A Long Weekend in the San Juans

Shari, the great planner that she is, arranged a fantastic weekend in the San Juan mountains, down by Silverton. We drove down to Lake City, started up Cinnamon Pass, camped for two nights, hiking Redcloud Peak (14,034 ft), Sunshine Peak (14,001 ft), and Handies Peak (14,048 ft), then drove over Cinnamon Pass into Silverton. We then took the Durango & Silverton railroad and enjoyed the Animas River valley before heading home. By far, this is the most spectacular place in Colorado!

If you'd like to read more about the hikes, click here for a detailed trip report of Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks or here for a detailed trip report of Handies Peak.

View as a slideshow

Starting up Cinnamon Pass from Lake City (near Creede, CO)Lake San Cristobal and the Continental Divide in the distanceBrad driving on the shelf roadRedcloud Peak (on the left) and a ridge of Sunshine PeakAn old miners cabin at the trailhead with Carson Peak in the distanceOur camp perched atop a small hillLisa, Tracy, Lonny, and Shari working on dinnerAn old rusted boiler sticking up above our camp (from an old mine)
Chefs Lonny and Lisa (with Supervisor Shari)Tracy and Brad"Joan" and "Jay" showing off the new JetBoil that "they" bought for Brian and Lisa for ChristmasTracy's flashing GoLite jacketMorning sun hitting the ridgeline above the valleyLonny signing in at the trailHiking up the river valleyA columbine on the trail
A cairn marking an alternate trail up Sunshine (with an old coffee pot on top)Whitecross Mountain (far right) and Handies Peak (center) up Grizzly GulchSilver CreekTracy and Brian, with Handies and Whitecross in the distanceTracy, Shari, and BrianLonny, taking a flower/water shot...The photo Lonny was taking
A gnarly looking side wall of Redcloud PeakThe lush green cirque below RedcloudTaking a break on the trailLisa ascendingTracy and Shari ascending towards the ridgeline with Redcloud in the distanceThe Bent Creek basin (southeast) from the ridge crestAscending the steep and scree-laden ridge towards the summitAscending the steep scree slope
Wetterhorn (14,015 ft, left) and Matterhorn (13,590 ft, right) PeaksLooking down on the ridge crestLisa, cresting the scree slope with Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre peaks in the distancePeople on the summit of RedcloudLisa and Brian summiting Redcloud, Lonny already on topThe summit of RedcloudThe summit of Sunshine from RedcloudBrad and Shari summitting Redcloud
The martian-like surface of RedcloudHandies Peak - our conquest for the next day"Jay" and "Joan", summitting their first 14erLonny, dutifully pointing out where we campedLisa and Brian"Joan", heeding the warning of the signShari, Tracy, and Lonny (filming) making the summit push up SunshineLisa, summitting Sunshine (Redcloud is in the background)
Sunshine summit panoramaRedcloud summit from SunshineLonny, Brad, Shari, Brian, Lisa, and Tracy on Sunshine PeakLonny, cooling himself in a snow bankA view of Cinnamon Pass as it winds through the valley floorShari, Brad, and Lonny back on Redcloud (Brad and Lonny seem unhappy)Descending RedcloudBrian, glissading down a snowfield...
Brian's perspective of the same glissade (glissade cam!)Lisa's Turn!And now for Tracy!Lisa, glissading down a snowfieldTracy, enjoying herselfDescending down the trail (Handies and Whitecross mountains visible across the valley) Down from the trail, Lonny decides to take a dip in the stream to cool off
The 4Runner and Land Cruiser, perched atop some mine tailings below our camp siteEntering the American Basin off of Cinnamon PassBrad, fording the stream to the trailheadLisa, crossing the stream in the 4RunnerLonny, Shari, Tracy, Lisa, and Brian before setting off on the trailSome of the few flowers in the American BasinBrad, Lisa, and Lonny heading up the trailA mountain stream
Further back in the American BasinShari and Brad (Handies in the background)Sloan Lake, nestled in the basin at 12,900 feet and still frozenTracy, Shari, and Brad, crossing one of many snow fields in the BasinDescending a snow field a short bitThe American Basin, from eastern cornerLisa and Brian, ascending the switchbacks out of the basin
Lisa, pressing on to the summit about 0.5 miles ahead and 1000 feet upBoulder Gulch, below the slopes of Handies PeakBrad, trying to figure out which peaks surround usThe last steep push up towards the summitTracy, Lisa, and Brian high above the American BasinTracy, Shari, and Lonny summittingLisa and Brian summittingHandies Summit Panorama
Tracy, Brian, Lisa, Lonny, Brad, and Shari on the summit of HandiesTracy, taking it all lying down...Brian and LisaBrad, trying out the snowfield's glissade potentialTracy follows (see if you can hear her screams)Lisa, glissading down a lengthy snow field to save time on the descentBrian glissadingLonny glissading (with Brad's coaching)
Lonny and Tracy, glissading a short stretchLooking back at the American BasinLonny, Brad, and Brian's Army Corps of Engineer work on the trailCrossing the stream near the trailheadHandies from Cinnamon PassThe 4Runner, about to ascend a rough bit of rocksCinnamon PassThe western side of the Cinnamon Pass summit
Lisa and Brad - the helmsmenDescending Cinnamon Pass down into the ghost town of Animas ForksAbandoned cabin and mine at Animas ForksA waterfall over an old abandoned cabinMountains down at the end of the valleyBrad, Tracy, and Lonny, checking out the sheer drop of 150 feet down to the Animas river belowAn old aerial tramway heading back into the basin between Little Giant Peak (left) and Round Mountain (right)The Durnago & Silverton railroad
Lisa, Shari, Brad, Tracy, and Lonny aboard the trainA horse riding along the tracks The train, rounding a corner high above the Animas riverBlowing off steamThe Animas RiverLonny, demonstrating festivus-like feats of strengthTracy makes a much easier go of it
Our hotel in SilvertonBrad, Shari, and Tracy's return trip over Engineer PassBrad, Shari, and Tracy's return trip over Engineer PassBrad, Shari, and Tracy's return trip over Engineer PassMt. Sneffels, from RidgewayBrad, Shari, and Tracy's return trip over Engineer PassBrad, Shari, and Tracy's return trip over Engineer Pass

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