I'd Advise People To Stop Recommending Quandary as a Beginner 14er

[peterkfes]

I agree with those who have said in general that no fourteener is easy. Longs was my fourth peak back in 2011 and I'll never forget later that week before heading back to Boston and sea level saying to myself let's do Bierstadt...it'll be easy. Well, I did make it to the summit and enjoyed the day but when my wife picked me up at the trailhead I asked her to remind me in the future that I'm an idiot if I ever make the claim that any fourteener is easy. Yes, as pointed out nicely by others, some are harder than others but, at this point in my fourteener adventure I live by lessons learned. Also, Quandary was my second fourteener and I hadn't yet learned my acclimation routine. I developed an altitude headache after coming down that landed my in bed for half a day. Nothing easy about that but again...lessons learned. I strongly agree with the comments about proper acclimation, clear thinking, and deliberate planning.

[Ptglhs]

To say something is the easiest 14er is like saying you're the thinnest kid at fat camp. Unless you live in La Ricondada Peru and spend a couple of hours a day on the stairmaster with 40lbs on your back none of them are easy. I can do Sherman or Democrat, or Quandary (etc) without feeling exhausted, doesn't mean they're easy. Those are appropriate beginner peaks. Bierstadt, Evans, and Quandary have minimal exposure, light, if any, class 2 bouldering, no route finding, and paved trailheads. Democrat, Sherman, Handies, have all but paved trailheads.

Someone's 1st 14er is supposed to be a relatively safe challenge, something we feel a sense of acheivement after we do. We appreciate the views, the knowledge we pushed through something damn difficult. If my 1st couple of 14ers were easy I doubt I'd have wanted to do more. It's the effort and exertion which lead to the feeling of accomplishment which keep people coming back.

To the OP:
Maybe your attempts at Quandary made you better acclimated and in better physical shape to do the other peaks? Maybe people need to realize nothing worth doing is easy? Just because someone struggles on quandary and then succeeded on another Peak doesn't mean they wouldn't have struggled on whichever they did as their first 14er.

[GuiGirard]

It depends what the people you recommend it to have experienced.
Have they done very long hikes before with 3000-4000 ft+ elevation gain but aren't so comfortable with class 2 terrain? Then they should be fine up Quandary as a 1st 14er. Likewise for Elbert.
Have they done a bunch of easy class 2 hikes with moderate exposure but not many long hikes and not much with 3000+ elevation change? Then Quandary might not be the best choice. Bierstadt, Huron, Sherman are examples of 1st 14ers that better align with their previous experience.
Have they done nothing above 12,000k, don't know what class 2 means, and never hiked 6+ miles r/t on steep terrain? Then I'm afraid I have no good 1st 14er to recommend for them until they gain some experience in 1 or 2 or 3 of the above, because NO 14er is a piece of cake and NO 14er presents no risk to the inexperienced hiker.

I knew what class 2 meant and how comfortable I would be in it (I've done rock climbing and climbed some class 4 peaks in the Alps when younger, albeit roped with very skilled people), I knew I'd likely have no issues hiking 10+ miles with 4000+ ft elevation change. The only new component was the elevation as a 14er would be about 1000-1400 ft beyond the highest point I'd ever been in my lifetime then. I eyed at Massive and it worked out very well as a 1st 14er.

Oh, and turning back when the number of new variables not experienced before becomes too high and the hike is perceived too risky IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Duh, I turned myself back on Castle lately, once I realized how much of a bigger commitment it was compared to anything I'd hiked before, as I factored in rock looseness, route finding and distance remaining to summit, plus clouds starting to form (hiking the road from all the way down did not help, but it is what it is, and I don't see as a failure, I see it as wisdom!).

All the Quandary rec’s are from bot accounts ran by the town of Breck in an effort to increase parking revenue

Ha! Now THAT makes sense!

[12ersRule]

I'm not a gym rat, and I'll be 50 next August. I'll never finish the 14ers because many of them are above my pay grade, but I do enjoy "easier" adventures.

Not sure the relevance of being nearly 50 is here? At 50, you're probably not going to run a mile as fast as you would at 30, but mentally and physically, none of the 14ers would be unattainable for any 50 year old uneligible for a blue parking tag.

[TravelingMatt]

Not sure the relevance of being nearly 50 is here? At 50, you're probably not going to run a mile as fast as you would at 30, but mentally and physically, none of the 14ers would be unattainable for any 50 year old uneligible for a blue parking tag.

I was in the best shape of my life at age 49.

This year, at over 50, I set personal bests for most miles hiked in one day, and in a separate outing total time on trail in one day. Not to mention most miles driven in one day, but that's a separate issue.

[CaptainSuburbia]

I'm not a gym rat, and I'll be 50 next August. I'll never finish the 14ers because many of them are above my pay grade, but I do enjoy "easier" adventures.

Not sure the relevance of being nearly 50 is here? At 50, you're probably not going to run a mile as fast as you would at 30, but mentally and physically, none of the 14ers would be unattainable for any 50 year old uneligible for a blue parking tag.

Agreed. Age 50 should not be a barrier to climbing 14ers. However, I'm finding pickleball to be a much easier sport in my 50's and I'd highly recommend it as an alternative.

Captainpickleball

[TravelingMatt]

I thought the minimum age for pickleball was 70

[CaptainSuburbia]

I thought the minimum age for pickleball was 70

So that's why I've been getting those weird looks down at the senior center everytime I hit an Erne or atp winner

[12ersRule]

I thought the minimum age for pickleball was 70

So that's why I've been getting those weird looks down at the senior center everytime I hit an Erne or atp winner

s**t talking like "In your face, gramps!" probably doesn't help either.

[scvaughn]

I'm not a gym rat, and I'll be 50 next August. I'll never finish the 14ers because many of them are above my pay grade, but I do enjoy "easier" adventures.

Not sure the relevance of being nearly 50 is here? At 50, you're probably not going to run a mile as fast as you would at 30, but mentally and physically, none of the 14ers would be unattainable for any 50 year old uneligible for a blue parking tag.

Agreed. Age 50 should not be a barrier to climbing 14ers. However, I'm finding pickleball to be a much easier sport in my 50's and I'd highly recommend it as an alternative.

Captainpickleball

Cool, as long as you don't launch the pickleball off of a summit.

[Mtnman200]

I'm not a gym rat, and I'll be 50 next August. I'll never finish the 14ers because many of them are above my pay grade, but I do enjoy "easier" adventures.

I've done 55 14ers since I turned 50, and I'm hardly athletic. If I can do them, you certainly can.

[JQDivide]

...but I just wish I had heard other recommendations for beginner hikes...

I would love to see where this came from.
Are you saying everyone one you asked, or in the research you did... NO ONE mentioned any other peaks?
I don't believe that.
Every thread on this site about beginner peaks has several options mentioned. The beginner list has options.

The best way to get in hiking shape is to go hike. So, each peak after does get easier.

With that said... Congrats on your successful summits. Keep going. Lots of great trails and summit view out there.

- - -
And after 50... I just need more recovery time. Maybe a bit more Vitamin I.