14er Ski Descents - Quandary Peak

Route: East Ridge

Team: Ted, Christy

Christy and I had just started dating and we were looking for an adventure. Why not go ski a 14er?

Closing day on Aspen Mountain brought a big spring storm. We had made plans to try to ski Quandary Peak, and some new snow made it sound more interesting. We made our way up the East Ridge, chatting, still in the early “getting to know each other” phase of a relationship. Wave after wave of spring weather blew through, and though it produced little precipitation, the whiteout conditions were disorienting. We both shrugged it off.

This was a first date of sorts, and we both wanted to make a good impression, so being cool with the conditions—that is, not sounding the alarm or wishing to turn around—seemed like the right approach. She followed me through the wind and clouds to the summit, and neither of us talked much about the new snow and the potential for avalanches.

It was my goal to ski the Cristo Couloir. Of course, there was a foot or so of new spring snow on the frozen south-facing crust underneath, with some high winds gusting and a Euro-style whiteout. In avalanche-speak, there were several red flags. But sometimes, these things are only thought about in hindsight. I was more concerned with how the first date was going, so I willingly ignored the obvious warning signs.

christy mahon skinning up the east ridge of quandary peak — Christy skins up the East Ridge.

Christy Mahon on quandary peak's east ridge — Temperatures weren’t too bad, but passing spring weather kept the visibility changing from whiteout to sun.

christy mahon on the summit of quandary peak — Looking down in the direction of the Cristo Couloir. It would have to wait for another day.

As Christy was getting into her tele bindings, I skied over towards the top of the couloir to take a look and make a ski cut. We had discussed the weather and snow conditions during the morning drive and determined the slope to be a likely avalanche risk. So, as I made out a slight convex rollover in the slope, I skied to it and stopped. Right at my feet, the slope broke off and silently disappeared into the whiteout below. The fracture and subsequent crown ran in front and behind me until out of sight, from right between my feet, about 10-12 inches deep. From where I was standing, it appeared that it ran the entire 3000 feet down to the reservoir below.

Christy was still above me, and she could tell something had happened. I asked her to stay put as I kicked-turned and traversed back to the East Ridge.

I told her what happened and very plainly suggested that we shouldn’t ski the Cristo Couloir. She agreed, and we retraced our route of ascent back down the East Ridge, blinded at times by the whiteout conditions, down to the truck.

When I hear people discussing how a first date didn’t go so well, I always tell them how this one almost unfolded.