There is so much to do in the surrounding area that it is easy to spend a week exploring and doing more moderate hikes in the Rocky Mountain National Park, Breckenridge and Vail areas.
Be prepared for strong winds and temperatures as much as 20 degrees lower at the top than at the base. Do not let this fool you. It will be very cold at the peak. The winds become extremely strong with no trees providing cover. When we started our hike early in the morning, it was 30 degrees at the base, and probably close to 15 at the top.
This is important. Thunderstorms typically roll in at the peak in the afternoon. Given that the peak is a wide open mound of rocks, essentially acting as a lightning rod, this can be very dangerous!
It is recommended that all hikers are off the mountain by noon to avoid getting caught in a storm. Since the hike is strenuous and will take several hours to complete, you have to get an early start to make sure you finish by a safe time. The best time to hike Quandary peak is in the summer from June to August.
We hiked in September, and it is certainly doable but it was already too cold to be enjoyable at the peak take this with a grain of salt, I am a warm bodied Virginian who hates the cold. We originally planned to hike up in time to watch the sunrise from the top. However, the winds overnight were frighteningly strong, and we were worried about being alone on the mountainside in such sketchy weather.
We opted to sleep an additional hour, started hiking around am and were still the second group to reach the top. While hiking through the forest in the dark was spooky, the tranquility of the hike was amazing. By the time were started our descent, the trail was packed with people coming up, but we had been lucky enough to enjoy a few moments of solitude at the summit. Camping at the base of Quandary makes it much easier to start your hike at the crack of dawn. This gets you as close to the hike as possible, and allows your body to acclimate while you sleep.
There is no campground, but dispersed camping is allowed off Forest Road , near the Quandary trailhead. Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Summit County, in collaboration with its partners, is adopting a pilot parking reservation and shuttle program for Summer to help address public safety issues related to limited parking and access at Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch Trailheads.
Shuttle lost and found can be reached at info summitexpress. Did you participate in the pilot shuttle or parking reservation system? Please provide feedback on your experience here!
Parking on county roads puts hiker safety at risk and makes it difficult for emergency vehicles to access the trailheads. The new parking reservation system and free shuttle service should make it easier for individuals to access Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch, and will allow hikers a more flexible schedule for arriving at the trailhead, no longer needing to arrive at a.
The pilot program will begin on July 30, and run through October 31, In addition, a free shuttle will be offered as an alternative to parking at the trailhead, which is limited. Please read the 14ers. Please respect private property : 14ers. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
Risk Factors:. Total Gain:. RT Length:. User Climb Times. NOAA Forecast. White River. Log In to View. On Google Maps. This went on for several minutes until another group of hikers approached from above and prompted the goats to move off the trail.
We were finally able to pass safely, and got about a quarter-of-a-mile away from the goats when we decided to take a quick break.
Since we were on a fairly narrow ridge, we were only a few yards off to the side of the trail at this point. After resting on a rock for a couple of minutes we noticed the goats were moving again. The large male, the same billy that blocked our progress earlier, was making a direct bee line toward us.
I told my wife to get moving as quickly as possible. She was already proceeding up the trail before I was able to get my backpack together. I hurriedly moved out just as the goat got to within 75 feet of my location. It was the last time we saw the goats. Coincidentally, just weeks after that encounter, a hiker was fatally gored by a mountain goat in Olympic National Park.
The man was hiking with his wife and a friend when they stopped for lunch at an overlook. A mountain goat suddenly appeared and began acting aggressively.
After chasing the man for a bit, the billy gored him in the thigh, then stood over him as he lay bleeding to death, staring at anyone who tried to help. After reading the details of the incident I couldn't help but relate this to my own experience on Quandary Peak. Afterwards, park officials at Olympic began warning hikers not to urinate on or near trails because goats are attracted to the salt.
On their website they state: "Stay at least ' from all wildlife. If a goat approaches, be prepared to chase it off by yelling, waving coats or throwing rocks.
Goats crave salts.
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