Trip Planning

[thesmit]

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum and hope this is the right place to get info. Some friends and I from Minnesota are planning a road trip to Red Rocks, NV and will be driving through Colorado via I-70 sometime in March 17th-28th. We are looking at maybe doing some 14ers while passing through. Any suggestions for first timers climbing/ hiking in Colorado? We are looking at the Combo of Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross. Is this a good start? Are there better ones? Is there avy danger in this area? I have done some mountaineering in Alaska and attempted Mount Rainer last year in April via the DC route unguided, but we turned back due to dangerous avy conditions. So I have some winter climbing experience. Myself and one other ice climb as well. But we do have someone with no winter climbing experience. I am by no means an expert at assessing avalanche terrain but I know somethings to look for. If you have any suggestions let me know!

Possible questions?

1. Good 1st time March 14ers near I-70
2. Conditions? Avy terrain? Exposed?
3. Gear Required. Crampons, ice axes, snowshoes, avy beacon?
4. Weather trends? I hear Colorado gets weird weather?
4. Anything else?

[JaredJohnson]

I've found this page helpful in planning my _future_ winter endeavors:

https://www.summitpost.org/colorado-14e ... ter/337648

Up-to-date (depending on the season) avalanche info:

http://avalanche.state.co.us/

"Beaconshovelprobe" is important if you're traveling in avalanche terrain but not very useful without training and experience so you'd be better off staying away from avy terrain. Quandary's east ridge is usually pointed to as a first snow/winter 14er. Making sure to avoid the summer route in snow conditions, it pretty much stays out of avy terrain. It was my first snow 14er and it was very forgiving of people not bringing traction etc. because of all the traffic. But I would suggest microspikes and ice axe, and better yet, knowledge of and practice with self-arresting with the ice axe. You might want to get beta on whether you want floatation when it gets closer to go time but others might have enough experience to say more generally. Decalibross seems to be low-angle enough to avoid or mostly avoid avy danger; I can't say first hand but from what I've heard it looks like I'm going to make it my second winter 14er.

St Mary's Glacier is a good place with safe runout to get self-arrest practice and is very near I-70, and a fun easy hike.

[Trotter]

Quandary is your best bet. It also is very popular, so it should be trenched in, with regular conditions reports

[Zoe Saldana]

Hello everyone!

Possible questions?

1. Good 1st time March 14ers near I-70
2. Conditions? Avy terrain? Exposed?
3. Gear Required. Crampons, ice axes, snowshoes, avy beacon?
4. Weather trends? I hear Colorado gets weird weather?
4. Anything else?

Buena Vista is about 70 miles from US 70 which give you a lot more options for you to consider

[peter303]

This is too dangerous a trip with your experience level.
I suggest returning in the summer for safer climbs.
Or drive a little further to the Utah desert parks for an interesting spring break trip.

[Vincopotamus]

Quandary is your best bet. It also is very popular, so it should be trenched in, with regular conditions reports

+1

I think with your prior experience and reasonable decision making you should survive a trip up Quandary's east ridge. You'll likely want snowshoes or microspikes, but barring a big storm right before your trip, you shouldn't need any other technical gear.

[CamKelley]

I concur with Quandary. It was my first one after moving here, and also early spring/ in snow. I arrived late (8:30am) but went for it anyway with clear forecast. TONS of people, but good booter laid from all the folks.. Coming down was post holing so glissade+snow lunge down made for faster decent in the soggy snow. I wish I had snowshoes then, but otherwise doable with boots.

[nyker]

Possible questions?

1. Good 1st time March 14ers near I-70
2. Conditions? Avy terrain? Exposed?
3. Gear Required. Crampons, ice axes, snowshoes, avy beacon?
4. Weather trends? I hear Colorado gets weird weather?
4. Anything else?
--------------------

For the Lincoln/Democrat Group, generally, I think getting to the Kite Lake trail head in March could be troublesome in a rental car since Kite Lake is 12,000ft and the road might be covered in snow, necessitating you park quite a ways back. If you're planning on camping and a little extra mileage, that's a bit better to manage expectations.
Agree on Quandary - easier access to trailhead in winter, but still watch road conditions. On a weekend you probably won't be alone here.
3. Gear Required. Crampons, ice axes, snowshoes, avy beacon? --->>> Yes all of the above.
4. Weather trends? I hear Colorado gets weird weather? - weird, no; predictably unpredictable March early Spring weather yes, plan on cold, snow, wind and sleet and maybe some nice sunshine mixed in.
Anything else? yes, have a backup plan closer to Denver if weather or something else derails your plans.

You say you'll be driving through to Red Rocks NV - why not stop in the Spring Mountains just to the north - Griffith Peak is a great snow climb and maybe Charleston Peak if you can find the route and have all day, beautiful area with few people just north of Red Rocks.

Good luck!

[mtree]

If you're just planning on Quandary and don't push it with poor weather or after a major snow you won't need crampons, ice axe, or avy beacon. Just stay on trail. Winter weather in Colorado isn't as sketchy as spring/summer weather. Just keep up with recent forecast for the area. If snow showers are predicted, you'll want a compass or GPS just in case of a whiteout...and maybe goggles. If a storm is rolling in, you might want to reconsider and just spend your time in town. Have fun!

[grahampa]

Highly recommend quandary with all of the other folks here. Still a tough hike but the trailhead is open and plowed all winter and most likely will be others up there with a packed down trail, assuming no recent large storms. Bring Microspikes for sure and trekking poles if you like. If you have snowshoes and any avy training I might suggest Mt massive southwest slopes or La Plata winter route. Both would be very secluded tho and require snowshoes, low avy danger and good research of the route including winter trip reports. Either way keep an eye on weather for a week before you go.