Breckenridge Real Estate Blog

About six miles southwest of Breckenridge, Colorado real estate, another adventure awaits hikers, mountaineers, horses, dogs, backcountry skiers, and snowboarders.  Quandary Peak—the highest peak and only Fourteener in the Tenmile Range—offers awesome views for residents and guests of Breckenridge CO homes and owners of Breckenridge real estate in Summit County, Colorado.

To actually conquer Quandary’s terrain, recreationists can choose from several levels of difficulty Class 1 to Class 5.4 and up.  In Colorado, ratings for Classes 1-5 range from trail hiking to off-trail hiking on talus or bushwhacking, hands-on scrambling, easy climbing, to technical climbing.

The Class 1 standard route conquers the eastern slope up to the peak at 14,265 feet.  Although it all looks easy from afar, the altitude adds a sometimes stunning or stinging element to the climb for seaside visitors who are not used to the high altitudes.  The gentle eastern slope is recommended by many veterans including the Forest Service and the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI).  Not only is it safer but it seeks to preserve the delicate alpine setting of the popular route through the Arapahoe National Forest.

Fourteeners are mountains in the State of Colorado that reach at least 14,000 feet in elevation.  Quandary Peak, Castle Peak, and Mount Evans rate as the 12th through 14th tallest, depending on the elements that are being rated.  Approximately 200,000 people climb the Fourteeners every year.

During the months of June through September, the east slope route can be a bit crowded as residents of Denver get out for some much-needed recreation.  The hike is 6.3 miles round trip and boasts a 3,200 foot gain in elevation.  Hikers should allow between 4 and 6 hours, depending on the season, weather, and fitness of the people in the party.  Drive south on Highway 9 from town, go right on the turnoff for Blue Lakes Road and right on McCullough Gulch Road for about a mile to the trailhead.  It starts on an old road, enters the woods and emerges on the ridge which goes all the way to the summit.

If you leave the Blue Lakes Trail for the use trail that ascends the hanging valley southwest of Quandary Peak, beware of the many Class 2 routes to the Fletcher Mountain/Quandary saddle that are rather indistinct.  You may find yourself scrambling more than your bargain for if there is not enough snow.  But, if you do reach the saddle and mount the Fletcher Mountain summit, the panoramic views are clear as can be.  To take Quandary from here, you will be choosing the more-difficult western route.

A pleasant hike through the forest with views of the lower slopes, the Monte Cristo Trailhead can be reached 8 miles south of town on Highway 9 also.  Go west on Summit County 850 and north on Summit County 851.  To the south, the Cristo Couloir features a much steeper climb at about 45 degrees all of the way plus mountaineering terrain and places for good cramponing.  Only the couloirs itself is sheltered from the wind.  This route is too steep to rely on skis with skins alone.  The Inwood Arete is a demanding rock route that is rated Class 5.4.

A cautionary note for anyone conquering the backcountry:  You will only conquer if you inform yourself of the hazards and take the necessary precautions.  There can be avalanches, electrical storms, muddy trails, freezing winds, and other challenging elements to contend with—even though you are close to the world-class ski resorts.  For information about real estate in the area, contact Rick Allemang at (970) 547-1002.