Quandry east ridge snow/avy conditions

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mtnsandmedicine
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Quandry east ridge snow/avy conditions

Post by mtnsandmedicine »

Thinking about heading up Quandry with a friend on Tuesday or Wednesday this week, but am a bit put off by the current avalanche reports. Can anyone with experience on Quandry in the winter give me an idea about avalanche risk on the east ridge? As per the winter route notes on the east ridge route profile, we will be cutting to the right at around 11,700ft to stay above the steeper south-facing slope. I'm hoping that by mid-week the snowpack will be more stable, but I don't want to give myself false confidence in the snow report either.

Also, is the trail well-packed enough right now to leave snowshoes in the car or should we bring them with us?

Any thoughts/tips will be appreciated!
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bmcqueen
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Re: Quandry east ridge snow/avy conditions

Post by bmcqueen »

In case you are still learning the site, the conditions reports section is great for current snow conditions (latest report answers your snowshoe question - https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/peakstat ... cnum=19208). On avalanche conditions, Quandary’s east ridge is about the best route choice you could make. As long as you take the winter bypass you reference and don’t drift way right into the bowl up higher, you ought to be just fine from that perspective.
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Jorts
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Re: Quandry east ridge snow/avy conditions

Post by Jorts »

You don't need snowshoes. Maybe some traction for the last push. Just stay on the ridge and don't boot up any bowls above treeline. It'll just be wind scoured garbage anyway.
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daway8
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Re: Quandry east ridge snow/avy conditions

Post by daway8 »

Dangerous avalanche conditions don't mean you can't hike, just that you need to be very careful about picking your routes, and Quandary east ridge is one of the safest go-to winter routes out there if you do the little bypass. Perfect intro to winter peak. Enjoy, just make sure you're ready for the possibility of very cold wind...
ker0uac
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Re: Quandry east ridge snow/avy conditions

Post by ker0uac »

While east ridge won't present avvy danger, the trail itself below tree line can be confusing to follow in the winter due to so many tracks and trenches. Be careful. You could end up postholing offtrail so deep to the point of getting stuck there or breaking a leg. Don't ever follow ski tracks.
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Re: Quandry east ridge snow/avy conditions

Post by annqueue »

Newbie trying to learn here... (yes, I should take a class, I will get there). Can someone explain why it's ok to take this bypass route that goes right across/under an east facing slope, which CAIC is currently rating 'considerable'? I get that you're aiming for the ridge to the north of the summer route, but what makes this an acceptable way to get there? Thanks.
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daway8
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Re: Quandry east ridge snow/avy conditions

Post by daway8 »

annqueue wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:48 pm Newbie trying to learn here... (yes, I should take a class, I will get there). Can someone explain why it's ok to take this bypass route that goes right across/under an east facing slope, which CAIC is currently rating 'considerable'? I get that you're aiming for the ridge to the north of the summer route, but what makes this an acceptable way to get there? Thanks.
Slope angle is the key factor of importance here - go to the 14ers map and turn on the slope angle overlay - https://www.14ers.com/map.php, slope angle overlay is turned on by clicking the box in the top left with the red/blue/black rectangles. Anything shaded yellow/red try not to go on or under. This route is mostly too low of an angle to slide (there's a lot more that goes into avy analysis than this but this is the most basic starting point for analysis).
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