My cousin Hunter and I set out at 7 p.m. from the Yankee Boy Basin trailhead in June, aiming to summit Mt. Sneffels (14,150 ft) before sunset.
We initially planned to camp overnight and make our push at dawn. But when we realized we forgot the coffee, the idea of summiting in the evening became hard to resist.
The Ascent
The summit was around 2.5 miles away with 1,700 feet of elevation gain.
We started strong, but hit a broad, steep talus gully early on. With heavy packs and loose terrain, progress was slow.
To speed things up, we shed all non-essentials (keeping only summit gear and a beer), picked a more direct route, and pushed hard.
Cresting the Summit
As sunset approached, the views opened up. The fading light painted the San Juan Mountains in golden tones; peaks that during daylight feel distant now glowed richly. We made it to the top just before sunset.
There was jubilation — we celebrated with helmets, cheers, and yes, a beer. Everything felt alive and electric in that moment.
The Descent & Perils of Nightfall
But then darkness struck. We had to navigate back in failing light. The loose rock and lack of clear trail made the descent treacherous.
Hunter lost his pack in the dark scree field; I stumbled and slid amid scree. One wrong step could’ve led to disaster.
Later, inside our tent, we discovered another mishap: Hunter had accidentally dropped the cap to his bear spray. It spilled, filling the tent with burning pepper spray. Not ideal.
Lessons Learned: How to Do a Sunset Summit Safely
From our experience, here are tips for anyone attempting a similar feat:
Give yourself plenty of extra time — what seems close can take much longer in steep or difficult terrain.
Pick a route you know or is well marked — avoid unfamiliar terrain, especially in fading light.
Carry reliable lighting and spares — headlamps, extra batteries, maybe even backup lights.
Stick together — traveling in dark, difficult terrain greatly increases risk.
Be careful with caching gear at night — if you must, mark it well (GPS waypoints, reflectors, cairns) so you can find it again.
Watch the weather and dress for cold — once the sun sets, temperatures drop fast. Always have extra warm layers.
