anyone want to do Quandary Peak-East Ridge Mid-Jan 2016?

[eric10]

Anyone interested/looking to do Quandary Peak - East Ridge, possible on Jan 15, 16 or 17?
I will be in town and do not want to do it alone since I have not climb/hiked it before?

was thinking of starting the hike around 6:30ish am.

My skill level is beginner/intermediate. Not comfortable doing it alone in the winter.

Or if anyone knows any groups or anyone else who is going or thinking of going around that time, if you could please advise that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Cheers,
Eric

[AyeYo]

There's a large group doing it the prior weekend if you're around then.

[eric10]

There's a large group doing it the prior weekend if you're around then.

Thanks for the reply, Jan 9-10th wkend? if so I will unfortunately not be able to

[peter303]

If you go on Sunday and IT HAS NOT SNOWED IN THE PAST 24 HOURS you might have a pre-stomped trail from the Saturday crowd. This mainly applies to the forest section because once you get above the treeline the wind quickly erases footprints. Once you get on the ridge, the direction is pretty obvious by following ridge up.

However good weather should trump hoping for tracks.

I recommend you or someone in your group have navigation skills or devices. If there is a whiteout from falling snow or fog you may have trouble seeing where to go. And fresh snow can erase tracks. There is tricky spot as to when descend from the ridge to the switchbacks you could miss. Plus the correct exit from the forest.

Also be prepared for -20F wind chills on the windy high ridge. You get nose or finger frostbite quickly then. If its sunny, it could be 50F at a sunny trail head. Layer for both extremes.

[Point North]

I may want to do Quandary on one of those weekends. It will depend on the weather, and a couple of other factors.

How close to the trailhead could you get with an ordinary 2WD sedan, assuming road conditions do not change much in the next two weeks?

[rachel88]

I may want to do Quandary on one of those weekends. It will depend on the weather, and a couple of other factors.

How close to the trailhead could you get with an ordinary 2WD sedan, assuming road conditions do not change much in the next two weeks?

The lower trail head is right off co 9, which is paved. it is plowed, no bathrooms, no overnight parking. Trails leaving parking lot are obvious.