Quandary Peak Trip Report 04/23/2012

Report Type	Mini
Peak(s)	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted	04/23/2012
Modified	04/24/2012
Date Climbed	04/23/2012
Author	Bird

My First Fourteener
Today I hiked my first fourteener! Solo, too. I didn't start Quandary until 1:30pm but it doesn't get dark until around 8:30 now. I had to strip down and take my long johns off after about walking 20 ft on the trail. The woods section of the trail went fairly quick for me, however once I got to the snow fields it was a struggle. I was told by someone who had hiked it earlier in the day that I didn't need snowshoes, although I would be post holing some. Thankfully there were plenty of hikers' trails to follow. The snow is soft and melting so I needed to be careful of slipping since I didn't wear crampons. I would recommend wearing these for whoever is deciding to hike Quandary soon. This was not an easy feat and I wanted to stop and head back several times. However, when I kept checking my gps to see the elevation, I realized how close I was. I ditched my bag about halfway up the snowfields since it significantly slowed me down. Unfortunately I forgot about the sunscreen in there and got cooked on the rest of the way up. I saw a ton of pikas, but no one else on the trail. Once I summited, I was so glad I didn't turn back. The view was amazing. I even glissaded some on the way back from the summit. It took me 5 hours round trip, and that was stopping quite a bit once I got above treeline. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

My First Fourteener

Today I hiked my first fourteener! Solo, too. I didn't start Quandary until 1:30pm but it doesn't get dark until around 8:30 now. I had to strip down and take my long johns off after about walking 20 ft on the trail. The woods section of the trail went fairly quick for me, however once I got to the snow fields it was a struggle. I was told by someone who had hiked it earlier in the day that I didn't need snowshoes, although I would be post holing some. Thankfully there were plenty of hikers' trails to follow. The snow is soft and melting so I needed to be careful of slipping since I didn't wear crampons. I would recommend wearing these for whoever is deciding to hike Quandary soon. This was not an easy feat and I wanted to stop and head back several times. However, when I kept checking my gps to see the elevation, I realized how close I was. I ditched my bag about halfway up the snowfields since it significantly slowed me down. Unfortunately I forgot about the sunscreen in there and got cooked on the rest of the way up. I saw a ton of pikas, but no one else on the trail. Once I summited, I was so glad I didn't turn back. The view was amazing. I even glissaded some on the way back from the summit. It took me 5 hours round trip, and that was stopping quite a bit once I got above treeline.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

dfrizzle	Congrats!! 4/24/2012 5:00am :D
schumi248	Good Job!! 4/24/2012 1:17pm I still havent made it to the top of that mountain after two tries, I have gotten turned back by weather both times, I am going to try and take another shot this summer, hopefully i get it done.
richwill	Wow 4/24/2012 1:35pm Quandary for a first? Good job!
Jay521	Nice! 4/24/2012 3:04pm Congratulations on a nice climb!
a94buff	great beta 4/24/2012 6:11pm thanks for the beta; was considering heading up this weekend, pics and text do a great job giving helpful info.
anasarca76	Good work! 4/24/2012 7:00pm It was my first one as well :) I hope you get to go out and do lots more this summer!
SurfNTurf	Traction 4/24/2012 9:55pm Crampons are generally overkill on Quandary and similar mountains, but I'd really suggest Kahtoola Microspikes for hiking on snow. They're much lighter and only about $60. Congrats on your first 14er! Quandary gets lumped into the ”easy” category, but it's a beautiful mountain.
dman357	Congrats 4/25/2012 3:20am Quandry was my first too. Nice.
Hiker Mike	Congrats on your 4/25/2012 2:27pm First 14er! However, in the future, I would suggest that you NEVER leave your pack behind. It is not unheard of for people to need important items that are in the pack or be unable to find the pack on the way back down. Mike
tockelstein2005	congrats! 4/25/2012 4:38pm Nice job, firsts are always fun!
Bird	. 4/25/2012 5:24pm Thanks everyone! Surfnturf: Thanks for the advice, will look into those. Mike: Thanks for the suggestion, although where I was I could see the summit and the stakes on it, as well as the trail leading to it from a ways away. I took the things most necessary (gps, extra batteries, phone, water, leatherman and rain gear). In another situation where I couldn't see where I was going I would have kept my bag. Also, just in case for some reason I couldn't see my bright blue bag against the snow on the way back I took a waypoint for it with the gps. Aside from not having the sunscreen, I don't regret it. Grays/Torreys next? I think so.
myfeetrock	Awesome!!! 4/26/2012 2:28am Amen to the sunscreen. I fried my face this past saturday on quandary from the wind and snow. Ouch!
zdero1	Congrats... 4/26/2012 4:15am on your first 14er! Quandary was my first CO 14er too! Just wanted to reaffirm the importance of what Hiker Mike said. Never leave your pack behind. You never know when you'll need to change clothing or grab a bite to eat or utilize your first aid supplies. Also, the equipment you bring on your person outside of your pack could become separated from you by a fall or high winds (had a mid-weight glove get blown down the face of Quandary last year after not securing it). Early starts reduce the pressure on you to summit by a certain time, especially in the coming months when thunderstorms frequently develop in the mountains and it's often necessary to get off the summit by noon. To me the time saved by not having a pack is not worth compromising safety. Grays and Torreys is an amazing climb! A few other great starters for me were Sherman and DeCaLiBro. Easily accessible trailheads right now. Grays and Torreys still drivable only to winter TH last I heard. Have a fun and safe climbing season! Myfeetrock- Got absolutely scortched on the same day you did after not re-applying sunscreen. Hope your back is OK after all that SilverLynxing!
zdero1	One more thing- 4/26/2012 4:16am Trekking poles = awesome. No balance issues on Quandary last weekend while using them.
kev8008	Congrats! 4/30/2012 7:40pm Which route did you take?
Bird	anxious for more 4/30/2012 10:02pm the east ridge
drbrizzy	Sweet 5/1/2012 8:46pm way to do the dew...

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