Quandary Peak

Quandary Peak
Date Climbed: 8/13/14
Climbing Partners: Solo
Range: Mosquito
Elevation: 14, 265

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Daniel Weiss

I had learned my lesson from the last two 14ers: arrive early and be well prepared for anything. This time I had packed my full sized backpacking sack with my camelback, an extra bottle, a jacket and raincoat, as well as thermals. I was dressed light, however, since the 14ers website (14ers.com) had told me the weather was supposed to be perfect for summiting. I arrived at about 8:45 in the morning, and hit the trail the minute I got there. I had also learned that the road up was fairly well maintained, and so was able to bring my wife car (for future reference, you don't need four-wheel drive to get to this trailhead). With walking stick in hand, I began the arduous hike up the initial incline.

I had learned that Quandary was by no means a tough 14er, and it could be done rather quickly. In less than an hour I was above timberline and could see the summit in the distance. I was getting better at predicting distances and times. I could feel my body getting more used to these intense climbs, and I was quickly passing most of those who had arrived before me. I would occasionally stop along the trail to take pictures of the valley to my left: a beautiful gulch, surrounded on both sides by huge mountains. Quandary was of course on the northern side, and on the other side some mountains that eventually led to Lincoln, another 14er and one that I would encounter possibly my toughest challenge to date.

A few friends of mine had told me that there would be a lot of hikers on this trail, and they were right. This was the first time I had hit the trail roughly the same time as most others going for the top. I encountered about 50 hikers that day. Multiple times, I was passed by some trail runners, who seemed more machine than human to me as they jogged up the slope without so much as breaking a sweat. After about an hour and a half, the trail began to steepen, and I thought I was approaching the summit. Just as I came over the lip of the plateau, I realized that it was a false summit, and I still had close to a thousand feet to go. I could see the little specks that were people slowly make their way to the summit. I stood for a moment catching my breath and let out a sigh of exasperation. I had hoped for an extremely early summit time, and my hopes had been dashed by yet another false summit. I continued on the trail, passing a few mountain goats along the way. As I began what I knew to be the final slope to the summit, I realized that this 14er would not be as easy as I had first hoped.

Although the initial incline was fairly difficult, it did not last long, and most of it was below tree line. I expect it to be smooth sailing from there on out. I was dead wrong. I was in better shape than the previous two climbs, but this was still a fairly steep climb to the summit, and it was somewhat long. Multiple times I had to stop to take a breather. I would look up, grit my teeth, and continue the next hundred feet. Stop, breath, look, climb, repeat. It was tough going, but I felt like I was making good time. The sun was well above the mountains by now, and the day was sunny and warm, with just a slight breeze. I was enjoying myself. This was the most pleasant day so far on a 14er. After just over 45 minutes of steep climbing, I summited. To my surprise, there was about 20 climbers just sitting in groups, up against rocks, or standing looking over the valleys below. I had never summited at noon before, and had not realized just how crowded these 14ers could get. Slightly disgruntled, I found a spot to sit down. I pulled out my iPod, and plugged in my headphones: all the better to drown out the babbling of the teenage group behind me gossiping about this weeks crush. I took several panoramic and a selfie as proof that I had summited. Then signed the log that had been hauled to the top, as well as the paper that listed everyone. I then sat and looked over the beauty of the valley below me.

Directly in front of me was a fairly steep slope, with a small lake at the bottom. Farther North, I saw the town of Breckenridge, and began to imagine the juicy hamburger that waited for me at the Breckenridge Brewery. I later learned that the slope I was currently looking over was used during the winter months as a ski slope. Many would climb up Quandary and then ski down the North face. However, there was a huge avalanche danger, and I was glad I had conquered this 14er early rather than waiting to save an "easy one" for the winter. I looked at my clock and was stunned to find out that I had reached the summit by 11. It was the quickest climb I had yet accomplished. Proud of my speed, I decided to linger a little longer.

After 15 minutes, I decided it was time to return to the car. I quickly skipped down the trail, falling hard on my butt a few times as punishment for my hastiness. On the way down, I ran into a few older people I had passed on the way up. They asked how much farther they had to go, and how the view was. I told them they had less than 20 minutes up, and that they should keep going. The view was great and well worth the effort. Glad for the encouragement, they smiled and continued their trek up. Glad that I was finally the one encouraging the other hikers rather than the receiver, I continued the hike down. It took close to an hour to get to the bottom, but the sight of the car raised my weary spirits. It was by no means a long hike, but I was staring by the time I reached the car. I hopped in, took note of the winter trailhead, and drove back toward Breckenridge, where I enjoyed my nice juicy burger on the Breckenridge Brewery patio. I decided that this would be my tradition, a nice reward for all the hikes I would attempt in this range.

Excited at the prospect of coming back for another beer and burger someday, I generously tipped my waitress and continued my trip back to Denver, hungry for more 14ers, and ready to start working on some challenging ones. I already had a plan in mind: Oxford and Belford, and Missouri Mountain, if time permitted. Little did I know that I was heading straight into the most challenging climb I had ever experienced in my life up to that point.