Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-04-11, By: eddiffendal Info: Did Quandary yesterday. Solid boot pack all the way to the summit. A few people had snowshoes but not necessary. Spikes would be helpful but not required up high. Snow conditions for the ski / ride in the NE Bowls were pretty variable and icy up high. Turned to corn down lower. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-04-09, By: askwjs Info: Started early to avoid having to used snowshoes, back to car by 930. Was able to use just spikes the whole morning as the snow was supportive the entire time. There are a few spots where is looks like the afternoon sun has been causing postholing, so be prepared with snowshoes if you are getting a later start or a warm day. Beware social trails as you get close to treeline. Above treeline, there was very little trail to follow, had to make your own to gain the ridge and from the ridge to the summit. Shared the trail with a dozen other hikers but didn't run into any until I was almost back at treeline. Cloudy and snowing this morning help keep the snow solid. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-04-04, By: ChaseTharp Info: Started at 5am and returned to the car at 10:30. No post holing and snow stayed solid for us. Noticed a lot of people starting around 10am, so expect a lot of deep post holes while hiking. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-04-03, By: JacqueTietjen Info: Perfect weather today! Hot and little to no wind. if you plan on going on another warm day in the next few, snowshoes still recommend for at least the descent. Wore spikes up and was great, post holed the entire way down as snow warmed. Ankle deep descending the ridge, thigh deep at treeline and is kindof a mess.... Start early for firm snow on the ascent. Warmed fast |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-04-01, By: +Gravy Info: The east bowl is wind-loaded with snow like an ice cream scoop and current tracks go directly across the danger zone of that bowl, one of the only spots on Quandary's east ridge route that is ever flagged for even remotely possible avy risks. See this thread for concerns given the right conditions: https://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22558 |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-29, By: Busdriver Info: Left car at 10- back at 3:30. Used spikes the whole way up but by return it was a lot softer so used snow shoes. Could have used snow shoes on a few sections going up but too lazy to put on and off. would use them next time. The wind was brutal on the east ridge spine and almost as bad the rest of the way to summit. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-29, By: wsegrest25 Info: We snow hiked up to catch the full moon rise but turned back early due to conditions. We headed up at 4pm and stopped short of first summit at 2miles. Based on advice of some who just came down the trail, we left our snowshoes in the car and just used spikes. The spikes were great within treeline but we spent a ton of time postholing between top of treeline and just below first false summit. We recommend snowshoes - wished we had the snowshoes but turned back due to winds. Not horrible, but not enjoyable enough to keep going (with the posthole work experience). Moon was clouded over anyways - we'll try another day |
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Route: East Ridge to East Bowl Posted On: 2021-03-21, By: 123tqb Info: The skin up was a bit slippery, as it was mostly on hard wind crust, but the skiing was great. The snow was basic dust on crust in the bowl, but it was supportive enough to carve the whole way down without slipping. Still sharky, as usual. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-20, By: Albatrossz7 Info: Peak conditions were good, though it was really windy today. I did use snow shoes going up but could have easily have done it just in spikes as the snow was fairly firm in the morning mostly well trenched all the way to the top. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-19, By: Gueza Info: Decent ski conditions and coverage - summit to TH was no problem |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-18, By: ScottLovesRMNP Info: Snow was soft and deep in spots during the afternoon, so I was glad I had snowshoes. Wore them to 13,200, then switched to spikes, as it was slick on the upper mountain. Light winds even on the summit; peaks are blanketed white thanks to recent snow - gorgeous! |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-07, By: Dignus Info: Like others have said the East Ridge is well packed down and easy to follow. Less snow than there should be at this time of year with plenty of rocks exposed. Bare booted it all the way up and used spikes for the descent. Sun protection definitely required-morning glare is intense! https://youtu.be/MkLZoVKEF8c |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-06, By: KestrelWarrior Info: Unreal sunny, calm, and warm day. Parking lot was full before 830a - anyone who parked on the adjacent street was ticketed (park a bit down 9). Traction worn by 95% of folks (which may have been 95 people), flotation not really needed in the morning.. would want near the tree line in the afternoon - gaiters were fine coming down. Saw ~25 skinning up and a few nice lines lookers right. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-06, By: 14er101 Info: Amazing if not perfect weather today, bluebird skies, and minimal wind, not to mention that it was warm. Trailhead was full by 8 AM and a lot of people parked on the road outside of it (and got big tickets for it). I would say at least 100 people today. The trail is 100% trenched and we only post holed a few times. Totally doable in just Microspikes, just watch yourself on the way down! For those of you who ski/board, both bowls looked to have 90%+ snow coverage and watched a fair number of people make solid descents. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-05, By: jryor121 Info: Typical quandary. If you've got a pair of running shoes and spikes it's doable. Around the 1 mile mark into the hike there's a quite annoying post hole section. Everything else is pretty well established hard pack with some slightly wind drifted spots above treeline. Perfect bluebird day with no wind and warm temps. 1:55 up, :45 down https://strava.app.link/tDzoIxu1neb |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-03, By: JtheChemE Info: The track is a well packed superhighway. Could have got by with just trailrunners. Wore microspikes, but they probably weren't needed today. With the intense sun, it's likely to be icy early in the morning so spikes might be a good bet. Felt like spring snow. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-03-02, By: mtbforlife4 Info: Summited Quandary today via E Ridge. I was hoping to traverse across to Fletcher Mountain but the wind was fierce on the ridge, so I decided to bail. Beautiful clear day, only saw ~11 people all day and had the summit to myself for a good 45mins. Trail conditions were awesome, hard pack the whole way up. Had my crampons on 75% of the time (not really required just trying to get used to them for a up coming Rainier trip). |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-02-28, By: Kevin Baker Info: Solid track all the way to the summit. Snowshoes were not needed today, although spikes were efficient on the hardpack. Counted 96 people on a cold day! |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-02-17, By: ejfahren Info: Skied from summit. Snow was thin and wind hammered in the upper bowl, but it goes. Lower bowl was delightful. Pics of both bowls included. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2021-02-15, By: Gandalf69 Info: Went to the false summit, then had to go to breck for work. Worst postholing was around treeline. Snow shoes or traction required. Talked with people who summited, upper bowl is skiable. Deep snow mixed with rocks and other obstacles sticking out, but very fun. |
