Quandary Peak Trip Report 07/03/2023

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted	07/03/2023
Date Climbed	07/01/2023
Author	sydney4683

Quandary - East Ridge - July 1
7/1/23 - Quandary is prettiest with a little snow! It was a gorgeous sunny day, couldn’t have asked for better weather! Seemed like a quick hike through the trees, then most of the hike is exposed, rock above the tree line. Most the elevation is in the last 2/3. The final ascent past the ridge was still iced over so we used Crampons & trekking poles. There were people doing it with one or the other or neither, but they were immensely helpful, especially during descent. Snow may have been 6-8” deep, in some places the rock was starting to come through, but it was still pretty solid, not slushy or slipping beneath our feet. It was extremely windy in parts of the hike, and was pretty chilly at the top. I started in leggings and a long sleeve, ended in a fleece pull over and beanie and thin gloves. Goats galore, 2 including a baby at the peak. Workers on the trail about half way trying to reclaim the trail. The trail is pretty easy to follow until the the final ascent, then becomes follow the others coming up or down. I recommend the shuttle from Breckinridge. It was cheap, and super easy. Plus when you’re done and your legs are jello, you don’t have to drive. This was my 2nd attempt on Quandary, and I got it this time!!!!! I tried in 2021, but due to altitude sickness it was taking me forever to progress and a storm rolled in causing us to have to descend at 3,066 feet. So I went back today (Saturday, July 1st, 2023) and tried again. This attempt was successful. However, the time and distance in reality vs 14ers/All Trails apps was slightly more. I started my Apple Watch at trail head where the woods meet the road, and started All Trails tracker at the parking lot. Both were around 7.5 miles compared to the 6.8 listed. I’m from flatland coastal Texas so not used to altitude and this is only my 3 experience with mountains ever. So it took me around 8 hours total to complete Quandary. According to my trackers it was about 6 hours of actual hike time, but 8 with rest and time at the top (if you look at the splits it’s almost 5 hrs up then 1.30hrs down. I have severe. difficulty breathing (exercise induced asthma) so I had to use my inhaler a few times and just stop to acclimate here and there. My fault for also trying to attempt this with only 1 day to acclimate to the elevation (I literally live at 108 feet above sea level). That being said…don’t give up! Just plan for a full day and take it one step at a time. I stopped looking UP and just focused on the next 3 steps in front of me and little by little I made it happen. And get discouraged by the people passing you! We’re not all made for this, but the view up top is pretty amazing! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Quandary - East Ridge - July 1

7/1/23 - Quandary is prettiest with a little snow!

It was a gorgeous sunny day, couldn’t have asked for better weather! Seemed like a quick hike through the trees, then most of the hike is exposed, rock above the tree line. Most the elevation is in the last 2/3. The final ascent past the ridge was still iced over so we used Crampons & trekking poles. There were people doing it with one or the other or neither, but they were immensely helpful, especially during descent. Snow may have been 6-8” deep, in some places the rock was starting to come through, but it was still pretty solid, not slushy or slipping beneath our feet. It was extremely windy in parts of the hike, and was pretty chilly at the top. I started in leggings and a long sleeve, ended in a fleece pull over and beanie and thin gloves. Goats galore, 2 including a baby at the peak. Workers on the trail about half way trying to reclaim the trail. The trail is pretty easy to follow until the the final ascent, then becomes follow the others coming up or down.

I recommend the shuttle from Breckinridge. It was cheap, and super easy. Plus when you’re done and your legs are jello, you don’t have to drive.

This was my 2nd attempt on Quandary, and I got it this time!!!!! I tried in 2021, but due to altitude sickness it was taking me forever to progress and a storm rolled in causing us to have to descend at 3,066 feet. So I went back today (Saturday, July 1st, 2023) and tried again. This attempt was successful. However, the time and distance in reality vs 14ers/All Trails apps was slightly more. I started my Apple Watch at trail head where the woods meet the road, and started All Trails tracker at the parking lot. Both were around 7.5 miles compared to the 6.8 listed. I’m from flatland coastal Texas so not used to altitude and this is only my 3 experience with mountains ever. So it took me around 8 hours total to complete Quandary. According to my trackers it was about 6 hours of actual hike time, but 8 with rest and time at the top (if you look at the splits it’s almost 5 hrs up then 1.30hrs down. I have severe. difficulty breathing (exercise induced asthma) so I had to use my inhaler a few times and just stop to acclimate here and there. My fault for also trying to attempt this with only 1 day to acclimate to the elevation (I literally live at 108 feet above sea level).

That being said…don’t give up! Just plan for a full day and take it one step at a time. I stopped looking UP and just focused on the next 3 steps in front of me and little by little I made it happen. And get discouraged by the people passing you! We’re not all made for this, but the view up top is pretty amazing!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Camden7

Glad you had a nice day up there
7/4/2023 8:50pm

and enjoyed the goats. I was working on the trail with the Colorado 14ers Initiative so I bet we saw you.

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