I climbed my 2nd 14er yesterday...Mt. Quandry

Quandary Peak 14,265'

So....yesterday marked the end of a great month. It started with a trip to Alaska. A week at home and then a week in the Bahamas. Though last week marked the official end of my vacation, I still ended September on a high note...literally.

Yesterday I rolled out of bed at 5am and hit the road around 6am, bound for Mt. Quandary. This was the 2nd 14er I've climbed. The first 14er I climbed was Mt. Bierstadt in late June with my older sister and some of her friends. You could say I "caught the bug" at that point to climb more 14ers. Mt. Quandary is about 8 miles from Breckenridge and easily accessible. I reached the parking lot around 7:25. After several failed attempts at taking a picture of myself and the sign that said "Quandary Peak," I hit the trail at about 7:40.

If I look stoned, its because I got up at 5am

(I had a bunch of text and pictures added and then i did something stupid and lost most of it..still trying to get the hang of this dang blogger...so...needless to say I'm frustrated and there will now be less text. Just pictures...maybe with some descriptions...arrrgggghhhh!!!)



ipod...$200ish, trekking poles...$60ish, camel back...$30, experiencing a crisp fall morning with the smell of fresh pine, clear blue skies and beautiful views of 4 14ers....priceless!

A view to the south of North Star Mountain

The first glimpse of Quandary Peak



A view to the south and one of many cairns that guide you to the summit



Me about to begin the last stretch. Though it looks close, the last "stretch" is still an hour and a half away


A view of the valley to the southeast


A shot towards the east


A shot towards the east

Almost to the top....finally

At the top...my hiking shoe, summit log and trekking pole



Just about to sign my second summit log

To fellas relaxing and taking in the view

Those guys in the last picture reached the summit before me but I started the slow descent before them. I was picking my way carefully down the loose rock, looking down so as to not lose my footing, when I spotted something up ahead. I looked up to see what it was and for just a moment I thought it was a giant white dog. Just before I was about to let out a big "Peepee!" I realized that this was not in fact a giant white dog. No..it was a mountain goat. (I have named him Fritz because we have a mountain goat on the tail of one of our aircraft and that's his name. Besides, I challenge you to come up with a better name for a mountain goat.) I stopped in my tracks so I wouldn't disturb him. When I realized that he was taking the trail up towards me, I took off my backpack, slowly, to retrieve my camera. And snapped away like it was a photo shoot for Mountain Goat Illustrated......

"Peepee!" Oh wait....nope that's a mountain goat

He just kept plodding up the trail, undaunted by my presence...like he owned the place. Guess he kinda does

HP camera...$100ish, memory card...$10, getting a photo of a mountain goat so close you can touch it...priceless!!!

Fritz was looking a little scruffy. He must be getting his winter coat.

Bye, Fritz. It was truly an honor meeting you

I was just in the mood to get back as fast as I could, (I had run out of water before I even summit ed....what am I? A rookie?) so I didn't take many more pictures till I got to the bottom and then I took several aspen pictures. Even fell square on my pa toot trying to get the close-up shots. If that's not suffering for one's art then.....

One of a few shots I took from my car window as I was winding down the road back towards Breckenridge.

All in all. It was a great trip! I made it all the way to the top. I didn't injure myself. And I got some great photos...especially the unexpected photo op with Fritz. I also realized that while I constantly bemoan the fact that I don't have that "someone" to go on little trips with, I enjoy hiking by myself because I can set my own pace and don't feel like I have to keep up with anyone. Though, I will say, it would be nice to enjoy the thrill of victory at the summit with another person. I quiet little "yea" you say to yourself doesn't quite seem to do the feat justice.