Quandary Peak Trip Report 01/14/2021

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted	01/14/2021
Modified	01/10/2023
Date Climbed	02/29/2020
Author	Gandalf69

Quandary, BC, before covid
2 weeks before Lock-down Late February, 2020. In the middle of winter I went to snowboard Quandary peak. While it wasn't a great snow year, at this time there was plenty of snow to make the decent safe and fun. I started early, before I had to be at work in breckenridge. below treeline The trail head parking lot was totally full, luckily I found a spot close to highway 9. Going up was not too bad, I followed the trench others had left behind. Most of the the snow was hard packed. I went up in my snowboard boots, no snow shoes, no "traction" to speak of really. The biggest thing I brought was my motivation to reach the summit, and to have fun coming down from the summit. I strapped my board to my back, as I didn't own a "skinboard". going up It was a cloudy day with some light snow here and there. The final 1000 feet was particularly hard, but seeing people above me on the route kept me motivated to continue. Like a everest documentary On this day I witnessed another hiker packing out his dogs dodo. In the middle of the winter to see such a sight was very inspiring. looking back I had bought the snowboard from a coworker, and was particularly motivated to summit and ride, in order to not let them down. I discovered that the real motivation was not letting myself down. When I finally reached the summit, the sun peaked out for a few moments. past the false summit Some skiers shared the summit with me, but it was not a typical Quandary summit with 100s of people. people on the summit Riding down was extremely fun. When I reached treeline, the real test of my snowboarding began. Ducking under trees and trying to not fall was perhaps some of the hardest riding I've ever done. At one point I did fall and was in snow about 5 feet deep. I crawled back to the route, strapped back in, and rode the rest of the way down. Before too long I jumped over the trailhead sign, and rode the last bit back to my car. the summit Still to this day, it's one of my greatest times out in the backcountry. Work afterwards was uneventful. sun on the summit I remember going through the day thinking that I would return to ride Quandary again. I returned in April, when much of the snow had melted below treeline. just before strapping in Now I look at the peak when I drive to work, hoping more snow will come and make the peak rideable once more. the hiking ends and the james bond style snowboarding begins Caption Here Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Quandary, BC, before covid

2 weeks before Lock-down

Late February, 2020. In the middle of winter I went to snowboard Quandary peak. While it wasn't a great snow year, at this time there was plenty of snow to make the decent safe and fun. I started early, before I had to be at work in breckenridge.

The trail head parking lot was totally full, luckily I found a spot close to highway 9. Going up was not too bad, I followed the trench others had left behind.

Most of the the snow was hard packed. I went up in my snowboard boots, no snow shoes, no "traction" to speak of really. The biggest thing I brought was my motivation to reach the summit, and to have fun coming down from the summit.

I strapped my board to my back, as I didn't own a "skinboard".

It was a cloudy day with some light snow here and there. The final 1000 feet was particularly hard, but seeing people above me on the route kept me motivated to continue.

On this day I witnessed another hiker packing out his dogs dodo. In the middle of the winter to see such a sight was very inspiring.

I had bought the snowboard from a coworker, and was particularly motivated to summit and ride, in order to not let them down. I discovered that the real motivation was not letting myself down. When I finally reached the summit, the sun peaked out for a few moments.

Some skiers shared the summit with me, but it was not a typical Quandary summit with 100s of people.

Riding down was extremely fun. When I reached treeline, the real test of my snowboarding began. Ducking under trees and trying to not fall was perhaps some of the hardest riding I've ever done. At one point I did fall and was in snow about 5 feet deep. I crawled back to the route, strapped back in, and rode the rest of the way down. Before too long I jumped over the trailhead sign, and rode the last bit back to my car.

Still to this day, it's one of my greatest times out in the backcountry. Work afterwards was uneventful.

I remember going through the day thinking that I would return to ride Quandary again. I returned in April, when much of the snow had melted below treeline.

Now I look at the peak when I drive to work, hoping more snow will come and make the peak rideable once more.

20926_10 — the hiking ends and the james bond style snowboarding begins

Caption Here

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

ltlFish99

Nice report
1/14/2021 5:59pm

Cool. It is a lot of fun to come off of the top of a 14er with skis or a snowboard.

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