Quandary Peak Trip Report 09/21/2009

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted	09/21/2009
Date Climbed	09/19/2009
Author	sdicenso

What a nice day!! Quandary from the East Ridge.
This was my 12th Fourteener summited. It was a nice day and what a trip. My friend Kaitlyn and I planned this hike for a while. My friend Margaret was supposed to come, but was sick all week. Then our wuss boyfriends also decided not to come. The morning for me started off on a good start. Woke up at my house near Colorado Springs @ 3:30 am. Went to pick up Kaitlyn @ 4 am, half an hour drive to her apartment. Got there at 4:30 am. Parked next to her truck and gave her a call, no answer. Called her again and texted her, still nothing. Seven calls total and two texts, still nothing. I cannot get into her apartment building and I don‘t know which unit is hers, so I cannot throw a rock at her window or anything. Finally I started honking my horn, but made it sound like a car alarm going off. Finally she woke @ 5 am and texted me. She was like "oh crap (sic, in better words), I just woke up, my alarm didn‘t go off, be out there in 5". So then we left SW Co Spgs about 5:10 am. Stopped up Hwy 24 @ Wilkerson Pass, to have a potty break, then drove to the trail via Hwy 9 from Hartsel through Fairplay and over Hoosier Pass. Was followed by a county mounty from Hartsel to the county line between Park and Summit county, where he turned around at the top of the pass. Got to the trailhead and started @ 7:30 am. The trail was steep, but nice winding through the trees. Warned my hiking partner about going to natures restroom before we got above timberline. Go now or forever hold your pees. The trail climbs out above the trees, still a nice well defined trail. Levels off for a little bit before you attempt the massive ascent, that looks like a 45 deg slope to the false summit. Was still a nice trail that CFI has done a lot of work on. Never had to climb over talus. The trail was made up of mainly rock that they must have placed. The dirt areas were moist a little, which kept you from sliding. No scree at all. Little mud, some snow/slush closer to the top, but only about half an inch. Windy on the ridge, but calm on top. Good hike and a hard workout. The way back down was much the same. No threat of storms, even though there was a 20% chance that day. Saw 5 mountain goats. Finished off the day in Idaho Springs eating pizza at Beau Jo‘s. I give this hike 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Good Job to Kaitlyn on her 1st Fourteener!! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

What a nice day!! Quandary from the East Ridge.

This was my 12th Fourteener summited. It was a nice day and what a trip. My friend Kaitlyn and I planned this hike for a while. My friend Margaret was supposed to come, but was sick all week. Then our wuss boyfriends also decided not to come. The morning for me started off on a good start. Woke up at my house near Colorado Springs @ 3:30 am. Went to pick up Kaitlyn @ 4 am, half an hour drive to her apartment. Got there at 4:30 am. Parked next to her truck and gave her a call, no answer. Called her again and texted her, still nothing. Seven calls total and two texts, still nothing. I cannot get into her apartment building and I don‘t know which unit is hers, so I cannot throw a rock at her window or anything. Finally I started honking my horn, but made it sound like a car alarm going off. Finally she woke @ 5 am and texted me. She was like "oh crap (sic, in better words), I just woke up, my alarm didn‘t go off, be out there in 5". So then we left SW Co Spgs about 5:10 am. Stopped up Hwy 24 @ Wilkerson Pass, to have a potty break, then drove to the trail via Hwy 9 from Hartsel through Fairplay and over Hoosier Pass. Was followed by a county mounty from Hartsel to the county line between Park and Summit county, where he turned around at the top of the pass. Got to the trailhead and started @ 7:30 am. The trail was steep, but nice winding through the trees. Warned my hiking partner about going to natures restroom before we got above timberline. Go now or forever hold your pees. The trail climbs out above the trees, still a nice well defined trail. Levels off for a little bit before you attempt the massive ascent, that looks like a 45 deg slope to the false summit. Was still a nice trail that CFI has done a lot of work on. Never had to climb over talus. The trail was made up of mainly rock that they must have placed. The dirt areas were moist a little, which kept you from sliding. No scree at all. Little mud, some snow/slush closer to the top, but only about half an inch. Windy on the ridge, but calm on top. Good hike and a hard workout. The way back down was much the same. No threat of storms, even though there was a 20% chance that day. Saw 5 mountain goats. Finished off the day in Idaho Springs eating pizza at Beau Jo‘s. I give this hike 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Good Job to Kaitlyn on her 1st Fourteener!!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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