A 6 AM alpine start, snow-shoeing to a summit, followed by local beer, barbecue and bluegrass... If this sounds like a perfect day in Colorado, you’re on the right track. It is also the perfect day to celebrate Quandary Peak!
The NFF recently came together with Find Your Fourteener partners Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI), Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, REI and the USDA Forest Service to celebrate Quandary Peak’s ascension to the “Fourteener Honor Roll.” Quandary Peak’s primary summit route, previously graded as a ‘C’ for trail sustainability on the CFI Fourteeners Report Card, was recently re-graded at an ‘A’ after several years of heavy maintenance and reconstruction, including two years of financial support and volunteerism through the Find Your Fourteener campaign.
Our partners, dedicated volunteers and donors summited Quandary Peak to celebrate while admiring and discussing the technical trail work along the way with experts from CFI. Following the Summit, the group gathered at Broken Compass Brewery to enjoy local brews, barbecue, and bluegrass while speaking of the value of collaboration, the partnership, and excellent trail work completed.
Quandary Peak, one of the most-visited Fourteeners in Colorado, and one of the busiest mountains in the country, hosts 20,000-25,000 hiker use days annually. As a result of the heavy use, the mountain’s trail and surrounding fragile alpine ecosystem made it a perfect candidate for collaborative stewardship through the Find Your Fourteener campaign. The hard work and investments from many partners and supporters has paid off and we’re proud to name Quandary as the first Find Your Fourteener ‘graduate’ to the Fourteeners Honor Roll.
Although Quandary achieved a passing grade, regular maintenance will be necessary to maintain the health of the trail and mountain. With help from you, the NFF and our partners can continue to care for this beloved peak. Visit www.nationalforests.org/fourteener to learn more about how you can volunteer, donate or otherwise help care for Colorado’s Fourteeners.
For additional information, please contact NFF Colorado Program Manager Emily Olsen at [email protected].
