Quandary Peak

Quandary Peak is the highest summit of the Tenmile Range in the Rocky Mountains of North America and is the most commonly climbed fourteener in Colorado.[6] It has nearly the same elevation as Castle Peak and Mount Blue Sky. It lies in Summit County and within the White River National Forest about 6 miles (10 km) south-southwest of the town of Breckenridge.

Quandary Peak
Highest point
Elevation14,271 ft (4,350 m)[1][2]
Prominence1,125 ft (343 m)[3]
Parent peakMount Lincoln[3]
Isolation3.16 mi (5.09 km)[3]
ListingColorado Fourteener 13th
Coordinates39°23′50″N 106°06′23″W[1]
Geography
Quandary Peak is located in Colorado
Quandary Peak
Quandary Peak
LocationSummit County, Colorado, U.S.[4]
Parent rangeMosquito Range, Highest summit of the Tenmile Range[3]
Topo mapUSGS 7.5' topographic map Breckenridge, Colorado[1]
Climbing
Easiest routeEast Ridge: Hike, class 1[5]

The standard route up Quandary Peak is a trail hike (class 1), starting from a trailhead about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Hoosier Pass on the east side of the peak. Hence it is a popular fourteener to climb because of the relatively easy ascent and its proximity to Denver and Breckenridge. Quandary Peak is also popular with backcountry skiers and snowboarders. The gentle ascent makes for an easy climb from the east with less danger from avalanche than on many other fourteeners. The other slopes of the peak are steep and appeal to expert backcountry skiers.[7] One such steep ski mountaineering route is the Cristo Couloir.

In June 2021 the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative announced that Quandary Peak was Colorado's most popular 14'er in 2020.[8] The Initiative's data indicated that the peak saw 49,179 hiker days in 2020. Its popularity in recent years has caused serious parking problems at the trailheads, prompting local officials to initiate new parking policies.[9][10]

Climate
Climate data for Quandary Peak 39.3981 N, 106.1074 W, Elevation: 13,484 ft (4,110 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 19.6
(−6.9)		 18.8
(−7.3)		 25.6
(−3.6)		 32.6
(0.3)		 40.9
(4.9)		 51.7
(10.9)		 58.0
(14.4)		 55.5
(13.1)		 49.6
(9.8)		 38.3
(3.5)		 26.4
(−3.1)		 19.7
(−6.8)		 36.4
(2.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 9.3
(−12.6)		 8.6
(−13.0)		 14.2
(−9.9)		 20.3
(−6.5)		 29.1
(−1.6)		 39.0
(3.9)		 45.5
(7.5)		 43.8
(6.6)		 37.4
(3.0)		 27.0
(−2.8)		 16.5
(−8.6)		 9.7
(−12.4)		 25.0
(−3.9)
Average low °F (°C) −0.9
(−18.3)		 −1.5
(−18.6)		 2.8
(−16.2)		 8.1
(−13.3)		 17.3
(−8.2)		 26.4
(−3.1)		 32.9
(0.5)		 32.0
(0.0)		 25.3
(−3.7)		 15.7
(−9.1)		 6.6
(−14.1)		 −0.3
(−17.9)		 13.7
(−10.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.50
(64)		 2.49
(63)		 2.92
(74)		 3.68
(93)		 2.69
(68)		 1.41
(36)		 2.75
(70)		 2.82
(72)		 2.01
(51)		 2.10
(53)		 2.40
(61)		 2.35
(60)		 30.12
(765)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[11]

See also

References
  1. "QUANDARY". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  2. The elevation of Quandary Peak includes an adjustment of +2.071 m (+6.79 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  3. "Quandary Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  4. "Quandary Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  5. "Quandary Peak Routes". 14ers.com.
  6. Athearn, Lloyd F. (October 11, 2019). "2018 Hiking Use Estimates Press Release" (PDF). Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  7. The trail climbs steadily across two marked jeep roads to your first glimpse of Quandary Peak, Hoosier Pass, and distant peaks of the Tenmile Range (.85 mile - 1.0 mile). It clears treeline and wraps to the south face of Quandary Peak's east ridge (1.0 miles : 11,721'). Dawson, Louis W., II (1994). Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners. Vol. 1. Blue Clover Press. ISBN 0-9628867-1-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Olivero, Antonio (June 25, 2021). "Summit County's Quandary Peak is now the most popular 14er — by far". Summit Daily. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. de Jong, Jenna (May 25, 2021). "Summit County officials approve short-term solutions to mitigate parking issues, safety concerns at Quandary Peak". Summit Daily. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  10. deJong, Jenna (July 13, 2021). "Quandary Peak parking permit system to be implemented by July 30". Summit Daily. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  11. "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 10, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.
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