Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: Febraury 22, 2004
Great climb with fellow SPers! Did Bierstadt on the previous day. Started with a crawl to avoid altitude sickness problems. As a result, ran out of time/good weather. Turned around at 13,800' . There is always another day/mountain.
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: February 22, 2004
Does it get any better than this? I thought climbing in the summer was beautiful, but it doesn't compare to doing a winter climb. I was awestruck by the beauty of this mountain. I will always be grateful for Quandary and my friends for this winter moutain experience.
Route Climbed: Quandary Trail (Main trailhead) Date Climbed: March 2002
This was my first 14er. It's amazing how far I've come. Believe it or not, I carried three 1 liter water bottles (2 were frozen), some granola bars, my lunch and a very thin wind breaker (not even waterproof). All of this in a $5 nylon back pack. Thank God I listened to my friends and purchased gators for this hike. Also, may I recommend; never EVER wear jean shorts when hiking a 14er ;)
Nothing but snow on the last ridge to the summit. It was the scariest experience of my life. With the wind trying it's best to force me over, all I could see was blinding white everwhere. Heaven forbid I look up at the deep blue sky! Major disorientation, but what a rush when I finally reached the top!!
As I have said many times, there are no words to describe this feeling. You have to experience it for yourself.
Any way after pictures and lunch on the summit it was time to descend. My friends had a great time glissading most of the way down (jean shorts don't slide...haha). Everyone thought it was real funny when I got stuck in hip deep snow....yeah right.
Anyway the whole trip was a blast and I was absolutely hooked after that.
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: October 1996
Crisp, fall hike. Fresh snow, beautiful.
belexes - Oct 15, 2003 11:40 am Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2003
Route Climbed: Quandary Trail Date Climbed: October 12, 2003
It was a crystal clear, beautiful day, but it was very windy and cold at the summit. A balaclava would have been useful on this day. There was only a light dusting of snow on the trail, nothing too difficult to deal with at this time.
Route Climbed: Southwest Slope Date Climbed: August 22, 2003
With storms looming overhead, and nightfall pressing closer, we decided to abandon the longer West ridge approach and climb the peak directly from the Southwest corner. The scree made it a difficult scramble, and wore us out big time. We escaped via the east slope to avoid becoming a human ass-sled on the way down.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 3, 2003
Nice alternative route for avoiding the onslaught of hikers slogging up the standard route. 1hr, 45 min from Blue Lake Dam to the saddle. 3hrs total, from the dam to the summit. Exposed 3rd class on the ridge makes it that much more worth your while. Never did see a goat.
Natasha - Mar 11, 2004 1:54 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: March 7, 2004Great views, near perfect weather
carloselbrus - Mar 2, 2004 11:10 am
Route Climbed: Normal . Winter Climb Date Climbed: Feb 22 2004Winter climb.
carloselbrus - Mar 2, 2004 11:09 am
Route Climbed: Blue Lake Date Climbed: Aug. 02 , 2003My second attemp to climb this guly...
Bill562 - Feb 25, 2004 1:08 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: Febraury 22, 2004Great climb with fellow SPers! Did Bierstadt on the previous day. Started with a crawl to avoid altitude sickness problems. As a result, ran out of time/good weather. Turned around at 13,800' . There is always another day/mountain.
Bill
Nelson - Feb 25, 2004 7:58 am
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2004A perfect winter day with a perfect group of SP'ers! It doesn't get any better.
Alan Ellis - Feb 23, 2004 11:31 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: February 22, 2004Does it get any better than this? I thought climbing in the summer was beautiful, but it doesn't compare to doing a winter climb. I was awestruck by the beauty of this mountain. I will always be grateful for Quandary and my friends for this winter moutain experience.
gemgoddis - Feb 2, 2004 11:58 am
Route Climbed: Quandary Trail (Main trailhead) Date Climbed: March 2002This was my first 14er. It's amazing how far I've come. Believe it or not, I carried three 1 liter water bottles (2 were frozen), some granola bars, my lunch and a very thin wind breaker (not even waterproof). All of this in a $5 nylon back pack. Thank God I listened to my friends and purchased gators for this hike. Also, may I recommend; never EVER wear jean shorts when hiking a 14er ;)
Nothing but snow on the last ridge to the summit. It was the scariest experience of my life. With the wind trying it's best to force me over, all I could see was blinding white everwhere. Heaven forbid I look up at the deep blue sky! Major disorientation, but what a rush when I finally reached the top!!
As I have said many times, there are no words to describe this feeling. You have to experience it for yourself.
Any way after pictures and lunch on the summit it was time to descend. My friends had a great time glissading most of the way down (jean shorts don't slide...haha). Everyone thought it was real funny when I got stuck in hip deep snow....yeah right.
Anyway the whole trip was a blast and I was absolutely hooked after that.
xskier77 - Feb 2, 2004 2:05 am
Route Climbed: East Slopes Date Climbed: December 6, 20032nd time on Quandary. First winter 14er :) many more to come
JonBradford - Jan 13, 2004 12:51 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge the first time, East Ridge thereafter Date Climbed: July 22, 2000-November 17, 2001, January 12, 2003Quandary Peak is a nice fourteener to have so close by. Its multiple routes and sweet summit view make it stand out as a keeper.
Jon
hhsilleck - Jan 10, 2004 6:50 pm
Route Climbed: east slopes Date Climbed: June 2000Also climbed in November 2003 - bring snowshoes or skis in the early snow season!
bdewoody - Dec 3, 2003 6:28 pm
Route Climbed: Quandary Trial Date Climbed: August 2001Very easy.
jeffgun - Nov 15, 2003 1:37 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: September 30th, 2003Finally climbed this one for the first time, with my wife Erin, on our first anniversary get away.
Nelson - Oct 23, 2003 8:22 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: October 1996Crisp, fall hike. Fresh snow, beautiful.
belexes - Oct 15, 2003 11:40 am Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2003
Route Climbed: Quandary Trail Date Climbed: October 12, 2003It was a crystal clear, beautiful day, but it was very windy and cold at the summit. A balaclava would have been useful on this day. There was only a light dusting of snow on the trail, nothing too difficult to deal with at this time.
philwortmann - Aug 30, 2003 3:12 pm
Route Climbed: Inwood Arete Date Climbed: 28 August 03The Inwood Arete gives me newfound respect for Quandary. The best route on the mountain, can't wait to come back and do it again.
Brice Neugebauer - Aug 30, 2003 10:01 am
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: Feb 2000Lost my iceax here (actually left it at the trailhead). Should have brought the skis...
xyati - Aug 28, 2003 1:09 pm
Route Climbed: Inwood Arete Date Climbed: August 24, 2003We reached the summit on just under 5 hours from the trailhead at McCullough Gulch. Beautiful day of 5th class climbing!
CanopyBoy - Aug 24, 2003 12:10 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Slope Date Climbed: August 22, 2003With storms looming overhead, and nightfall pressing closer, we decided to abandon the longer West ridge approach and climb the peak directly from the Southwest corner. The scree made it a difficult scramble, and wore us out big time. We escaped via the east slope to avoid becoming a human ass-sled on the way down.
dp - Aug 20, 2003 9:40 pm
Route Climbed: east slopes Date Climbed: July 7, 2002First 14'er for Spencer the Mountain Dog (at 9 months of age). Great weather.
jwclimbs - Aug 4, 2003 9:00 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 3, 2003Nice alternative route for avoiding the onslaught of hikers slogging up the standard route. 1hr, 45 min from Blue Lake Dam to the saddle. 3hrs total, from the dam to the summit. Exposed 3rd class on the ridge makes it that much more worth your while. Never did see a goat.