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Quandry is a good choice for a beginner fall/winter hike. I did the Nuber hike last January, and this makes twice this November. I like how the winter route is basically direct up the east face. I think that Quandry in the winter could be one of my top two favorite Class 1 or 2 hikes year round (Uncompaghre is the other). It is a relatively easy hike to a summit that is more spectacular in the winter.
I arrived at the trailhead and started walking at about 7:30am. It was below freezing, so I put my rain jacket on over my backpack (it is large enough). I find that this is good enough to keep the camelback from freezing so long as it isn't too cold.
The path up to tree line is mostly snowpacked, with a few frozen/muddy sections.
Shortly, I got close to treeline and could see the initial route up the face.
The winter route diverges from the summer route right near the sign that says the trail is closed. I have seen it going straight up the slope, but currently it switches back a few times before reaching the step just above the last of the trees/bushes.
From the step, the route up the face to the next flat area had many trails. At times it was solid, at times soft.
Up on the gentler area near 13,000', showing the remainder of the route
I like the upper portion in the snow, generally you can trudge straight up. The trail was packed and icy in this area, the spikes came in very handy
Near the top, looking back a bit on the route
And the very top is fun, since you get to walk along the snow ridge before reaching the true summit. There are many wind shelter options; easy to find one that is calm and sunny.
Summit shot, looking west
I believe I was the first to the summit this morning, but there was a good crowd behind me. After lounging on the summit a bit, I headed down. The spikes came in very handy on the way down. The following are various shots on the way back down, showing some of the hikers
I got back down at about 12:30; I took my time and talked a lot with the hikers heading up. I drove up to Blue Lakes and snapped a quick shot of the south face. Looks a little sparse still.
It was a great day. Just a bit of wind, but very pleasant. A near bluebird day.
Thanks for reading
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
As of Friday, the road up to the trailhead proper was snowpacked but very manageable. It might be a bit slick, but I didn‘t see anybody having problems. It is only about 1/4 mile from the bottom up to the trailhead, so wouldn‘t be a bad walk if you didn‘t feel like driving up.
Snowshoes were not needed. The trail is very packed below tree line. Up the first slope (where the closed sign is), the snow is a bit soft, but that is about the only place. To me, it wouldn‘t be worth the effort to carry them. Some sort of spike or yaktrax would be helpful, to gain traction. Everyone I talked to in crampons said it was overkill.
Finally, my daughter, Eliza, and I wanted wanted to say Thank You! for the photo you took of us on the Quandary Peak trail, 11/27. We did go a bit further, but she had to get back, otherwise I think we would have gone for the peak. My other daughter, Gretchen, left the following morning at 5:30 AM for the 10 min. or so drive from the rental house to the trailhead, and got to the top of Quandary by 8:20 AM. Thanks again for the memory, Dianne Walthers
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