An Eagle Scout project to put warning signs on Quandary Mountain
is moving forward after generous donations from Summit County
locals. The effort is aimed at minimizing risk for hikers
unfamiliar with Quandary's terrain.
The signs are in "approval phase," and Summit County Rescue Group
field team leader Matt Hage said they will likely be completed in
January. They will not be installed on the mountain until
springtime due to avalanche danger and snow.
Summit County Rescue Group said signs will be helpful because the
rescue group gets many calls related to people leaving or losing
the trail, or the west ridge route. They'll be placed in two
locations - at the main east ridge trail head and above the
entrance point for the West Ridge route.
According Hage, more than $1,800 was raised by 14-year-old Derrick
Trotman of Highlands Ranch. As of early September, Derrick had only
raised $200 with hopes of collected up to $1,400. But after an
article ran about the Boy Scout's efforts in the Summit Daily News,
there was a "phenomenal response to the project."
"It's an Eagle Scout project that will have tremendous impact,"
Hage said. "It's a project that the Summit County Rescue Group and
the Sheriff's Office have wanted to do for a long time. The Forest
Service was gracious enough to work with us and let the signs go
up. At the end of the day, we're going to be able to educate the
public in a way that will make climbing Quandary a safer experience
for everybody."
Derrick came up with the idea for his Eagle Scout project -
getting warning signs on Quandary in response to the high volume of
rescues seen on the peak - to honor the life of his brother. Two
years ago, 14-year-old Chance Forsythe died in a Vail Pass
snowmobile accident. Because Summit County Rescue Group was called
to help Derrick's family when his brother died, he said it was an
easy decision to center his Eagle Scout project around the
organization. When Derrick finishes his project, his brother will
gets his own honorary Eagle Scout ranking posthumously.
"I can't get over how big the response was," Hage said. "The
hardest part of the project - which was raising the amount of money
required - became the easiest part because the public responded so
well. Thanks to everyone who donated."
For more information on how to help with the sign project, call
Derrick at (303) 483-5453 or e-mail him atdrock_13@comcast.net.
By Caitlin Row, Summit Daily
Photo by Shari Topping.
