Quandary Peak - 14,265 ft

Date: 10-14-2004

Climbers: George Barnes (solo)

Route:  East Slopes II, Class 1 (via new CFI trail)

RT distance:  6.6 miles (according to CFI signs)

RT time: 6 hours

Elevation gain:  3,375 feet (according to CFI signs)
Coordinates of summit: 39° 23.83'N, 106° 6.38'W
USGS Quadrangles: Breckenridge
 

Trip Report:

After a pit stop in Fairplay for Red Bull and a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, I made it to the new CFI trailhead off Summit County 850 just after 8:20 AM. I laced up my boots, donned gaiters for the new snow, and was off by about 8:30 AM.

There was about six inches of snow on the trail, and only a few sets of prints in it. Soon after breaking tree line I saw what I assume was the driver of the only other car in the lot coming down the trail. Based on the early hour and lack of higher foot prints, I'm guessing he didn't go to the top. Knowing that I'm the only person on the entire mountain raises my level of caution, and I'm extra cautious of my footing.
 

Above tree line the trail is completely drifted over, and I'm breaking trail through new snow around 6-12" deep. In places it's knee deep, but for the most part it's pretty easy going. I begin to notice the increasing wind as I get away from the trees. There's a lot of blowing snow visible on the ridge, and the summit is socked in with thick clouds.
 

Once I gain the exposed ridge I'm feeling the full effect of the increasing winds. I'd begun hiking in a wicking base layer shirt, but soon add a windstopper jacket, and later a waterproof/breathable shell. Windstopper gloves soon aren't enough, so I swap them for mitts. I can't recall ever getting blasted by wind so strong, and I'm nearly knocked over by some of the gusts. I estimate the gusts to be over 40 mph, and begin using my ice axe as a third balance point. I would later read that eastern slopes saw gusts over 50 mph. Not keen on getting tossed off the ridge, I decide to hike slightly below the ridge on the windward side. The wind driven snow feels like sand paper on my face, and I regret not bringing my goggles or balaclava.

The wind leaves some interesting creations. I first notice "inverted footprints" left by a previous hiker. These would soon be joined by inverted dog and mountain goat prints. Higher up I find "hoarfrost" growing on rocks on the windward side of the mountain.
 

After I finally reach the summit, I find that no one has signed the log since 10/10/04. Apparently someone proposed to his girlfriend on the 9th, and she said yes. I hope they had better weather. I take pictures of what I could, but for the most part the summit is surrounded by clouds. In the few cloud breaks I snap shots of Lincoln and the Blue Lakes Reservoir.
 

The trip down is uneventful. The wind is unrelenting, but I make faster progress down the slope. I return to the now empty parking lot by 2:30.

****

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL
COLORADO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 35 MPH WILL CONTINUE ABOVE TIMBERLINE AND
HIGHER EAST SLOPES TODAY...WITH SOME GUSTS REACHING 50 MPH. THE
WINDS WILL INCREASE INCREASE TONIGHT. OVER THE NORTHEAST
PLAINS...WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON.
ISOLATED SHOWERS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON.
SOME SNOW SHOWERS WILL OCCUR ABOVE 9000 FEET WITH LITTLE OR NO
ACCUMULATION.

A STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW IN THE ATMOSPHERE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
WINDY CONDITIONS...WHILE A WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL
GENERATE SOME SHOWERS ACROSS THE AREA.