Quandary Peak Trip Report 06/13/2008

Peak(s):	Quandary Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted:	06/13/2008
Date Climbed:	06/12/2008
Author:	dflow

quandary - west ridge
got back yesterday afternoon from quandary. it was quite the trip. we camped at the blue lakes trail head and endured strong winds all night. when we woke up in the morning, fresh snow was covering the ground. we started hiking around 6:30. the trail came in and out of snow fields as we passed by the reservoir. we started to gain some elevation and turned up into the basin below the southwest face of quandary. after we came across the old mine ruins, we followed the stream upwards. eventually the snow covered any trail we could see and the stream. so we decided to start moving higher. we kicked up a couloir and started to follow cairns that were few and far between. we finally got to a point where we did some sketchy climbing to reach the west ridge. i think we missed the correct route to the ridge, but made it to the top eventually. view from the ridge looking west. view from the ridge looking to the summit. we continued along the ridge in very strong winds. it had that swirling effect so it seemed to come from both sides. at times we had to stop to take cover next to the rocks. there was plenty of snow and sometimes ice on the ridge. so the towers and crux points took a little longer. hiking the ridge. negotiating a trail on the ridge. one of the crux areas. view down the north face of the ridge. there were definitely some points on the ridge where we were moving slow to make sure we didnt fall. the high exposure also slowed us down a bit. but once past the few crux points the ridge went quick. we ascended to the summit by 9:45 and snapped a few pictures. i think we spend a total of 3 minutes up there. the wind on the summit was strong, the sun was blocked by the clouds, and we were already cold. we had seen a few other hikers/skiers on the summit, but they were gone by the time we reached it. i assume they headed down cristos couloir. summit. we descended down cristos back to the reservoir below. there was plenty of snow, but most of it was hard due to the wind and cold temperatures. we made it back down to the car by 11:15. cristos couloir. overall great trip and lots of fun. we made it without snow gear, but i would suggest taking some gear along with you. perhaps an axe or crampons just to make the ascent/descent a little easier. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

quandary - west ridge

got back yesterday afternoon from quandary. it was quite the trip. we camped at the blue lakes trail head and endured strong winds all night. when we woke up in the morning, fresh snow was covering the ground. we started hiking around 6:30. the trail came in and out of snow fields as we passed by the reservoir. we started to gain some elevation and turned up into the basin below the southwest face of quandary.

after we came across the old mine ruins, we followed the stream upwards. eventually the snow covered any trail we could see and the stream. so we decided to start moving higher. we kicked up a couloir and started to follow cairns that were few and far between. we finally got to a point where we did some sketchy climbing to reach the west ridge. i think we missed the correct route to the ridge, but made it to the top eventually.

view from the ridge looking west.

view from the ridge looking to the summit.

we continued along the ridge in very strong winds. it had that swirling effect so it seemed to come from both sides. at times we had to stop to take cover next to the rocks. there was plenty of snow and sometimes ice on the ridge. so the towers and crux points took a little longer.

hiking the ridge.

negotiating a trail on the ridge.

one of the crux areas.

view down the north face of the ridge.

there were definitely some points on the ridge where we were moving slow to make sure we didnt fall. the high exposure also slowed us down a bit. but once past the few crux points the ridge went quick. we ascended to the summit by 9:45 and snapped a few pictures. i think we spend a total of 3 minutes up there. the wind on the summit was strong, the sun was blocked by the clouds, and we were already cold. we had seen a few other hikers/skiers on the summit, but they were gone by the time we reached it. i assume they headed down cristos couloir.

summit.

we descended down cristos back to the reservoir below. there was plenty of snow, but most of it was hard due to the wind and cold temperatures. we made it back down to the car by 11:15.

cristos couloir.

overall great trip and lots of fun. we made it without snow gear, but i would suggest taking some gear along with you. perhaps an axe or crampons just to make the ascent/descent a little easier.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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