Quandary Peak Trip Report 09/09/2007

Peak(s):	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted:	09/09/2007
Date Climbed:	09/09/2007
Author:	snobrdngChs5189

Quandary - East Ridge (Standard Route)
Some of my friends and I decided to hit up Quandary this Sunday. It was my last fourteener of the Tenmile/Mosquito range and my eleventh total, David‘s twentieth fourteener, and Mitch and Owen‘s first. We left Ft. Collins and after some initial fear because of fog and clouds along I-70 got to the trailhead with amazing weather in about 2 hours. We set out right away, eager to get going. Sign at the trailhead Ready to get going! The trail climbs right away and we struggled a bit for the first half an hour or so, probably because we all didn‘t get enough sleep (who sleeps as a college student anyways?). The trail through the woods is beautiful and the weather was sunny and cool, with no wind. Although we were tired, we knew it was going to be a good day. There are several signs along the trail that lead you the right way to avoid confusion from old crossroads. It is a while before you can actually see Quandary, however, and that can be frustrating. We pressed on up the good trail. David hiking up the switchbacks in the forest. After about forty five minutes to an hour the trail approaches treeline and the vegetation gets more and more sparse. It was warm and sunny and this gave us some incredible views of the mountains to the east. The trail then hangs to the left and goes around Quandary‘s ridge, until the peak itself finally comes into view. It looks far away, and it is, but man, it is an impressive looking mountain. This is where the dirt trail ends and the rocks begin. There are several long sections where the rocks are set up like a staircase--for me, this made it easier going up, but hard on the knees going down. Amazing weather and view, looking back down towards the highway (sorry about the next picture, my lens has a problem opening all the way). Quandary finally coming into view. There was a layer of fog that was below us, and this was incredible. We stopped often just to look around at the scenery...it was something else. At this point we were just hitting the ridge where the trail flattens out, and we were feeling good. The weather was holding up well, and we actually ended up stripping layers (we had anticipated cold and wind based on weather reports). Almost to where the trail flattens out, before the summit push. This is where the trail gets interesting. Quandary was a big reminder that even fourteeners considered "easy" by guidebooks and even this web site will still kick your a. Technically, it was very easy, but the trail was steep and seemingly neverending and we took frequent breaks to catch our breath. David and I were ahead of the other two but we were still struggling a little. You just have to keep going, though, and slowly but surely we made our way up to the false summit. Although we were sucking wind, we still couldn‘t help but notice the scenery. Pacific Peak loomed in the distance, looking like a mini wetterhorn. Once you get to the false summit (and, for us, after a break) the trail flattens out again and it is a short walk to the official summit. Here is a view showing Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross to the south on the easy remaining trail to the summit: We summited in about 3 hours and it made everything worth it. The views all around were incredible and the weather was good. It was warmer on the summit today than it was in Ft. Collins. There were quite a lot of people at the top so we ate, talked to some interesting people, took pictures, and hung out for about an hour. Mitch and Owen agreed that it was something else and that they will for sure do another fourteener. It‘s weird that all the pain you feel during the ascent is completely erased once you get to the top. I think it‘s more of a mental thing than a physical one; joy takes over. Quandary‘s summit! Sherman seen from Quandary‘s Summit--it actually looks like a peak from this angle! Obligatory summit photos: My favorite pic: After about an hour the weather turned very quickly and we saw ominous clouds looming to the west. I‘m pretty sure everyone left the summit at the same time cause it was a highway coming down. On the ridge we were buffeted by high winds and snow, but it didn‘t last very long...we were basically hiking in a cloud. It got very cold again after being hot on the summit....that‘s Colorado for you. I hate descents, and they are a killer on my knees. David ran down the mountain and waited at the car for us for about an hour. Owen and I were next, and Mitch was way behind...we all made it down fine though. A good idea of the slope of the upper trail. It was NOT fun to descend.** Towards the bottom the sun came back out and it got warm again. The aspens are changing....WINTER IS COMING!!! Gotta get out the snowboard soon to make sure it still fits Overall this was a physically straining climb (despite the easy rating) and was extremely rewarding. Quandary looks huge from the highway and you‘ll appreciate its size on this hike, but the reward makes up for it. Another amazing day in the mountains with some friends. > Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Quandary - East Ridge (Standard Route)

Some of my friends and I decided to hit up Quandary this Sunday. It was my last fourteener of the Tenmile/Mosquito range and my eleventh total, David‘s twentieth fourteener, and Mitch and Owen‘s first.

We left Ft. Collins and after some initial fear because of fog and clouds along I-70 got to the trailhead with amazing weather in about 2 hours. We set out right away, eager to get going.

Sign at the trailhead

Ready to get going!

The trail climbs right away and we struggled a bit for the first half an hour or so, probably because we all didn‘t get enough sleep (who sleeps as a college student anyways?). The trail through the woods is beautiful and the weather was sunny and cool, with no wind. Although we were tired, we knew it was going to be a good day. There are several signs along the trail that lead you the right way to avoid confusion from old crossroads. It is a while before you can actually see Quandary, however, and that can be frustrating. We pressed on up the good trail.

David hiking up the switchbacks in the forest.

After about forty five minutes to an hour the trail approaches treeline and the vegetation gets more and more sparse. It was warm and sunny and this gave us some incredible views of the mountains to the east. The trail then hangs to the left and goes around Quandary‘s ridge, until the peak itself finally comes into view. It looks far away, and it is, but man, it is an impressive looking mountain. This is where the dirt trail ends and the rocks begin. There are several long sections where the rocks are set up like a staircase--for me, this made it easier going up, but hard on the knees going down.

Amazing weather and view, looking back down towards the highway (sorry about the next picture, my lens has a problem opening all the way).

Quandary finally coming into view.

There was a layer of fog that was below us, and this was incredible. We stopped often just to look around at the scenery...it was something else. At this point we were just hitting the ridge where the trail flattens out, and we were feeling good. The weather was holding up well, and we actually ended up stripping layers (we had anticipated cold and wind based on weather reports).

Almost to where the trail flattens out, before the summit push.

This is where the trail gets interesting. Quandary was a big reminder that even fourteeners considered "easy" by guidebooks and even this web site will still kick your a**. Technically, it was very easy, but the trail was steep and seemingly neverending and we took frequent breaks to catch our breath. David and I were ahead of the other two but we were still struggling a little. You just have to keep going, though, and slowly but surely we made our way up to the false summit.

Although we were sucking wind, we still couldn‘t help but notice the scenery. Pacific Peak loomed in the distance, looking like a mini wetterhorn.

Once you get to the false summit (and, for us, after a break) the trail flattens out again and it is a short walk to the official summit. Here is a view showing Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross to the south on the easy remaining trail to the summit:

We summited in about 3 hours and it made everything worth it. The views all around were incredible and the weather was good. It was warmer on the summit today than it was in Ft. Collins. There were quite a lot of people at the top so we ate, talked to some interesting people, took pictures, and hung out for about an hour. Mitch and Owen agreed that it was something else and that they will for sure do another fourteener. It‘s weird that all the pain you feel during the ascent is completely erased once you get to the top. I think it‘s more of a mental thing than a physical one; joy takes over.

Quandary‘s summit!

Sherman seen from Quandary‘s Summit--it actually looks like a peak from this angle!

Obligatory summit photos:

My favorite pic:

After about an hour the weather turned very quickly and we saw ominous clouds looming to the west. I‘m pretty sure everyone left the summit at the same time cause it was a highway coming down. On the ridge we were buffeted by high winds and snow, but it didn‘t last very long...we were basically hiking in a cloud. It got very cold again after being hot on the summit....that‘s Colorado for you. I hate descents, and they are a killer on my knees. David ran down the mountain and waited at the car for us for about an hour. Owen and I were next, and Mitch was way behind...we all made it down fine though.

A good idea of the slope of the upper trail. It was NOT fun to descend.

Towards the bottom the sun came back out and it got warm again. The aspens are changing....WINTER IS COMING!!! Gotta get out the snowboard soon to make sure it still fits

Overall this was a physically straining climb (despite the easy rating) and was extremely rewarding. Quandary looks huge from the highway and you‘ll appreciate its size on this hike, but the reward makes up for it. Another amazing day in the mountains with some friends.

>

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Greg777

Great report
11/30/2010 5:28pm

This brings back some great memories. My first Summit along with my son. The Decent was painful...lost both large toenails but when they finally come off I'm glueing them to my summit photo...which totally freaks my wife out...but my son thinks it is cool so...cool wins

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