Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
| Mother Maria Couloir |
Pardon the lack of artistic writing. I just wanted to put a quick report up in case anyone else was looking to get out. I'm not exactly sure of the correct name of this couloir since I couldn't find any previous record of ascent or descent (not that we really looked too hard). If you happen to know anything, I'd love to talk to you 
After looking at the S Face of the W Ridge of Quandary for many years, David, Tom, and I finally decided to give it a go. Snow conditions were lining up, the weather looked good, and we all happened to have the day off. Overall, I'd say the day was like a plate of mild buffalo wings... flavorful but not too spicy, best enjoyed with close friends, and a good appetizer for things to come. The skin up the east ridge was pretty uneventful (even though I was slower than a manatee with a hernia), and we reached the top with smiles and sunshine. After a few pictures, and hours digging through packs for a nonexistent Which Wich bag, we decided to try to find the top of the line. Maybe 10 minutes or so of class 2 scrambling led us to the entrance, where we dug a few quick pits and strapped in. It was going to be a good day.
The line itself started with a narrow section, maybe low 40s degree in steepness, which soon emptied into more open skiing. Being the charlatan that I am, I let David and Tom drop in first and hung back for some pictures. When it was my turn I took a deep breath, peed a little, and made a few turns that would make a newborn giraffe look like a graceful ballerina. The steepness wasn't too bad though, and soon we were off down the chute.
The snow conditions kept improving further down the run. Near the bottom the slope flattened out a bit before a bit of terrain difficulty. A slightly exposed traverse led to a sloping ledge where we set up a rappel. After clearing the ledge of as much loose rock as we could, I began the descent. With skis on the back, the rap was more awkward than a middle school dance, but I was down soon enough. It was handy to have a full 60m plus a tag line, as this allowed us to get past a second chockstone as well. Soon David and Tom joined, and after a bit of downclimbing, we enjoyed the last ski out of the couloir.
Great day with great friends.
Here's a little video David made:
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
|
Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.
Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
