Sunshine Peak

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 9/25/2017, By: VegasRich
Info: Descended this route. Most prominent trail toward the gullies does NOT lead to the recommended "dirt" gully. It leads to a steeper gully requiring some downclimbing. Saw about a dozen descend into this gully; at least 4 came back up. I didn't go down to the climbing part. The "dirt" gully is 2 gullies to the right (east). Like Redcloud, the NE ridge had a couple inches snow, no traction needed. 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 9/4/2017, By: KarenG
Info: We decided to ascend the NW face of Sunshine, take the ridge to Redcloud and descend the via standard route. For the most part it went very well and the route was 11 miles and 4400' of elevation gain. The only issue was in the basin below Sunshine. After getting to the top of the "small rock glacier" near 12,400' in photo #7 we went slightly astray. The only obvious trail took us to the base of the saddle between Sunshine and Redcloud which we knew was incorrect. The trail didn't take a hard turn but just angled more to the SE than the south. If there were cairns on the correct route we totally missed them. From looking at my GPS track we probably diverged near N37 55.900 W107 25.857. It probably only cost us an extra quarter mile across the talus to get back to the correct route but we could have avoided it with a little more attention. 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 7/4/2017, By: xandc
Info: We climbed Redcloud and Sunshine. Ascent via standard NE Ridge route over Redcloud. Descent on the NW face on Sunshine. Trail up to Redcloud was clear and dry the whole way. Traverse to Sunshine was also fully clear and dry. Descent down Sunshine was mildy loose up top near the peak and got progressively worse the closer we got to the talus field. There was still some snow in the gullies making it hard to choose the best route to drop down to the talus field. The suggested gully to ascend up in the description of the NW route, when going the opposite direction, was unpassable due to slick snow. We took the "do not take this route" route to the left (when headed down) of the suggested gully. Had I known conditions prior I would have had my helmet with me and insisted that everyone else in the group do the same. The rock walls are very loose and not able to act as the support I thought they would when looking down the gully initially. Expect a lot of rock tumble. This part was very slow going. If taking this route communicate with the person below and make sure they are clear of the gully before starting down; there is no way to avoid rock fall through this section. The NW face is definitely a lot more interesting with a much more dramatic view of Wunshine and Redcloud compared to the standard route. I am glad we took it, but unless you have basic route finding skills, a helmet, and experience with some class 3+, I'd strongly suggest going back over redcloud for the decent. If wanting to do this route I'd suggest waiting a few weeks for the suggested gully to become passable 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 6/29/2017, By: BigShoveler
Info: My partner went the snow chute to the right of the gendarme in Bill's picture 9 without traction, but I wouldn't do it and kicked steps in on a more sun exposed snow chute. Lots of snow, throughout the basin, and it is developing sun cups. 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 6/18/2017, By: jladderud
Info: Didn't do the traverse myself; but here's a picture from the summit of Redcloud. Looks dry. Route up Redcloud through Silver Creek Basin has some snow; but no traction needed. Start early to avoid post holing. 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 6/13/2017, By: kschlittler
Info: Hard pack snow in the basin around 12,400 and some sections on final climb to sunshine peak. Early in the day we didn't use flotation but as the snow warmed up on the descent flotation was helpful. 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 6/6/2017, By: Nelson
Info: The crux right now is crossing Silver Creek. The Creek is running very strong and I saw no obvious place to cross. 200 ft. Before the cairns at 11,350 there is a major snow bridge at least 10 ft thick. You can cross here but you will be on the wrong side of the South fork of Silver Creek. This is much easier to cross. I put on micro spikes at 11,500. Going through the forest was a pain but once out, things went smoothly to 12.800 where I put on crampons for the gendarmes and climb to the ridge. Overall conditions are great on this route. 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 6/6/2017, By: Nelson
Info: There's a lot of snow between the saddle and Sunshine. You will definitely porthole here. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/29/2017, By: Pika_wanderer
Info: Trail dry up to treeline. A few snowfields to cross from the ridge to summit, but snow was firm and we did not need to use snowshoes. We used microspikes and an ice axe on a steep snow field just below the summit- I would have been uncomfortable without either. We did not traverse to Redcloud but the ridge over seems mostly wind blown. A word of caution on the way down: it is easy to lose sight of cairns on the talus field crossing. Do not try to go directly down the talus field- it's very loose and dangerous. Go back to the last cairn you find (there are numerous) and search the area until you find the trail again. Also, as mentioned in a trip report from last year, there is still a mountain lion burial site about 5 minutes into the hike after you crest one of the first hills. Young horse carcass off the trail- be aware and don't do this hike alone. 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 5/29/2017, By: MissH
Info: Lots of snow still above 11,800. Sunshine peak was aptly named yesterday... postholing every now and then was a good price to pay for the glissades down the NW face. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/22/2017, By: jknappe17
Info: No snow up to about 11,800ft after which we had a nice packed crust perfect for kicking steps from there up to the ridge and all the way to the summit with intermittent dry patches. Barebooted the whole route including the traverse to redcloud but had an ice axe and microspikes just in case. Made it back to sunshine summit by 11:15 and had some minor post-holing on the descent. Not sure of current snow conditions but last weekend was perfect for us. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 4/6/2017, By: blainerblainer
Info: Light dusting of snow down low that had melted by the time I came out. Around 11,000 feet and higher significantly more snow (more than a foot of fresh stuff above timberline), snowshoes we're definitely helpful all the way to the summit. In some parts I was digging a trench even with my snowshoes, postholing at 13,000 feet is hard! Some small cornices on the ridge and on the beginning ridge to Redcloud, farther along ridge appeared windswept. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 2/18/2017, By: jladderud
Info: Beautiful conditions. Snow was stable and weather cooperative (no wind!); though there is another storm forecast for this weekend so that may change. Blazed a trail to the summit all the way to the top. Snowshoes (or skis) were a boon, especially below treeline. Switched to microspikes and an ice ax above 12,500' or so. Lots of post holing on the way down. Cornices on the ridge were small. The trail to Redcloud was mostly wind-swept (though we didn't hike it). Wish I had brought skis to get down. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 2/16/2017, By: ewiggans
Info: About 2' of fresh snow the days prior made the ascent very difficult. Skinned/snowshoed about 0.8 miles in from Mill Creek and decided to stop, taking us about 4 hrs to cover very little ground. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 1/13/2017, By: mikefromcraig
Info: Apparently this isn't really a good winter route. We started at Mill Creek TH which you can drive to in winter but couldn't really figure out a realistic way to get more than 0.5 miles in without some very sketchy terrain. I guess for winter ascents people hike from the winter closure near Mill Creek TH all the way to Silver Creek Grizzly Gulch TH and go the standard route from there?