Half moon over the Silver Creek trailhead (10,400')

Unnamed 13,502' across the valley from the trailhead

Looking back down the approach valley from 11,400'. Handies (14,048') in the background.

At 12,000', snow starts to encroach on the trail and cover the stream

At 12,400' there was evidence of rapid melting.

Lots of great rock/snow contrast in this basin.

Looking into the upper end of the trail basin. Unnamed 13,561' rises in the center, Redcloud is to the right.

Lots of melt-and-refreeze going on; great ice crystals everywhere.

Looking down from the end of the basin, the first hint of major clouds forming.

Deadly attack chipmunks were everywhere.

Reaching the saddle provides this view of the Bent Creek drainage on the other side. More clouds.

This is the view from the saddle back down into the Silver Creek drainage I had just climbed out of.

The saddle also provides the first view of the actual summit of Redcloud Peak, on the left, still 1000' above.

Climbing up towards the false summit gave me this first view of Wetterhorn, Matterhorn, and Uncompagre. The cloud cover was now

The trail to the false summit stayed just clear of the snow. The sky directly above the peak was still clear...

A big storm starts to form to the northwest.

Another storm forming to the west, this one over the Mt. Wilson group. Moments later they were obscured from view and I never s

The great profile view of Uncompagre Peak (14,309')

A brief view of the Eolus group before it was obscured by its own storm.

A thread of snow clinging to a ridge, seen from the false summit of Redcloud

Redcloud is named for the bright red soil found near the summit. This picture doesn't do it justice at all.

The final push to the true summit as seen from the false summit. Only about 115' to go. Sky directly overhead *still* clear.

The Eolus storm now getting more substantial

On the summit at last. This is Sunshine Peak seen from the top of Redcloud.

The Eolus storm seen from the summit. Now larger and closer.

Looking back towards the trailhead from the summit. The truck is just behind a ridge near the center of frame.

Wetterhorn and Uncompagre now get their own storm.