[denaliguide]

you are so close to several of them. sneffels from the camp bird mine road is pretty easy, if you like ice climbing sneffels also has a nice moderate couloir on the north side, that is a lot of fun in the late spring. uncompaghre is an easy one as well.

really enjoyed the photos. :2thumbs:

[IntrepidXJ]

Thanks!

The next one's I will probably try are Sunshine and Redcloud....before I would try Sneffels & Uncompahgre.


you are so close to several of them. sneffels from the camp bird mine road is pretty easy, if you like ice climbing sneffels also has a nice moderate couloir on the north side, that is a lot of fun in the late spring. uncompaghre is an easy one as well.

really enjoyed the photos. :2thumbs:

[remoteman45]

Love that American Basin area and I hope to climb Handies someday as well

[ibenick]

Beautiful! Great TR!

[ststephen]

Congratulations! Keep it up! (TRs and 14er's)

[accadacca]

That looks way cool. :popcorn: I have certainly had CO on my mind lately. Lotta outdoor potential among other things. My sister just mover there last year...