Project Vertical: Climbing Quandary Peak
Spring looks a little different in the Colorado high country.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
We may talk about “May flowers,” but on the high peaks of Colorado, winter is still very much in force. Nate Dodge got a taste of it for himself when he and a friend decided to hike 14.265-foot Quandary Peak as their first climb of the “warm” season.
The partners’ day started with a 2 a.m. departure from Boulder and a predawn start at the trailhead. By 5:45, the pair were above treeline, where they caught a sunrise “so good that [Dodge] couldn’t even decide where to point the camera. After a few more hours of hiking in high winds and low visibility, Dodge and his partner summited at 9 a.m., and got home in time for lunch.
This summer, Dodge will join the rest of BACKPACKER and Bight Gear‘s test team for a climb of Mt. Rainier with RMI.
Technology by Garmin
In addition, Bight Gear has teamed up with Garmin for this project, and testers will use fēnix® 5 Plus series watches and the inReach® Mini to track their progress.
