Sunshine Peak Trip Report 07/10/2011

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Sunshine Peak - 14,004 feet
Date Posted	07/10/2011
Date Climbed	07/09/2011
Author	SpringsJeff

Alternative to "Return Over Redcloud"
I hate giving up hard-earned elevation gain. So when I saw the normal route to Sunshine is from-Redcloud/return-over-Redcloud, I groaned. I figured this is another Belford/Oxford or Shavano/Tab. So my wife and I looked for an alternative route that would save us some time and be a little more challenging. We decided to give the little-used Northwest Face route a shot. I won't bore you with a bunch of photos that duplicate Bill Middlebrook's route description. His description is spot on. Here are a few things I would add: Bill's photo three shows the spot where you turn off the Silver Creek trail, cross Silver Creek and head up the South Fork trail. This spot is very easy to miss. The cairn is only a half dozen rocks and I walked right past it. Eagle-eye wifey spotted it. (I long ago accepted that my wife is a much better route finder). Once you come out of the trees you are on talus/scree to the gendarme on Bill's photo nine. There are some cairns and trail segments but they will do you little good. This section of the route, and in fact most of the route above tree line, is a total talus hop & scree skate. First view of Sunshine Here's the important part. Bill's route description advises taking a line to the left of the gendarme. When you are at the base of the gendarme you might look at the gully to the right of the gendarme and think it's a better line. Especially now when it looks like it might be a fun snow climb. The problem is you end up in a pit surrounded by very steep sides. So stick with a line to the left of the gendarme. Gully to right of gendarme - view from above The line on the left of the gendarme is no piece of cake. It's a lot steeper than it looks and it's very loose. We ended up climbing the rocks toward the right and it was sketchy. A lot of the handholds for which you would naturally reach were loose. Be very careful. If you go this way it will change the rating from a 2+ to a 2.99. Once you reach the area above the gendarme (Bill's photo 12) you are back to a talus hop/scree skate but the remainder of the route should be uneventful. From the summit of Sunlight you can see the route to Redcloud. Route from Sunshine to Redcloud The Sunlight to Redcloud route was fairly easy and we summited about 11:30. Here's the Redcould to Sunlight route. Route from Redcloud to Sunshine Uncompahgre from Redcloud Uncompahgre from Redcloud summit ... and the happy couple Redcloud summit We decended the normal Silver Creek trail. In summary, this is an OK route. But if you're trying to save some time (we were trying to get back to Springs and pick up our dogs before the kennel closed) don't count on it. Dealing with the talus and scree will chew up a lot of time. We probably spent more time doing it our way than if we had simply used the "Return Over Redcloud" method. But the calves got a major workout, we had a good time, and we'll count the day as a success. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Alternative to "Return Over Redcloud"

I hate giving up hard-earned elevation gain. So when I saw the normal route to Sunshine is from-Redcloud/return-over-Redcloud, I groaned. I figured this is another Belford/Oxford or Shavano/Tab. So my wife and I looked for an alternative route that would save us some time and be a little more challenging. We decided to give the little-used Northwest Face route a shot.

I won't bore you with a bunch of photos that duplicate Bill Middlebrook's route description. His description is spot on. Here are a few things I would add:

Bill's photo three shows the spot where you turn off the Silver Creek trail, cross Silver Creek and head up the South Fork trail. This spot is very easy to miss. The cairn is only a half dozen rocks and I walked right past it. Eagle-eye wifey spotted it. (I long ago accepted that my wife is a much better route finder).

Once you come out of the trees you are on talus/scree to the gendarme on Bill's photo nine. There are some cairns and trail segments but they will do you little good. This section of the route, and in fact most of the route above tree line, is a total talus hop & scree skate.

Here's the important part. Bill's route description advises taking a line to the left of the gendarme. When you are at the base of the gendarme you might look at the gully to the right of the gendarme and think it's a better line. Especially now when it looks like it might be a fun snow climb. The problem is you end up in a pit surrounded by very steep sides. So stick with a line to the left of the gendarme.

Gully to right of gendarme - view from above

The line on the left of the gendarme is no piece of cake. It's a lot steeper than it looks and it's very loose. We ended up climbing the rocks toward the right and it was sketchy. A lot of the handholds for which you would naturally reach were loose. Be very careful. If you go this way it will change the rating from a 2+ to a 2.99.

Once you reach the area above the gendarme (Bill's photo 12) you are back to a talus hop/scree skate but the remainder of the route should be uneventful.

From the summit of Sunlight you can see the route to Redcloud.

The Sunlight to Redcloud route was fairly easy and we summited about 11:30. Here's the Redcould to Sunlight route.

Uncompahgre from Redcloud

... and the happy couple

We decended the normal Silver Creek trail.

In summary, this is an OK route. But if you're trying to save some time (we were trying to get back to Springs and pick up our dogs before the kennel closed) don't count on it. Dealing with the talus and scree will chew up a lot of time. We probably spent more time doing it our way than if we had simply used the "Return Over Redcloud" method. But the calves got a major workout, we had a good time, and we'll count the day as a success.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

geology101	Congrats with a question 7/11/2011 4:15pm Thanks for the very helpful report. My wifey and I are planning on the Redcloud/Sunshine combo in Sept. What are your thoughts on doing the reverse of what you guys did, ie Redcloud-Sunshine-descend S Fork?
SpringsJeff	Congrats with a question 7/20/2011 1:32pm The advantage would be from Sunshine you can see the Northwest Face trail and determine if you want to tackle the downclimb by the gendarme. You would also get a feel for the scree/talus you would have to navigate. If you decided the Northwest Face doesn't look fun, you could always return over Redcloud and be no worse off. We decided to do the Northwest Face on the ascent because we prefer to ascend more difficult terrain and decend less difficult terrain.

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