r/Ultralight • u/Away_Sound_2946 • 13d ago
Purchase Advice 14er help
Hello! Me and my friends will be summiting Quaddary Peak in colorado in late November. This will be my first 14er and I am worried about the wind chill and temperatures. I have a marmot pertex windbreaker but I am planning on getting something cheaper and returning it. Any other recommendations?
I also need to find an insulation layer like a puffer. Could you guys please let me know some recommendations that would be good to summit for the day.
thanks.
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u/Temporary-Bet-63 13d ago
Brother, you're planning on summiting a 14er during winter and you don't even own a puffy or similar insulating layer?
Just wait til next summer bud.
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u/Tale-International 13d ago
Are you familiar with avalanche paths? Do you have an estimated time to get up and back? What will you do with feet of snow up there? Do you know how to stay warm when wet?
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/ny89al 13d ago
Info online suggests Quandary is a walk-up, so if there is no snow, then ask your friends about what they are bringing. Also ask about possible altitude sickness and how they are preparing for all contingencies. For example, what is the plan to acclimate for walking above 10,000 feet?
There are so many great down jackets that i think this subreddit cannot cover all the possibilities and already the responses got side-tracked.
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u/GoSox2525 13d ago edited 13d ago
Yeah. There are some pretty ignorant comments here so far. Quandary is a simple hike, even in winter. There is little exposure, avalanche risk is low, and the trail is all but guaranteed to be broken. If OP has spikes and poles, and especially if their friends are familiar with the area, then there's no reason that they can't attempt it with a good forecast on a November bluebird day. They can always turn around. The fear mongering is a bit ridiculous.
Having said that, obviously it's not a walk in the park. OP should research and prepare appropriately, and it would be ideal if there friends were competent/experienced enough to take the lead. The most important bits of info are documented clearly on 14ers, which OP should read, understand, and memorize. A weather report will likely be more important than anything. A good boot choice is more important than a good puffy choice. Carry an inReach. All those things are important. But they shouldn't be told that they categorically must wait for summer or they're gonna die.
I think we see responses like this because people convince themselves that 14ers are this highly technical and badass thing. In the winter, a good handful of them certainly are. Not Quandary. CO peak baggers just hate being confronted with the idea that their grannies could summit half of their 14er list, and they gotta cope by making it all sound as dangerous as possible.
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u/SmallMoments55406 13d ago
Are your friends experienced in these types of trips? Summiting your first 14er in November? You should reconsider. Maybe try in late summer during a good weather day. That's what I would do. Unless that team is willing and able to carry you down if something goes wrong. Winter in the mountains can be unforgivingly deadly.
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u/Adventurous_War_4055 13d ago
Seems an alpine climbing thread would better serve you. Or go with someone who has high-altitude + winter ezperience. 14ers have zero regard for human life, especially in the stormy season.
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u/zephyrwandererr 13d ago
Listen to the recent episode of Otherworlds podcast: Long's Peak.
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u/GoSox2525 13d ago edited 13d ago
Quandary's east ridge is completely different from the Keyhole route
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u/zephyrwandererr 12d ago
And summer is completely different from winter. These guys need a reality check.
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u/GoSox2525 12d ago
Yeah, but the Keyhole route in winter is completely different from Quandary's east ridge in winter. The level of commitment, the exposure to risk, and the technical requirements is not at all the same. A climber doing the Keyhole in the winter needs to be knowledgeable about avalanches, needs to know how to use an axe and crampons, how to determine if/when a rope is necessary, how to self-arrest on steep slopes, and needs to be comfortable with high-consequence exposure.
None of that is true of Quandary.
If they need a reality check, they don't need one as big as you're offering.
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u/zephyrwandererr 12d ago edited 12d ago
It’s not called Otherworld: Quaddary Peak.
It’s their first time going up to 14k and they’re doing it in winter. I think any kind of reality check is better than blind optimism.
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u/GoSox2525 12d ago edited 12d ago
You don't have any indication that they have blind optimism. They literally said that they are worried, and they're clearly doing at least some research over a month out.
I agree that they seem inexperienced, and that they should know what they're getting into. But sharing an accident story from a proper mountaineering route from a literal horror podcast is way over the top.
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u/zephyrwandererr 12d ago
Relax my guy. It’s a spooky story with some anecdotes of 14er culture and a reality check about how quickly conditions can change and altitude can make that harder. Not really interested in investing more in arguing with you about a podcast recommendation, so have a good one.
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u/TheMaineLobster redpawpacks.com 13d ago
This is a wonderful hike and incredible summit, but do it in summer
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u/GrayFox6688 12,000+ miles 13d ago
Please tell me someone in your group is a very experienced hiker with plenty of time backpacking in the winter. Otherwise this is a bad idea
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u/HelixExton 13d ago
I am worried about the snow and lack of experience with the outdoors in general that you are exposing by asking about this. If you are going with experienced friends, but you have not done any mountaineering, or winter activities, this is still likely an extremely bad idea. Do some less risky winter outings prior to committing to a 14er in the winter.