Quandary Peak Trip Report 09/26/2015

Peak(s):	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted:	09/26/2015
Modified:	09/27/2015
Date Climbed:	09/26/2015
Author:	PRO_ENGR

Rookies 1st 14er
Arrived in Breckenridge 9/25 FRI 5 PM. Checked into Wayside Inn. Excellent place for hikers, no frills. No phone, frig, was clean, had hot tub, cable TV. Coffee in lobby (maker for room if requested). Went to TH to make sure we could find easy in dark. Ate great meal at Breckenridge Brewery (buffalo meat loaf, Excellent), of course we had a beer! Next AM we Arrived 545 TH 2nd parking lot, main was full! Geared up, turned on my Diamond Storm headlamp. Lessons learned! Red light not sufficient for hiking in dark on rocky trails. Glad this model had a "dimmer" on white light that worked great! We reached tree line at sunrise, guessed which peak it would show! Proceeded up the trail saw a few hikers in front. Birds were trying to beg us out of food. My partner was being slowed by me, so I told him to go ahead. Had "fun" navigating the boulders with people passing me! Found my water mouthpiece was leaking even though I had an extra cap on it. Some people coming down and going up kept encouraging me up the mountain. I tried not to look at the summit, I didn't want my brain to have a chance to say "nope that is too far!.I stopped too many times, even for people coming down! Arrived 1230 at peak. Gorgeous view, Perfect weather, about 20 people on summit. We ate, took Peak Poses, signed log (what good are these?). Someone named "Jenny" celebrated her "58th 14er"! After an hour a peak started descent 1330. Partner went first then I followed. Noticed lots of "dog poop" bags on way down! Why don't owners pick up their bag and another bag on he trail? Do what golfers do fix your divot and another one, the trails would be clean pretty soon! Two goats ( I named Grace and Fred) joined me on trail, lead me down trail, Fred stopped on the trail and would not move until (yes , you guessed what I did! Pee off trail and he moved.) On the hike met some kids and parents , youngest was a 5 year boy (I heard he had fallen 3 times, brushed off clothes and kept going! tough kid!) and Dad they (made it to base of Hoosier Ridge 13,600 (correct?) ! A girl and boy 9 years old made it to the top! There were also dogs, teenagers, college kids, adults, and my age group "life experienced" 66 (me),71,and 73 years olds (we ALL made it!) hiking this beautiful day. The hike down was " harder" on the knees! I need to learn how to use "trekking sticks" better! When should you use them up? down? boulders? I did learn they slowed me down trying to place the tips every time! Made it down at around 1800. I think "milked" my first 14er and can be a lot faster next peak! This was most likely my last hike this year. Next year I'm retired more time to hike! Lessons Learned: Remember that hiking with a partner means starting and finishing at the end together, not necessarily during the hike! Bring your own stuff like First aid kits, extra food, extra WATER, and compass. Don't be over prepared, trim down before the hike of stuff you don't need. I took insulated pants, micro spikes, hoodie, and enough Stingers and Jerky for a week's stay. Make sure you have enough water (leaking bladder ran out half way down! I had extra water but dropped the bottle in parking lot in dark and it spilled!!!! My partner also ran out with a 100 OZ bladder! I had to remember you can suck on a pebble to keep mouth moist and curb thirst. Couldn't take my Aleeve! my sciatica was "flaring" too! Learn how your new equipment works (my light was left "ON" at peak until my buddy told me! Don't carry an antique large pack (new pack for next year) for "nostalgic sake". This also leads down the "way too much stuff" path! Next year I'm thinking doing the "Easier Peaks" Mt Evans, Bierstadt, Sherman, Grays and Torres, maybe IF I'm ready Long's (2 nights). Thanks to 14ers.com for helping me prepare for successful 1st Summit and the members for excellent advice and suggestions! I look forward to hiking with some of you in person in the future! mode. Rigged up To display your photos (uploaded below) in the final trip report, type the image number (i.e., 1, 2, 3), highlight it with your cursor, and click on the Image button on the right. Example: Image #1 (not yet uploaded) More image format examples: Float image right: Image #3 (not yet uploaded) Float image right, width of 300 pixels: Image #3 (not yet uploaded) Float image left, width of 175 pixels: Image #3 (not yet uploaded) External image: Float external image right, width of 600 pixels:

Rookies 1st 14er

Arrived in Breckenridge 9/25 FRI 5 PM. Checked into Wayside Inn. Excellent place for hikers, no frills. No phone, frig, was clean, had hot tub, cable TV. Coffee in lobby (maker for room if requested). Went to TH to make sure we could find easy in dark. Ate great meal at Breckenridge Brewery (buffalo meat loaf, Excellent), of course we had a beer! Next AM we Arrived 545 TH 2nd parking lot, main was full! Geared up, turned on my Diamond Storm headlamp. Lessons learned! Red light not sufficient for hiking in dark on rocky trails. Glad this model had a "dimmer" on white light that worked great! We reached tree line at sunrise, guessed which peak it would show! Proceeded up the trail saw a few hikers in front. Birds were trying to beg us out of food. My partner was being slowed by me, so I told him to go ahead. Had "fun" navigating the boulders with people passing me! Found my water mouthpiece was leaking even though I had an extra cap on it. Some people coming down and going up kept encouraging me up the mountain. I tried not to look at the summit, I didn't want my brain to have a chance to say "nope that is too far!.I stopped too many times, even for people coming down! Arrived 1230 at peak. Gorgeous view, Perfect weather, about 20 people on summit. We ate, took Peak Poses, signed log (what good are these?). Someone named "Jenny" celebrated her "58th 14er"! After an hour a peak started descent 1330. Partner went first then I followed. Noticed lots of "dog poop" bags on way down! Why don't owners pick up their bag and another bag on he trail? Do what golfers do fix your divot and another one, the trails would be clean pretty soon! Two goats ( I named Grace and Fred) joined me on trail, lead me down trail, Fred stopped on the trail and would not move until (yes , you guessed what I did! Pee off trail and he moved.) On the hike met some kids and parents , youngest was a 5 year boy (I heard he had fallen 3 times, brushed off clothes and kept going! tough kid!) and Dad they (made it to base of Hoosier Ridge 13,600 (correct?) ! A girl and boy 9 years old made it to the top! There were also dogs, teenagers, college kids, adults, and my age group "life experienced" 66 (me),71,and 73 years olds (we ALL made it!) hiking this beautiful day. The hike down was " harder" on the knees! I need to learn how to use "trekking sticks" better! When should you use them up? down? boulders? I did learn they slowed me down trying to place the tips every time! Made it down at around 1800. I think "milked" my first 14er and can be a lot faster next peak!

This was most likely my last hike this year. Next year I'm retired more time to hike!

Lessons Learned: Remember that hiking with a partner means starting and finishing at the end together, not necessarily during the hike! Bring your own stuff like First aid kits, extra food, extra WATER, and compass. Don't be over prepared, trim down before the hike of stuff you don't need. I took insulated pants, micro spikes, hoodie, and enough Stingers and Jerky for a week's stay. Make sure you have enough water (leaking bladder ran out half way down! I had extra water but dropped the bottle in parking lot in dark and it spilled!!!! My partner also ran out with a 100 OZ bladder! I had to remember you can suck on a pebble to keep mouth moist and curb thirst. Couldn't take my Aleeve! my sciatica was "flaring" too! Learn how your new equipment works (my light was left "ON" at peak until my buddy told me! Don't carry an antique large pack (new pack for next year) for "nostalgic sake". This also leads down the "way too much stuff" path!

Next year I'm thinking doing the "Easier Peaks" Mt Evans, Bierstadt, Sherman, Grays and Torres, maybe IF I'm ready Long's (2 nights).

Thanks to 14ers.com for helping me prepare for successful 1st Summit and the members for excellent advice and suggestions! I look forward to hiking with some of you in person in the future!

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