Quandary Peak #6 July 8, 2006- Top

Well, you start out kinda apprehensive, knowing it's going to be tough --- even if it's not too tough. And this time, we actually were pleasantly surprised at the ease of getting up the mountain. The only downside this time, was the fog, keeping us from knowing exactly where the top was and how much further we had to go. The fog was interesting, because you knew that you were climbing this mountain that should have some beautiful expansive views---but you felt more like you were in a room with a ceiling and walls. Almost made you feel safe. That was, until it started to rain.

Anyway, Quandary is south of Breckenridge and very easy to get to. This is a good one to do in a day, but the driver should have a lot of caffeine on the drive back. We started out as usual, with the regular back pack and layered clothing. As we ventured up the mountain, we peeled off layers because, of course, we got hotter. But as we got closer to the top, we had to put those layers back on becuase it was turning cold and wet. We thought we'd be able to hang out at the top for a bit, but when we finally did get there - there was no way we were staying beyond the standard picture taking time. It was COLD, and now raining--and of course, there was no view, so we headed back down.

Quandary doesn't have the type of peak that you feel as though you have summitted when you get there. You don't crawl straight up over a bunch of huge boulders, then pull yourself up to be confronted with an expansive view of the South Park Valley. No, you kinda just mosey across the top, being there for a while before you even realize it. 

So yep, it was raining as we began the descent down. Now, nylon pants are great for drizzles and drops here and there. Unfortunately, we were being pelted with large rain drops. So, about a half-mile down we were each floating inside our boots. That plus rivers of water were pouring down our jackets, and the nylon pants were stuck with wet to our legs. This is where the mental part kicks in. I SO wanted to stop here and there and basically mope about being in this cold and wet situation, but stopping means losing the heat that you are producing by moving, so you can't stop. You stop and you risk getting very cold, and that means hypothermia. (My Mom just started freaking out). 

Down really sucks. Jelly legs, when your cold, are rough. But I did know that once we got far enough down, the rain wouldn't be so harsh and it wouldn't be so cold...So downward and forward. Step after step. People passing occasionally who had passed you moments before in the other direction but had somehow come to the (smart) conclusion that hiking up this mountain today in shorts and sneakers may not be worth a mountain rescue.

This mountain was a bear, but not because of the hike. I think that this would have been the easiest 14er that we had bagged so far had it not been for the weather. It was relatively short, very gradual and the path wasn't too rocky (Let me clarify:  the second half of the hike is all rocks, but they are mostly little and the walk doesn't require a lot of stepping up and over).

Man, I so wished that I had dry clothes in the car when we finally got back. Andrew had a dry shirt fortunately and we both had sandles to put on after we poured out our socks. 

That afternoon, after driving straight to our homey Denver, we both hit the sack, toasty and warm in dry clothes.