Quandary Peak (14,265')

Our climb up Quandary Peak, Version 2.0, a mountain situated just south of Breckenridge, CO, turned out to be a great success with gorgeous weather. It was almost too sunny (well, not really) and I have only myself to beat up on for my fried forehead and neck...I guess I am a true red-neck, but we all know that. I've lost count of the number of times the Chalks have been up Quandary, but this was everyone else's 1st climb of Quandary including the Levinsons' 1st climb of a 14er and their personal altitude record as well as Tiana's (friend of Doc Giggles) 1st climb of any 14er. Doc Giggles (Jamie Buckley) hadn't climbed a 14er in a long long time and he ended up doing extremely well and dominating the mountain (as he does most things). Chris "Biz" Dutton joined us as well from CO Springs and again put the women & children to bed and went lookin' for supper on Quandary, i.e. he slayed it and climbed his 5th Colorado 14er. All in all, it was around a 7-7.5 hour climb including 45 min on top, 3500' elevation climbed/descended and about 6 miles. A great day out and congrats to all peeps involved especially those 1st 14er timers. Onto the pics:

At the 10,850' trailhead

Doctor Giggles stomping up Quandary at 12,000'

Looking up at the final 1,200' of the east ridge to the summit from 13,000' (the east ridge route is on looker's left - climbers can be seen)

Doc Giggles, Viper, & Sarah climbing the east ridge at 13,500'

Sarah & Viper staying in the game at 13,800'

Doc Giggles and his friend, Tiana, cresting the summit ridge

Viper & Sarah on Quandary's summit ridge

Group summit picture on Quandary Peak (14,265')

The Pikes at 14,265'

The Levinsons on Quandary Peak summit (14,265') - their 1st 14er!

Doc Giggles looking distinguished as always at over 14,000'

Southern view of other 14ers and low lying clouds from Quandary's summit

Parting summit shot

Rainie & Kona getting after it on the descent

Kristine's #45 & #46

Great day (5-7-2011) in the highcountry of Colorado above 14,000'. Chalks climbed Mt Shavano (14,229') & Tabeguache Peak (14,155') for Kristine's 45th & 46th Colorado 14ers. Now, she only has 9 left to have climbed all 55 Colorado 14ers. Total stats for the day: about 10 miles, 5,500', and 8.5 hrs.

Shavano summit Kristine, Rainie, & Kona traversing the saddle between Shavano (behind) and Tabeguache Tabeguache summit Tabeguache summit Kona running down to the Tabeguache-Shavano saddle Me skiing down Shavano