I arrived at the Quandry Peak parking lot at 8:50 and started hiking solo at 9am. The road is still closed for the winter season which required me to hike an extra 2 miles to the McCullough Gulch trailhead.

The road is fairly clear of snow and took about 30 minutes at a quick pace.

There is a quick fork in the road to the right that will take you down more 2WD road until you reach a dead end where you can start your approach. I missed this turn and continued along the road straight until I reached the dead end that would take you to the McCullough Gulch Trail. If you do as I did, go off trail to the north and start bush-whacking through dense pine trees, aspens, and bushes. Stay adjacent to the road to avoid scrambling on boulders until you reach tree line where you can start making your way to the ridge.

Once above tree line, it is easy route finding up grassy fields to the ridge.

At about 12,500ft there is still snow at this time of year. This is the point I decided to put on my microspikes which allowed me to hike through the snow with little to no issues. Follow the highpoint of the ridge here until you make it to the sawtooth.

I got to the ridge and and started easy class 2 scrambling over good rock, stay on top or to the left of the highpoint of the ridge here. The first half of the ridge, about .6 miles, fairs well from overhead danger but this is the point I decided to put my helmet on.

A short class 3 down climb will lead you to the crux. The next half of the ridge, (the sawtooth) is another .6 miles and requires good route finding capability and ridge negotiating. Mainly class 2/3, but if theres still snow a few low class 4 moves will need to be taken into consideration. Take your time across the ridge, a fall to either side could be catastrophic.

At the point of the crux, avoid going over the first sawtooth. Opt to stay left about 20 feet under the high point.

I failed to take pictures of the next two sawtooths as I was focused on route finding and ridge negotiating. There will be 2 more saw tooths like the one pictured before. At the second, stay left and avoid going directly over, the rock is suitable to scramble just underneath.

The third and final will require a short climb up right of the tooth followed directly by scrambling back over to the left. Down climb left and do not stay on top of this last saw tooth or you will get cliffed out.

Once off the ridge it is a simple walk across the grassy field, to the start of the final ascent of Pacific Peak. I stayed in the middle of this basin and hiked directly up the loose scree field to the peak. With the added on 2 miles of 2WD road, to the peak was 6 miles and took just under 3 hours.

I chose to not go back the way I came across the east ridge and descend Pacific peak south to the saddle of Pacific and Atlantic Peak.I followed the ridge connecting the 2 peaks which was much more snowy but still an easy traverse down, there were even a few little glissades along my descendent. Stay along the ridge here above Pacific Tarn until you crest the over to the south side of the ridge.

From here you can also tag Atlantic peak but considering my late start I chose to head back down through McCullough Gulch.

Between the saddle, make your way down and to the right across the field making your way to a steep gully that will put you into McCullough Gulch.

Descend the gully 100ft. This is still very snowy and had my nerves up for fear of avalanches. I predict later in the season switch backing down would be a viable option, but with the amount of snow I simply took it one step at a time directly down the gully.

Once down the gully continue right of the unnamed lake and down into the gulch. You will continue down for another 1.3 miles off trail. There are sections through the high part of this gulch that can lead you to being cliffed out so choose your route careful. I had to downclimb a steep hard packed snow chute that was less than friendly

After these small cliffs the route finding because much easier. Look for another lake shaped like a body with a head. It is here you can reconnect with the trail. If early or late season and the trail is still covered in snow like it was for me, follow the creek from the lake 1.5 miles back to the road.

I ran the last 2 miles back on the road and finished the hike with my Garmin on 3%. Round trip was 12 miles and took 5 hours and 52 minutes. If thinking of doing early or late season with snow I would highly recommend microspikes and always bring your helmet.

Happy hiking:)