Quandary on Quandary
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- davebks
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- Location: Front Range, Colorado
14er Peak List (9)
Trip ReportsQuandary on Quandary
by davebks » 09 Aug 2012, 14:51
I think we are missing some details here... What route were they on? If they did something technical why did they have the dogs with them? and so on...
I will be up there tomorrow. Maybe there will be a buzz...
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21274931/summit-rescue-group-saves-dogs-woman-stuck-quandary
Glad they all made it down safely though.
And.. how did they get dog names but not people names??](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
I will be up there tomorrow. Maybe there will be a buzz...
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21274931/summit-rescue-group-saves-dogs-woman-stuck-quandary
Glad they all made it down safely though.
And.. how did they get dog names but not people names??
- SeracZack
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- Location: Colorado
Re: Quandary on Quandary
by SeracZack » 09 Aug 2012, 14:56
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
-Helen Keller
-Helen Keller
- joelsteidl
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- Joined: 17 Nov 2009, 22:36
Re: Quandary on Quandary
by joelsteidl » 09 Aug 2012, 15:25
Glad everyone is down safely!
Hopefully I won't start something, but I'll link people to this next time they ask if bringing their dogs is a good idea.
Hopefully I won't start something, but I'll link people to this next time they ask if bringing their dogs is a good idea.
- GregMiller
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14ers Skied (2)Re: Quandary on Quandary
by GregMiller » 09 Aug 2012, 15:27
Presumably the West Ridge, I can see how you could get cliffed out on it, if descending. Especially if dogs lead you off route, or if you're going out to get one back from going off route, that sort of thing.
(edited for spelling and 'if descending')
(edited for spelling and 'if descending')
Still Here
been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me,
Looks like between 'em they done Tried to make me
Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin'-- But I don't care! I'm still here!
Langston Hughes
been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me,
Looks like between 'em they done Tried to make me
Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin'-- But I don't care! I'm still here!
Langston Hughes
- randalmartin
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- Posts: 928
- Joined: 04 May 2008, 21:30
- Location: Castle Rock, CO
14ers in Winter (1)Re: Quandary on Quandary
by randalmartin » 09 Aug 2012, 16:48
I'll never understand people's need to bring dogs on serious routes (assuming it was the West Ridge). Flame away.
- Hungry Jack
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- Posts: 358
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Re: Quandary on Quandary
by Hungry Jack » 09 Aug 2012, 17:42
Sheesh. That photo sure looks like the area below that gnarly southwest face of Quandary. It sure isn't the standard route.
Assuming it was the west ridge (how else would you get cliffed out)?, I see two pivotal decision points:
1) the decision to do the west ridge with a dog
2) the decision not to descend the west ridge via the established trail once the group was forced to turn back.
Regarding 1), I cannot imagine hauling a dog up the 15ft chimney that represents the final crux. That just does not seem possible. I think the first crux--the chimney leading to the white rock, is doable with a dog, but descending it might be a bit tricky. My guess is that the second crux was the deal-breaker.
Regarding 2), my first trip with Smokey on the west ridge taught us a valuable lesson: DON'T VENTURE ONTO QUANDARY'S SOUTHWEST FACE. We separated at the first crux (white rock) as I went left around the chimney, while Smokey wasn't comfortable, and tried descending to the right with another group of 3 guys that had joined in. I went over the white rock and down into the saddle below crux 2, and saw him and the guys about 50ft below--with an icy gully separating us. They decided to turn back, and I assumed they would descend the west ridge whence they came.
They did not. They ventured out into the cliffy, gully-strewn hell of the southwest face. By the time I ascended the chimney, summited, descended via Cristo, and cut over to the Quandary / Fletcher saddle basin, I expected to see them dropping into the basin. They weren't there because they were still up about 1,000 ft trying to extricate themselves from the cliffs. I was pretty worried, and they were pretty spooked by it all.
So yeah, any decision to wander off that west ridge trail to any extent is a pretty bad one, especially if you are trying to descend.
Assuming it was the west ridge (how else would you get cliffed out)?, I see two pivotal decision points:
1) the decision to do the west ridge with a dog
2) the decision not to descend the west ridge via the established trail once the group was forced to turn back.
Regarding 1), I cannot imagine hauling a dog up the 15ft chimney that represents the final crux. That just does not seem possible. I think the first crux--the chimney leading to the white rock, is doable with a dog, but descending it might be a bit tricky. My guess is that the second crux was the deal-breaker.
Regarding 2), my first trip with Smokey on the west ridge taught us a valuable lesson: DON'T VENTURE ONTO QUANDARY'S SOUTHWEST FACE. We separated at the first crux (white rock) as I went left around the chimney, while Smokey wasn't comfortable, and tried descending to the right with another group of 3 guys that had joined in. I went over the white rock and down into the saddle below crux 2, and saw him and the guys about 50ft below--with an icy gully separating us. They decided to turn back, and I assumed they would descend the west ridge whence they came.
They did not. They ventured out into the cliffy, gully-strewn hell of the southwest face. By the time I ascended the chimney, summited, descended via Cristo, and cut over to the Quandary / Fletcher saddle basin, I expected to see them dropping into the basin. They weren't there because they were still up about 1,000 ft trying to extricate themselves from the cliffs. I was pretty worried, and they were pretty spooked by it all.
So yeah, any decision to wander off that west ridge trail to any extent is a pretty bad one, especially if you are trying to descend.
Last edited by Hungry Jack on 09 Aug 2012, 18:40, edited 1 time in total.
- Jim Davies
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Re: Quandary on Quandary
by Jim Davies » 09 Aug 2012, 18:21
The story calls them "experienced hikers". I guess they're even more experienced now. 
Five out of four people don't use statistics correctly. -- Brewster Rockit
- Hungry Jack
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Re: Quandary on Quandary
by Hungry Jack » 09 Aug 2012, 18:43
Jim Davies wrote:The story calls them "experienced hikers". I guess they're even more experienced now.
Very experienced:
"To add to their predicament, a backpack holding gear, food and water, fell over the edge of the cliff."
- atalarico
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Re: Quandary on Quandary
by atalarico » 09 Aug 2012, 22:55
Well, I'm glad they survived.
However, this is the part that pisses me off the most..."They safely repelled a 200-foot cliff with Loki and Lilly looking over their shoulders."
This sentence made me giddy as I imagined the SAR team scaring off a 200 foot tall Tolkien-esque cliff monster back to the bowels of Mordor. Armed with nothing more than their wizardy and ice axes, SAR drove the beast back while the frightened dogs looked on in amazement. Needless to say I was a little disappointed to realize that they meant RAPPEL. =p
However, this is the part that pisses me off the most..."They safely repelled a 200-foot cliff with Loki and Lilly looking over their shoulders."
This sentence made me giddy as I imagined the SAR team scaring off a 200 foot tall Tolkien-esque cliff monster back to the bowels of Mordor. Armed with nothing more than their wizardy and ice axes, SAR drove the beast back while the frightened dogs looked on in amazement. Needless to say I was a little disappointed to realize that they meant RAPPEL. =p
- screeman57
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- Location: Laramie, WY
Re: Quandary on Quandary
by screeman57 » 09 Aug 2012, 23:19
Think I'll "repel" some dogs next time I'm out...
"Mountains are not fair or unfair - they are just dangerous." Reinhold Messner
"The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too." Hervey Voges
"If you are warm, regular, healthy, not thirsty or hungry, then you are not on a mountain..." Chris Darwin
"The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too." Hervey Voges
"If you are warm, regular, healthy, not thirsty or hungry, then you are not on a mountain..." Chris Darwin
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