The Trail Up to the Summit
Next Morning after climbing the Wetterhorn, we mustered together and set off to climb Handies. It is one of the easier of the 14ers. Handies is located in the American Basin, next to cinnamon pass, which will lead you straight into Silverton. The road was ruff and we combined cars halfway up.
Finally we made the cut off turn and started up the trail as the last group. We met a lot of people coming down the trail. Dana had brought her 2 dogs and they led the way. Chasing anything the moved infront of them. The trail was pretty easy wind up into the American Basin.
We passed an alpine lake, just at a couple of old guys went skinny dipping. Cross a talus traverse to gain a alpine meadow and switch backs. The entire hike was enjoyable, and we were shade by the friendly kind of cumulonimbus clouds. “Tele” the one dog joined me and Bruce for the Summit push. By this time I had shed most of my clothes and was working on my Alpine tan.
Everyone made the summit and we had a great big PSU summit party and picture. We turn around after 30 mins rest and slogged it back to the car. The dog took a dip in the lake on the way down and shed even more clothing.
