Quandary Peak (14,265) by Brian Schultz Tuesday July 10, 1995
I found the McCullough Gulch trailhead after an initial mixup down by the highway and began the hike at 9:30. There was a fair amount of snow cover on the route above tree line but it wasn't a problem getting up to the east ridge and from there it was just a simple slog to the summit. On the summit was a couple who brought their skis with and were just getting ready to ski down when I arrived. As he identified the surrounding fourteeners, I found out he had climbed all 54 peaks. I was impressed- here I was only on number 3!
I stayed on top for a long time enjoying the terrific weather. Another couple showed up. This guy, Dennis Stuart, is in the Guinness Book of Records for summiting the lower 48 states' high points in 30 days. Very impressive! They planned to glissade down the south slopes on their descent.
I was ready to leave the summit and lest one thinks I had a short day on an easy hike, guess again- I lost the route in the snow below the ridge. I found a path but it was definitely not the one I came up. I saw Hwy 9 in the distance and knew I could make a line for it and backtrack to the car but I wanted to find my way from here if possible. Puffing back up to where I came from and trying to get a sense of direction, but unable to, I figured I might as well go back down the path. When I descended a ways I just didn't feel right, so once again I went back up. It was all very tiring and just when I wondered what to do along came two women that I had passed on my way down from the summit.
Evidently I wasn't the only one to lose the route and after talking to them I didn't feel so stupid either. Both of them have summited all the fourteeners. Gail and Edith said they were the first women to do so, many years ago, and did them without the benefit of guide books (or men)! Studying topo maps, they had to scout and find their own way up numerous peaks. Edith was Gail's student in a mountaineering class- they've climbed Mt Whitney and Mt Ranier together and Edith has climbed all over the world.
Gail said we needed to go down the path I'd been on and then cut over into the woods. It didn't seem right but I was all turned around and besides, I was outnumbered two to one. Gail led us through the trees (I was in the rear, doubting our likelihood of finding the route) and in short order she found a trail. I was surprised when we came out on the road and just around a bend were our parked cars! They sure saved me some mileage. The time was 5:00. Driving back to the highway I passed Dennis on the road, going to retrieve his car- he said he got lost too! Very strange.
A fun peak. The people I met on Quandary were as interesting as the peak itself, if not more so.
Total hike time- 7 hours 30 minutes