TR: Handies (14,048') 5-27-2007

**mtnbikerskierchick** · 05-31-2007, 06:20 PM

TR: Handies (14,048') 5-27-2007
goldenboy, jcwhite, mbsc
Special appearance by jon turner and 3DB

jcwhite, goldenboy, and I hit Sunshine and Redcloud on Saturday. That night we stayed in our camping spot at the Silver Creek and Grizzly Creek trailheads. We were tired from a short night of sleep, so we spent the afternoon eating and lounging around camp. jon turner knew we'd be at this trailhead and had intentions of hitting Handies with us the next day. It was lucky that goldenboy had his ski boots in obvious view, because jon turner and 3DB found us without any problems. We welcomed them into our camp and we had a good time hanging out that night. But with the short night before and the upcoming 4 am wake up call once again, we were in bed before dark even hit!

From Redcloud and the Silver Creek trail, the east face of Handies could be seen easily. We'd taken pictures of this face and plotted out a tentative line. We choose not to approach Handies from the east via Grizzly Gulch. goldenboy and I had already attempted this route on April 1st, but we were forced to turn around.... this was back when the road to the trailhead was not open, making for a long day. Instead, we chose to climb the shorter route from the north starting at American Basin at 11,400 ft, about 1000 less feet of climbing. But we wanted to ski down the east face. So, we ended up shuttling cars between the two trailheads.

We began driving up the road in the dark toward Cinnamon Pass. By the time we'd reached the turn off to the 4x4 rd that goes to American Basin (at 11,300 ft) it was light. We were able to drive a bit up this road, but I believe you'd be able to go a bit further in the summer. No matter, the climb wasn't going to be bad from 11,400 ft

Goldenboy getting ready for the skin in the morning, at 6 am.

The views in American Basin are spectacular!

A short way's up, jon turner and 3DB opted to take a more direct route to the summit. We opted against this, being tired from the day before and with a big day ahead the next day. This pic shows them attempting to skin up the north face of Handies. That attempt was short-lived and they eventually ended up booting up the face.

jcwhite, goldenboy, and I followed the standard route to the summit. It was an easy route and we were able to skin all the way up to the summit! I wasn't feeling well on the way up however. Earlier in the week I found out I had strep throat and was recovering from that. Short nights and hard work didn't help my recovery and I ended up hurling a couple of times on the way up. Nevertheless, 2.5 hours after starting we were at the top!

Redcloud on the left, Sunshine on the right.

Uncompahgre

Sneffels, looking so good!

Quoted from goldenboy himself, these are "Needles and Grenadiers, a sub-range of the San Juans. Eolus is in there. More impressive, however, are the peaks on the right. Left to right are Vestal (famous wham ridge facing camera (read roof of the rockies), Arrow and Pigeon."

We waited until about 9 am for jon turner and 3DB to summit, but we couldn't wait any longer. The sun was quickly warming the east face and if we didn't hit it soon the snow would turn to slop. So, we decided to go for it. As we were dropping in, we could see them booting up the north face. We found out that they wanted to descend their ascent route and I wished them well. Later we found out part of the reason for this is because some equipment had fallen out of 3DB's pack and he wanted to go back to retrieve it!

goldenboy dropped in first while I shot video from the top.

jwhite skiing the upper face.

The upper east face was actually pretty steep and had my adrenaline pumping a bit. The snow was prime and that section was one of the best things I've skied all season!!!!

mtnbikerskierchick on the upper east face.

We then all went down a bit further to the entrance of a couple of couloirs. There was one to our skiers left and to our skiers right. We opted to drop into the skiers left couloir. I went first with the intention of setting up video part way down the couloir in a safe zone.

When I stopped, I shouted back up, "It's a bit icy still!" (it was slightly north facing). Jcwhite dropped in next.

jcwhite found that the same snow which had supported me, did not support him (he IS a whole foot and 2 inches taller than me afterall!) For him it turned to breakable crust. Because of this, goldenboy opted for the chute on skiers right. I shot video of him from below.

When we reached the basin we still had a lot of skiing to do! The snow was still wonderful corn!!!
goldenboy

jcwhite

When we reached treeline, the snow became collapsable and unsupportive. We rallied through it for quite a while however!

This pic is looking back at Handies. Blue shows the line that jcwhite and I took down the coulie. Green is goldenboy's line.

We were able to ski to about 11,150 ft (nearly 3000 vert of skiing), which was 250 ft lower than we started! It's a great day when you can ski further than the elevation you started from!

We did have to hike about 750 ft down on the trial to the trailhead. After a leisurely day, we were back at camp by 10:30 am, 4.5 hours after we started.

We met up with jon turner and 3DB back at camp and shared stories. Handies is a great mountain no matter what you ski. There are options for everyone of every ability. I would gladly go back and ski Handies again.

It was great to meet jon turner and 3DB! Hope we get to actually ski together sometime soon!

After hanging around camp for a bit, we packed up and headed in to Lake City to stay with jwhite's grandparents who were visiting from Texas. They were staying in their family cabin in Lake City. Grandma's cooking was oh so good! The next morning we headed on over to Creede to tackle San Luis. TR coming soon!

**upallnight** · 05-31-2007, 07:14 PM

awesome! sounds like you had an intense & fun couple of days. always nice reading your commentary with the photos. you've definitely killed it this spring!

**gonzo** · 05-31-2007, 07:32 PM

You guys are like Basom all over again. Killing it.

**smitchell333** · 05-31-2007, 07:42 PM

Nice TR

Handies is a great peak and that whole area is phenomenal.

I skied H 2 years ago via American Basin. We took two hike runs that day - one in the east facing bowl to the west from the end of American Basin for the early morning corn and another from the summit of Handies in the west facing couloirs/gullies for the lunch time shot. Then drove up Cinnamon Pass, made dinner, and took a few shuttle shots on the west side.

**IridePow** · 05-31-2007, 07:58 PM

The San Juans look oh so good!!!
Why do they have to be so far away from Denver?!

**KillingCokes** · 05-31-2007, 08:05 PM

Looks like a sweet day.

**Lane Meyer** · 05-31-2007, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by gonzo

You guys are like Basom all over again. Killing it.

They kill it WAY harder than Basom. Although he would have skied it drunk, in a one piece.

**mtnbikerskierchick** · 05-31-2007, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Lane Meyer

They kill it WAY harder than Basom. Although he would have skied it drunk, in a one piece.

Wow, how could we ever be good enough for people to equate us to the likes of Basom!

He DOES have talent!

**Bullet** · 05-31-2007, 08:45 PM

Is that 20 CO 14er's in one calendar year? Nice job. Great pics.

**mtnbikerskierchick** · 05-31-2007, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Titan

Is that 20 CO 14er's in one calendar year? Nice job. Great pics.

Are you doing the counting for me? Thanks! I don't know how many I've done this calendar year exactly but I think you're spot on!

.... And I'm not done YET! I still have a week before I go to Ohio and then Peru!

**LeeLau** · 05-31-2007, 09:04 PM

I've read every trip report you guys have put up this year. I know this sounds repetitious but thanks for the stoke.

**couloirman** · 05-31-2007, 09:22 PM

wow, that was a seriously productive trip down south for y'all, nice work and thanks for the pics

**jcwhite** · 05-31-2007, 10:58 PM

Here are my pics...

Here are some of the climb up:

Couple scenics

A look down the couloir:

Goldenboy:

MBSC:

A deer at our cabin window:

**cocavaak** · 06-01-2007, 08:38 AM

MBSC, I've enjoyed reading your TRs very much. On the climb up it's interesting that you guys beat the two doing a more direct though steeper route. I've often found that skinning at a more relaxed angle over a longer path is often faster than a steep skin - or boot - track up a shorter path. The former is doable at a faster speed and saves energy in the long run.

**Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo** · 06-01-2007, 08:56 AM

Way to keep knocking them off, you and GB are two person stoke machine. Thanks. It sure is a pretty state we live in...

**Huckwheat** · 06-01-2007, 08:59 AM

Geesh....go biking already.

**FrankZappa** · 06-01-2007, 10:15 AM

Thanks for the TR. Again, Great!

Originally Posted by mtnbikerskierchick

Quoted from goldenboy himself, these are "Needles and Grenadiers, a sub-range of the San Juans. Eolus is in there. More impressive, however, are the peaks on the right. Left to right are Vestal (famous wham ridge facing camera (read roof of the rockies), Arrow and Pigeon."

This area is the titsest place I ever went.

What? No love for Sunlight and Windom?

**3DB** · 06-01-2007, 10:21 AM

Handies was fun, but I can't really see anything in that area worth going back for....

**HikeforTurns** · 06-01-2007, 11:30 AM

Killer stoke again. I wish I had the time to get after it like you 2.

If you guys are bored this summer, pack into Vestal Basin and climb it!

**mtnbikerskierchick** · 06-01-2007, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by cocavaak

MBSC, I've enjoyed reading your TRs very much. On the climb up it's interesting that you guys beat the two doing a more direct though steeper route. I've often found that skinning at a more relaxed angle over a longer path is often faster than a steep skin - or boot - track up a shorter path. The former is doable at a faster speed and saves energy in the long run.

I will totally agree with you about the skinning! Boot packing for me kinda sucks. I'm so slow at it b/c my legs are so short and I have to make twice the steps. Most people I hike with are about a foot taller than me so following their bootpack is nearly impossible. It's like me trying to follow in the steps of a giant

jon turner and 3DB wanted to go the more direct route I think b/c it looked more interesting to them, in preparation for a trip to Rainier. I don't think they necessarily thought it would save them time....

**mtnbikerskierchick** · 06-01-2007, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Huckwheat

Geesh....go biking already.

Nah, it's still ski season here!!!!

**goldenboy** · 06-01-2007, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Huckwheat

Geesh....go biking already.

No way dood, some of the best corn I've ever skied has been this spring (this peak especially). Biking still doesn't seem even remotely fun in comparison.