If you’re a 14ers finisher or a filthy casual, the chances are high you’ve done Quandary Peak. But stay with me here because there’s more than one way to climb this cat.
Quandary’s popularity is easy to figure. It’s near Breckenridge, so it’s close. There’s a trail all the way to the top, and that trail is only 3 miles long, so it’s relatively easy (notice I say “relatively,” an important distinction that I’ll get to later). There’s a crowd, and whether you consider that a good or bad thing (or, if you’re like me, you see both sides), not only does that make it almost impossible to get lost, but there’s help along the way if you get hurt.
So why would I climb it on July 4, when I’ve already finished all the 14ers? Well, because of the West Ridge.
One of the problems with doing a ridge, and not a much easier trail, is once you’re on the ridge, you’re probably committed to it. There’s no going back, in other words, and a ridge is one of the worst places to be if lightning is in the air.
As with any ridge, route-finding is much more of an issue than a trail — duh — but you should be able to follow a climber’s path most of the way to the start. If you ever lose your way, something that’s easy to do, look for cairns, small piles of rock left by other climbers to tell you the best way to go.
Read more at The Greeley Tribune.
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