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.
I was up before 6 am having heard other hikers getting ready. The initial hike from the trailhead was steep and when I hit the forest,
it was still so dark I had to use my headlamp to see where I was going. That was a little spooky. When I finally exited the forest, the
view back down the valley and the run hitting the opposite peak (an unknown 13,000 ft peak) was my first stop to dig the camera out of my
backpack.
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