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.
Still sitting in the same spot as the last image, I point the camera down to where the path from the valley floor got to the ridge. There
are people on the trail. This also shows how steep this section is because you can only see the rocks for the trail I am on for a little bit
because of the steep drop-off. After climbing a bit higher heart in my mouth a couple of times I crossed over the summit. 'Oh shit' I
forgot this is the false summit! But I could see what was left and there was no way I had come this far and not make it to the top.
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