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CRISTO COULOIR | QUANDARY PEAK | TENMILE RANGE | COLORADO | UNITED STATES

CRISTO COULOIR
CRISTO COULOIR
Date Created: 12/01/2008
Last Updated: 12/01/2008
Ranking:Premier
Skiable Vert:2500 ft
Climbing Vert:2500 ft
Top Elevation:14265 ft
Trailhead Elevation:11700 ft
Ascent Mileage:2
AVG Ascent Time:2 hours
Ascent Type:Skin
Trees:none
Slope Aspect:South
Steepest Section:25-35 Degrees
Slope Type:Couloir
Exit:Clean
First Descent:
Nearest Town:Breckenridge
AVG Snowfall:300+
Snowpack:Dangerous Colorado Continental

Highlights

A very "easy" 14ner to knock off. A straight forward, safe ascent ridge takes you to the top with a nice wide couloir to ski.

Ascent

From Breckenridge, drive 8 miles south on Colorado 9. Turn right (west) on the Blue Lakes 850 Road. Drive a few hundred yards and turn right on the McCullough Gulch 851 Road. There is a sign for the Quandary Peak Trail at this junction. Drive 0.1 mile to a small parking area on the right side of the road. This is the trailhead. The U.S. Forest Service has installed a sign/kiosk that faces away from the road. Walk up the road to the next corner and the trail starts on the left. This is a new trailhead and replaces the previous trailhead 1 mile up the road. You can also continue up the dirt road and bootpack up the couloir. Follow the trail signs and ascend the forested slope until you reach the obvious ridge of Quandary. Follow to the summit.

Descent

From the summit, head south and ski the clean wide couloir all the way down to the road/lake. Sometimes the top off the summit can be a little bony, and requires picking your way through to the actual couloir. Follow the dirt road back to your car.

Access/Permits

There is lots of private property around so be courteous and respectful.

Photos

Need A Guide?

Alpine Ambitions
Alpine Ambitions leads educational, adventurous, ski experiences in some of the most quintessential ski locations on the planet. No matter where you are on the spectrum of skiers - from accomplished, expert skier ready to ski from the summits of big peaks, and in off-the-beaten-path locations to a novice skier with the desire to ski all-conditions and all-terrain, Alpine Ambitions creates the right environment for you....Hire this guide
Alpine World Ascents
Alpine World Ascents is a professional ski and mountain guide outfit based out of Boulder, CO, offering instruction and guiding year round locally and around the world: Rock, Ice, Alpine, Ski, Avalanche Safety. AMGA and IFMGA certified guides only....Hire this guide

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