Quandary Peak Trip Report 06/12/2013

Peak(s):	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted:	06/12/2013
Modified:	06/21/2013
Date Climbed:	06/11/2013
Author:	brianlpowers

Quandary Peak - East Ridge route
I climbed the East Ridge route this week. The Quandary trailhead was easily accessible by 2WD car (gravel road was in good condition). A little bit of mud on the way up through the forest to the rock, but nothing that you had to slog through to get where you need to go. Once above tree line, the weather was great! It was pretty windy, but I was prepared for it from the forecast. The snow on the trail started about 12,600 feet with alternating sections of on-trail and off-trail ascents where the snow covered the trail. Like most early season 14er ascents, just pick a set of footprints and climb! I will say that some Kahtoola spikes or Yaktrax will make your life much easier! Once on the summit, the wind magically died down and we were able to enjoy lunch for about 45-60 minutes before deciding to descend. The snow is still deep enough to glissade down most of the way the East ridge, though you may want to cut your sliding short and traverse back toward the trail every once in awhile to avoid getting too far North in the bowl. If you are walking down (or the spots where you can't glissade down), be prepared to posthole down to knee level in slushy snow in the late morning or afternoon - it got pretty squishy. If you stick closer to the visible rocks, there is less of a chance of sinking down so deep. I came across two groups of mountain goats munching their way through the rocks and moving up and down the trail. They were very tame and curious - I decided just to sit about 10-15 feet off trail and let them go about their business - the babies were very cute! All in all, a great day! My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map... Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Quandary Peak - East Ridge route

I climbed the East Ridge route this week. The Quandary trailhead was easily accessible by 2WD car (gravel road was in good condition).
A little bit of mud on the way up through the forest to the rock, but nothing that you had to slog through to get where you need to go.
Once above tree line, the weather was great! It was pretty windy, but I was prepared for it from the forecast.
The snow on the trail started about 12,600 feet with alternating sections of on-trail and off-trail ascents where the snow covered the trail. Like most early season 14er ascents, just pick a set of footprints and climb! I will say that some Kahtoola spikes or Yaktrax will make your life much easier!
Once on the summit, the wind magically died down and we were able to enjoy lunch for about 45-60 minutes before deciding to descend.

The snow is still deep enough to glissade down most of the way the East ridge, though you may want to cut your sliding short and traverse back toward the trail every once in awhile to avoid getting too far North in the bowl. If you are walking down (or the spots where you can't glissade down), be prepared to posthole down to knee level in slushy snow in the late morning or afternoon - it got pretty squishy. If you stick closer to the visible rocks, there is less of a chance of sinking down so deep.

I came across two groups of mountain goats munching their way through the rocks and moving up and down the trail. They were very tame and curious - I decided just to sit about 10-15 feet off trail and let them go about their business - the babies were very cute!

All in all, a great day!

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Aug_Dog	Fletcher 6/13/2013 2:42am Do you have any pics of Fletcher and/or Pacific/Atlantic?
brianlpowers	Atlantic/Pacific 6/22/2013 2:42am Here's a pic from my trip, hope this helps! Atlantic is centered, Pacific is off to the right side Should be the last one posted in the pics above
brianlpowers	Fletcher 6/22/2013 2:44am I found another picture that has a bit of Fletcher in it, hope this helps!

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