August 7, 2010 - Redcloud Peak 14,034 ft - It was a 4 1/2 drive from Littleton to Lake City on Friday afternoon. However, it
took another hour in fast fading light to get to the trailhead where I camped out in my jeep for an early morning climb to what I thought
was going to be Redcloud and Sunshine peaks.
This hike was unique for me because during this trip, I had several 'Oh shit!' moments. It started with the drive to the trailhead which
was 16 miles from the main road south of Lake City. About 11 miles into it, the road became what is classified as a shelf road basically
a single vehicle width road carved like a shelf along the side of the mountain. As I drove very carefully mind you in what was now
pitch darkness, I could hear the stream far below. My heart was in my mouth as I went over potholes and boulders in the road that made
the jeep lean too much for my liking. Oh shit I dont like this drive but I made it and promptly downed the only beer I packed for the
celebration AFTER the hike.
The hike from the ridge to this point was very steep and had another of my 'Oh shit!' moments. The trail several times got extremely close
to the edge which seemed to drop off to oblivion! And add to that the fact that the trail was a lot of loose rock and dirt. You see, I
can handle heights when I look off into the distance but when it is straight down, I have a bit of a problem. I had to concentrate on looking
down at the trail and not let my peripheral vision make me dizzy.
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