The 16th Annual Winter Welcomer!

[JerJerBinks]

Hello
I'm interested in participating and hoping to carpool from somewhere (even if just close by) and possibly network and or join a team. I'm in Colorado Springs and am hoping to be back in the Springs by 7 or 8pm latest. I'm most interested in the west ridge, but can be open minded. The only time I've ever climbed Quandary was with heavy snow via the standard, so either way it will be a new experience. Most of my more technical experience is within the past few months and solo. I can't say I have a ton of 3/4 on snow/slick.
Reach out if you want. Thx

[daway8]

WEST RIDGE 6am CREW

Well since no one else has stepped forward to lead a crew up West Ridge (and I checked with "two lunches" who was first to mention it - she's changed plans...) I figured I'd go ahead and post something - but if anyone else wants to coordinate additional West Ridge teams, that's fine with me - the more the merrier!

Who? Anyone with some class 3 experience who wants to spice up the Winter Welcomer (if you've not done any class 3 before I strongly advise you to join one of the groups going up the standard route - for those without snow scrambling experience, this is a great route to learn on but if you have no class 3 experience at all, you might have a nervous breakdown at the headwall, which doesn't come until you're almost to the summit)
What Route? Up West Ridge, down the standard route (we'll work out one or more shuttles at the end of the day to get people back up to Blue Lakes after the tailgate party)
What Time? 6am (the goal is to start hiking at 6am so try to arrive a little early)
What Place? Blue Lakes Trailhead (at the parking area by the gated road closure, 1.7mi up from the standard Quandary trailhead - room for ~15-20 vehicles. Note, parking along the road is strictly prohibited and enforced)

Required Gear: Please bring helmets and microspikes (or some manner of traction), and plenty of layers (we'll be in and out of the wind which will greatly affect the temperature)
Optional Gear: Ice axe (probably not needed but doesn't hurt to have and looks cool in photos!
Not needed: Snowshoes (not enough consolidated snow yet), crampons (with light coverage and unconsolidated snow, crampons would add awkwardness to walking so you're better off with microspikes for now)

Any questions, feel free to post in the thread or PM me (but note that I'll be camping out of signal range starting Friday night)

Please let me know if you plan to join the group so I'll know if we need to wait for anyone.

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a "guided" trip - I'm just a guy who likes mountains who has done this route in snow several times. I'm happy to help show people how it's done but I won't be carrying ropes or other such gear. Anyone coming along does so at their own risks and will be responsible for getting themselves up over the snow covered obstacles - I can coach you but I can't climb it for you. If you think you're ready to take on steep snow covered rock but want the added security of going with a group that knows the route - this is the climb for you! If you're not confident about being able to get up, please enjoy one of the groups going up the standard route.

[JerJerBinks]

I'd like to join you daway8.
I think I sent you an email.

[daway8]

I'd like to join you daway8.
I think I sent you an email.

Great - glad to have you join the crew! (and, yes, the email came through!)

[colin j]

I'll raise my hand for the West Ridge!

Will plan to join up with the 6 am crew; though if anyone else is looking to partner up and can't make it I'm always tempted by a later start

[daway8]

I'll raise my hand for the West Ridge!

Will plan to join up with the 6 am crew; though if anyone else is looking to partner up and can't make it I'm always tempted by a later start

Sweet! Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of early starts myself but the West Ridge tends to go slower than the standard route (especially when snow coated) and I'd like people to be able to hang out at the tailgate party afterwards if they want to.

So I'll see you early Saturday, unless you succeed in finding a fellow late-starter, in which case hopefully we'll see you out there somewhere!

[BillMiddlebrook]

We are less than a week away from the Winter Welcomer for our annual 14er climb of Quandary Peak. The area has been getting snow this weekend through Monday. However, the rest of the week looks favorable and dry. The current forecast for Saturday is looking good, with the exception of 20-30mph winds.

For those coming, please reach out to find others to carpool with. (In the past we've seen 80-100 people on the mountain.) We don't want to overflow the parking lot. That equates to parking tickets, and nobody wants that.

For those new to mountaineering, please plan to have your ten essentials with you. (What would happen if you broke your ankle, can't hike, and you are above treeline, in high winds, and your body is not generation heat?) Your 10 Essentials would be...um, Essential (ie: "shelter", which could be just a Hefty trash bag that could save your life). Search and rescue may be hours away, at best, or not able to come until the next day, at worst. Can you survive the night? If you don't know what the 10 Essentials are, watch this video.

https://youtu.be/tvIH-5B576w?si=9y52l5kfiBuTEG3y

With temperatures below freezing, and wind child temps in the low teens, leave your Camelback water bladders at home. Use water bottles inside insulators.

Please ask questions if this is your first attempt to climb a 14er in winter-ish conditions. Many on this site love to help others.

Britt, I'm sorry I can't make this, again! Tomorrow is the first day of an elk season I have planned.

Good luck to you all, and have fun!

[petal53run]

Planning to join another great winter welcome gathering. Can car pool from south of Broomfield.

[madmattd]

I'm going to try to get up there for the 6am W Ridge group too. But don't wait for me if I'm not there at the start time - a few factors at play that may prevent my attendance last-minute.

[globreal]

Hi All,
The 14ers.com Winter Welcomer is ON for tomorrow morning. For those of you new to winter-ish mountaineering, you are going to have relatively mild conditions. The snow levels are minimal, the temperatures will be mild showing 27-39 degrees up high, and winds between 11-23 mph.... and it's going to be sunny with hardly any cloud cover. Yay! It practically isn't going to be much of a test for a winter climb. Regardless, this event is equally about the social gathering as much as learning about winter mountaineering.

Don't forget, we will have a tailgate party back in the parking lot for some food and drink. I'll have a propane grill and will cook up some brats and hot dogs. And if anyone would like to use the grill, feel free. Most people bring something to contribute or share, so that's always fun. With the great weather, it should be a delightful time hanging out together...until the sun goes behind the mountain, then most people split once that happens.

Don't forget your camp chair.

And don't forget your Halloween costume!

See you tomorrow on Quandary.
Climb on!

[hokiehead]

WEST RIDGE 6am CREW

Well since no one else has stepped forward to lead a crew up West Ridge (and I checked with "two lunches" who was first to mention it - she's changed plans...) I figured I'd go ahead and post something - but if anyone else wants to coordinate additional West Ridge teams, that's fine with me - the more the merrier!

Who? Anyone with some class 3 experience who wants to spice up the Winter Welcomer (if you've not done any class 3 before I strongly advise you to join one of the groups going up the standard route - for those without snow scrambling experience, this is a great route to learn on but if you have no class 3 experience at all, you might have a nervous breakdown at the headwall, which doesn't come until you're almost to the summit)
What Route? Up West Ridge, down the standard route (we'll work out one or more shuttles at the end of the day to get people back up to Blue Lakes after the tailgate party)
What Time? 6am (the goal is to start hiking at 6am so try to arrive a little early)
What Place? Blue Lakes Trailhead (at the parking area by the gated road closure, 1.7mi up from the standard Quandary trailhead - room for ~15-20 vehicles. Note, parking along the road is strictly prohibited and enforced)

Required Gear: Please bring helmets and microspikes (or some manner of traction), and plenty of layers (we'll be in and out of the wind which will greatly affect the temperature)
Optional Gear: Ice axe (probably not needed but doesn't hurt to have and looks cool in photos!
Not needed: Snowshoes (not enough consolidated snow yet), crampons (with light coverage and unconsolidated snow, crampons would add awkwardness to walking so you're better off with microspikes for now)

Any questions, feel free to post in the thread or PM me (but note that I'll be camping out of signal range starting Friday night)

Please let me know if you plan to join the group so I'll know if we need to wait for anyone.

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a "guided" trip - I'm just a guy who likes mountains who has done this route in snow several times. I'm happy to help show people how it's done but I won't be carrying ropes or other such gear. Anyone coming along does so at their own risks and will be responsible for getting themselves up over the snow covered obstacles - I can coach you but I can't climb it for you. If you think you're ready to take on steep snow covered rock but want the added security of going with a group that knows the route - this is the climb for you! If you're not confident about being able to get up, please enjoy one of the groups going up the standard route.

I'm in. Thanks for organizing.

I'm in Coal Creek Canyon. If anyone else doing West Ridge is coming from Golden, Boulder areas and wants to carpool, HMU. I'll check DMs a few times tonight.

[daway8]

Many thanks to Britt and the others who organized this year's Winter Welcomer!

We had a crew of 9 who went up the West Ridge and had a great time doing some class 3 with just enough snow to spice it up a little!

The link below shows a little piece of the action for the West Ridge Crew to see themselves getting after it or for those who weren't on that route to see what they missed.

Also enjoyed meeting some of the rest of y'all on the summit and/or the parking lot - and many thanks to the CMC group who loaned us a driver to help ferry the crew back up to our vehicles!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9ynKS72cfG2UwnGq5