Quandary Peak

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 5/25/2025, By: Kevin Baker
Info: Isothermic conditions even with a late start at 6:45am from Lower Blue Lakes TH. Road is still gated. Firm snow from bottom to top with no recent signs of wet slides. I wouldn't go any later than 7am as the whole face gets early sun. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/23/2025, By: MountainHiker
Info: Trail mostly melted off up to where it meets the ridge. Still some snow and ice patches on trail. Ridge is still mostly snow covered. Some exposed rock in the usual places. On the way up snow was firm underneath, soft on top enough for steps. In the afternoon the lower slopes were getting soft. Some postholing, but not enough to wish I packed snowshoes. The main track on the summit approach drift was firm & sloping to the north with some exposure. I put on the microspikes for the way back across that area. Travelled with one trekking pole. 

Route: North Gully aka Quandary Couloir
Posted On: 5/23/2025, By: Slawson405
Info: Snow starts near treeline, A-framed on easy trail to that point. Can still skin 98% to the top from there. Couloir is still very much in, although warms quickly. You have to drop in at the top of the couloir, and slip over to the lower left shoulder away from exposed rocks to get fully in. From there, it's great spring skiing the whole way down. We stayed high and right on our exit out, until the creek forced us to bushwhack and find the road. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/18/2025, By: imoe1
Info: Started at about 3:30 am to catch a good view of the sunrise, we were not quite at the top for the event, but it was still really nice. Below the treeline, there is some ice. We used snowshoes from treeline to the summit for grip and flotation. The snow was pretty soft even in the early morning. 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 5/17/2025, By: ekalina
Info: A few patches of what I think was wind slab down low, but slab was thin (maybe 1 inch) and isolated to small areas. Otherwise a mixture of sastrugi and some yet to consolidate snow from the recent storm. No avy debris. Multiple parties skied the couloir, saw someone drop shortly before 9, but still pretty firm at that point given the cloud cover. Fun route overall. Went down the east ridge and the snow was supportive there too, just a few postholes down low. Upper Blue Lakes TH: 6:30 am Base of couloir: 7:10 am Topped out: 9:10 am Lower TH: 12:30 pm 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/12/2025, By: JustHike50
Info: Last mile is brutal, nothing technical just steep and with the altitude is breathtaking. Snow is softening so get an early start and I would recommend snow shoes unless you’re skiing. Postholing is pretty bad later in the morning into the afternoon. Used microspikes pretty much from the start of the hike as decent amount of ice and snow, and had them on until the top and half way down. Some may feel more comfortable with crampons for that last mile up and back down. For those skinning, will likely have to hike up until treeline. I used my snowshoes probably around 12k on the way down until below treeline. One time I sunk pretty deep and had to dig myself out as couldn’t get my feet out with the snow shoes on. Someone mentioned the summer route might be more packed down. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/8/2025, By: mikeydoggy
Info: Attempted to summit today. Had to turn around a little higher up past that cabin and small bridge on the McCullough Gulch Trail due to postholing to my knees. I only had hiking shoes. It was 11,250 feet. Parking lot was full when I arrived at 9:15 am, so I'm pretty sure others made it. I crossed paths with a guy coming down on skis, and he told me there were others at the top. (Maybe also on skis or snowshoes.) I found conditions difficult with all the wet, deep snow. I hope this helps. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/9/2025, By: raphaelroxas
Info: Snow coverage is spotty up to the treeline, so if skinning expect plenty of on/off. To avoid that on the downhill, skied down to the McCullough Gulch lot, then skinned uphill and was able to ski about 1/2 mile downhill before walking about 3/4 of a mile to the main parking lot. On the uphill, found the conditions above 14500 icy to skin, so set a skintrack out across the face. Several ski parties bailed at 14500 due to skinning conditions. Ski crampons not necessary. 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 5/6/2025, By: danrhoch
Info: Had the mountain to myself for Cinco de Mayo. Took a chance on getting it in before the snow storms. The road to the reservoir was dry up to the upper fork but this could be different now. Used crampons to the top having to french step to avoid post holing, so quite a bit of snow still. Should be a great after the next snow. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/5/2025, By: baz11127383214er
Info: Ascended the East Ridge, descended into the NE Bowls. Started @ 7:30 (lot probably 70% full), 11ish summit, 11:30 descent. Snow was absolutely mint at the top, very slightly slushy just above treeline. Below treeline is mixed snow and dirt, might improve after this next big storm, but I would expect to probably be booting most of the way up to tree line. Ski crampons not strictly needed for the summit pitch (at 10ish), but I was glad to have them. We skied from the lower bowl back down to the trail instead of following the normal route through the trees to the road. This is on the advice of a Fairplay local we met. Ymmv, but I'd guess you'd be bushwhacking on dirt if you follow the normal route GPX you see on OnX or Snow Project.. 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 5/4/2025, By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: Cristo is holding some good snow coverage. With how much it’s been skied recently, small moguls have formed on the lower sections. Today was sunny, but the cool temps and breeze let us take our time and enjoy a noon drop-in for the ski. More snow is on the way, so it’s about to get a refresh! 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 4/29/2025, By: Danger_D
Info: Pics of a lot of surrounding pics included (see captions - thanks to Chicago Transplant for some corrections on peak names) Went up summer trail and there are several melted out sections below treeline, one a few hundred yards long. Above tree line normal spring conditions with barely enough snow to ski the saddle/false summit around 13k. Snow on east face looking thick, and snow on summit will stick around for a while. We skied from the summit and had to thread a needle to get through a small rock band, but after that the couloir is wide and you can ski straight to the lake. Snow was icy up top at 10:45, but corn down low. It was so skied out after the last snow that there are practically moguls in some sections. Road is basically melted and an easy walk, but if you are determined you can ski some disjointed sections 

Route: South Gully aka Cristo Couloir
Posted On: 4/29/2025, By: jpacheco1982
Info: Started out couloir about 7am. Snow was hard with not much purchase to start but around 13400 and above started to get better for kicking steps. Was continuous snow. Took east ridge down. Parked at quandary trailhead. Overall mellow couloir just long. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 4/26/2025, By: ProfetaP
Info: Get it while the ski conditions are good! Shortly after the turnoff on the road to the quandary trail I was able to start skinning and only had to take them off once (I think it could have been avoided). Skied right off the summit around 10:15 (still a little firm) and took the NE bowl into the trees. The snow in the trees quickly became soft and catchy so be careful! Also, got a little lost in the trees but no worries as it leads to a service road that takes you back to the parking lot. Couldn’t have asked for a better day tho and met some awesome people on the mountain today! 

Route: North Gully aka Quandary Couloir
Posted On: 4/27/2025, By: ajeski
Info: Hiked the East Ridge to the summit. Conditions were perfect. It truly was a bluebird day. Sunny, warm, no clouds in the sky and no wind. We skied the Quandary Couloir. The couloir was filled in very nicely. You have to navigate a bit of rocks at the entrance, but it is well filled in after that. Lost a hiking pole on the hike up the East Ridge. Let me know if you found it. Beautiful day in the mountains!