Trip
Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding – Quandary Peak with descent via Cristo Couloir
Let's ski/board a classic 14er descent - Quandary Peaks Cristo Couloir! We'll meet at the blue lakes road closure and climb the route in crampons with ice axes once skinning becomes impractical. Please be fit enough to sustain a 1,000-foot per hour climb on average to enable timing the summit safely and with good conditions for the downhill. Start time will depend on the days weather but may be as early as 4:30 AM. To register email me with your recent (previous 2 months) activities, experience with crampons/ax and ski/snowboard ability level. This is a great beginner steep spring tour but requires some experience and fitness. It's ok if this is a first but you should have had some experience climbing and skiing/boarding relatively steep snow.
Contacts
- Sun, Apr 21, 2024
- Denver
- Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding
- Adults
- Difficult
- Challenging
- Mileage: 6.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 3,500 ft
- Pace: 1,000 feet/hour
- FULL (7 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
From Breckenridge, drive 8 miles south on Colorado 9. On a sharp corner of Colorado 9, turn west onto the 850 road (Blue Lakes road). Continue on Blue Lakes road as it climbs west. Near 1.4 miles, if the gate is closed, you'll have to park in this area because Colorado Springs Utilities has closed the remaining road to the dam. Follow the road another 3/4 mile to reach the dam.
It's possible snow will block much of the road. Trailhead status can be found here: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/trailheadsview.php?thparm=tm02&t=updates
tk
Required Equipment
Beacon, probe, shovel in addition to alpine touring or telemark skis/splitboard, skins, boot crampons and ice ax.