Quandary Peak

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 6/1/2025, By: Seanahearn33
Info: Started 6:30, snow was pretty solid until about 8. Starting temp at the trail head was 35. Made it to the summit at 10. Descended the ridge on the right side (facing down) of the gully which was snow free. Steap ridge but mostly large boulders so pretty stable scramble down. Finished at 12:30. While the snow is mostly continuous from near the summit to the lake it is getting shallow/melting out in a few spots, probably not many weeks left this year. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/31/2025, By: carmitz001
Info: Dry until 12,300 feet, then continuous snow to the summit. Started at 6 am, would have had a better time starting at 4:30. Spikes were helpful in the early-morning firm snow. Clear skies and warm temps caused the snow to start softening quickly around 7 am. The upper slopes were a postholing mess by 10 am. I even postholed twice at 7:30. The final 900 feet of the ascent around 8-9 am was not fun. No postholes, but lots of slipping in steep slush even with spikes. I wanted to glissade the upper slopes, but I could only slide 10 seconds on a ~20 degree slope before the slush stopped me. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/31/2025, By: DVD1330
Info: Started at 5 am during a light snow storm but the trail below treeline and above treeline up until you are on the ridge was mostly free of snow. Once we got to the ridge we put on snowshoes, which helped a lot, although most people we passed just had on spikes. Some sort of extra traction is pretty necessary right now. There was white out conditions on the ridge, so there is new snow up there as of 5/29. Got back to parking lot around 10 and it was less than halfway full. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/28/2025, By: Kontra01
Info: Trail is in good condition. Used crampons for the last half mile. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/25/2025, By: Pelinal
Info: Started around 4 am and was back to the car by 9. Most of the route was clear, except the last mile. Snowshoes weren't necessary, but traction was especially helpful the last quarter mile. You might be able to get away with just poles, but traction helps. 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 5/25/2025, By: durkan
Info: Solid purchase all day on the couloir, great plunge stepping down the standard. Started at main TH at ~3:45am, summit ~8am, down East Ridge to car by ~10am. Didn't hike around Upper Blue Lake enough to see the consistent snow all the way up, so booped around in crampons on the grass til the actual couloir. So don't commit to the first snow you see unless you wanna do the same. Slide debris around 13k maybe? Just steered left to lower angle shtuff and avoided it. 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 5/25/2025, By: Kevin Baker
Info: Isothermic conditions even with a late start at 6:45am from Lower Blue Lakes TH. Road is still gated. Firm snow from bottom to top with no recent signs of wet slides. I wouldn't go any later than 7am as the whole face gets early sun. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/23/2025, By: MountainHiker
Info: Trail mostly melted off up to where it meets the ridge. Still some snow and ice patches on trail. Ridge is still mostly snow covered. Some exposed rock in the usual places. On the way up snow was firm underneath, soft on top enough for steps. In the afternoon the lower slopes were getting soft. Some postholing, but not enough to wish I packed snowshoes. The main track on the summit approach drift was firm & sloping to the north with some exposure. I put on the microspikes for the way back across that area. Travelled with one trekking pole. 

Route: North Gully aka Quandary Couloir
Posted On: 5/23/2025, By: Slawson405
Info: Snow starts near treeline, A-framed on easy trail to that point. Can still skin 98% to the top from there. Couloir is still very much in, although warms quickly. You have to drop in at the top of the couloir, and slip over to the lower left shoulder away from exposed rocks to get fully in. From there, it's great spring skiing the whole way down. We stayed high and right on our exit out, until the creek forced us to bushwhack and find the road. 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 5/17/2025, By: ekalina
Info: A few patches of what I think was wind slab down low, but slab was thin (maybe 1 inch) and isolated to small areas. Otherwise a mixture of sastrugi and some yet to consolidate snow from the recent storm. No avy debris. Multiple parties skied the couloir, saw someone drop shortly before 9, but still pretty firm at that point given the cloud cover. Fun route overall. Went down the east ridge and the snow was supportive there too, just a few postholes down low. Upper Blue Lakes TH: 6:30 am Base of couloir: 7:10 am Topped out: 9:10 am Lower TH: 12:30 pm 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/18/2025, By: imoe1
Info: Started at about 3:30 am to catch a good view of the sunrise, we were not quite at the top for the event, but it was still really nice. Below the treeline, there is some ice. We used snowshoes from treeline to the summit for grip and flotation. The snow was pretty soft even in the early morning. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/12/2025, By: JustHike50
Info: Last mile is brutal, nothing technical just steep and with the altitude is breathtaking. Snow is softening so get an early start and I would recommend snow shoes unless you’re skiing. Postholing is pretty bad later in the morning into the afternoon. Used microspikes pretty much from the start of the hike as decent amount of ice and snow, and had them on until the top and half way down. Some may feel more comfortable with crampons for that last mile up and back down. For those skinning, will likely have to hike up until treeline. I used my snowshoes probably around 12k on the way down until below treeline. One time I sunk pretty deep and had to dig myself out as couldn’t get my feet out with the snow shoes on. Someone mentioned the summer route might be more packed down. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/9/2025, By: raphaelroxas
Info: Snow coverage is spotty up to the treeline, so if skinning expect plenty of on/off. To avoid that on the downhill, skied down to the McCullough Gulch lot, then skinned uphill and was able to ski about 1/2 mile downhill before walking about 3/4 of a mile to the main parking lot. On the uphill, found the conditions above 14500 icy to skin, so set a skintrack out across the face. Several ski parties bailed at 14500 due to skinning conditions. Ski crampons not necessary. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/8/2025, By: mikeydoggy
Info: Attempted to summit today. Had to turn around a little higher up past that cabin and small bridge on the McCullough Gulch Trail due to postholing to my knees. I only had hiking shoes. It was 11,250 feet. Parking lot was full when I arrived at 9:15 am, so I'm pretty sure others made it. I crossed paths with a guy coming down on skis, and he told me there were others at the top. (Maybe also on skis or snowshoes.) I found conditions difficult with all the wet, deep snow. I hope this helps. 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 5/6/2025, By: danrhoch
Info: Had the mountain to myself for Cinco de Mayo. Took a chance on getting it in before the snow storms. The road to the reservoir was dry up to the upper fork but this could be different now. Used crampons to the top having to french step to avoid post holing, so quite a bit of snow still. Should be a great after the next snow.