Mt. Quandary?

Hey guys,

with the fear of getting walked all over for asking an idiot question -

A couple of friends and I will be out in summit county next week and would like to hike up Quandary, just south of breck. I've done the climb a couple winters back, and took the east ridge. At least by the route we took, I remember having little to no avy danger because it was the ridge almost all the way up.

So, my question is this. Since we don't have beacons and such, is it possible to ski down the ridge rather than going into the east bowl? Is there enough snow for that? (knowing that we wouldn't be having the best ski decent, but more just a faster way of getting down). I know the bowl is much more fun to ski, but also slides some. I just remember thinking that if I had skis, the whole downclimb would take so much less time.

It's ok if I'm a moron, just let me know.

Also, can anyone suggest a decent outdoors store to pick up some quality ski pants and check out some skis...anything in the midwest is picked over and too spendy.

Thanks,
Zach