Quandary Peak Trip Report 06/15/2009

Peak(s):	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted:	06/15/2009
Date Climbed:	06/14/2009
Author:	davebks

Fletcher Peak/West Quandary
Good afternoon, Here is some info on Fletcher/West Quandary. I showed up at 4:30 at the base on Sat morning. I took one look at Cristo and decided it was a bad idea to go alone. It just looked mean and the rangers all told me it was wet, muddy, and not fun right now. So I decided to go up Fletcher instead. The hike in was fine. The trail was covered by snow so I pretty much missed it entirely until near the mining ruins. If you start off, you go up above the dam, then ride along the edge of the water for a second, and the trail goes up from there. THERE IS A TRAIL from the start. I totally missed it because it was dark and there was snow. So I hiked up and once I got to the valley I could see no way up the lower trail to get to the ridge line so I took the upper left ridge. It was a mellow climb. Once you are on the ridge, its really wide, and you can walk it all the way up. There was still a lot of snow though. My feet held on the ice layer on top but if when I broke through my leg would go all the way in. I got to the top of the ridge right under the summit block of Fletcher and decided it was not safe to go alone up there, not to mention, no rope. I probably could have done it, but why risk it?? I had a great day out. By 9:30 am the snow was soup. REALLY wet snow so once that sun hit it, it instantly turned to water. Anyway, I think it was 13,500 max elev., 4.2ish miles, 3200ish elev gain in total. I left at 4:30am and was down by 10:30. There were tons of goats though and a ptarmigan that all wanted to hang out, so I took my time. I took some great shots though. Check them out if you like http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=f9ay9fd.33ah03zt&x=0&y=a7aj72&localeid=en_US Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Fletcher Peak/West Quandary

Good afternoon,
Here is some info on Fletcher/West Quandary.
I showed up at 4:30 at the base on Sat morning. I took one look at Cristo and decided it was a bad idea to go alone. It just looked mean and the rangers all told me it was wet, muddy, and not fun right now. So I decided to go up Fletcher instead.

The hike in was fine. The trail was covered by snow so I pretty much missed it entirely until near the mining ruins. If you start off, you go up above the dam, then ride along the edge of the water for a second, and the trail goes up from there. THERE IS A TRAIL from the start. I totally missed it because it was dark and there was snow.

So I hiked up and once I got to the valley I could see no way up the lower trail to get to the ridge line so I took the upper left ridge. It was a mellow climb. Once you are on the ridge, its really wide, and you can walk it all the way up. There was still a lot of snow though.

My feet held on the ice layer on top but if when I broke through my leg would go all the way in.

I got to the top of the ridge right under the summit block of Fletcher and decided it was not safe to go alone up there, not to mention, no rope.
I probably could have done it, but why risk it?? I had a great day out.

By 9:30 am the snow was soup. REALLY wet snow so once that sun hit it, it instantly turned to water.

Anyway, I think it was 13,500 max elev., 4.2ish miles, 3200ish elev gain in total.

I left at 4:30am and was down by 10:30. There were tons of goats though and a ptarmigan that all wanted to hang out, so I took my time.
I took some great shots though. Check them out if you like

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=f9ay9fd.33ah03zt&x=0&y=a7aj72&localeid=en_US

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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