Colorado 14s

[cantdog]

I just received a very desirable invitation with very fluid parameters in Colorado. It appears as though I would have a place to stay, local transportation and company with good references this summer. Unfortunately, I know very little about the area, but I have decided to investigate this great opportunity.

If anyone would like to share their thoughts about the area based on personal experience or provide some URLs for useful information, maps, books, etc., please do so here.

(No sarcastic replies please.)

[Pig Pen]

I've only been once and I'm certainly not an expert, but I found these recources helpful:

Guide Book: "Colorado's Fourteeners From Hikes to Climbs" by Gerry Roach (Also has an associated map set that you can order)

URL:http://www.14ers.com/

Both have lots of info about routes, trails and access. National Geographic has hiking maps that cover the area as well.

Hoping to get back sometime.

[Oldsmores]

Where in Colorado? It's a big place! The eastern third of the state is prairie, and not very interesting (IMHO). The other 2/3 is spectacular! You will not run out of places to hike/climb, not to mention bike, raft, kayak, etc. The weather in the summer is awesome, with sunshine pretty much every day. Go, go, go...
http://www.summitpost.org/list/170916/colorado-14ers.html

[ADKJack]

Bring Snow Gear!
There should be plenty up until July. As mentioned above I found 14ers.com to be a excellent source of information regarding up to date trail conditions and directions. Also Bill Middlebrook, the administrator provides great stickys for pertinent info. You will learn a lot from these people but most important is the warnings about lightning strikes. Summer hiking in the rockies requires an early start so you will be back below treeline before noon or 1:00pm. Drink lots of water and take a couple days to acclimate. I found by climbing to 9K the first day then returning to the denver area to sleep and the doing the same for the next two days but gaining altitude to 12K by the third day I experienced no symptoms of AMS when on 14ers. Have a great time it is a magical place.

[pete_hickey]

Yeah where? The 14ers are scattered over hundreds of miles. You've got to see what ones are in your area. I've been there a number of times, and climbed a couple of the 14ers. I also got altitude sick one time, and it was one of the worst days I've had in a long time.


Several of the 14ers have serious private property issues, and one has a road to the summit. Some are quite a scramble, being technical if conditions are not good. I was unable to summit Longs, due to conditions. I did do Elbert and Massif (sp?). They are an easy walk up, but you WILL feel the altitude. It's a weird feeling... Normally when out of breath, your legs feel somewhat tired. In the thin air, your body isn't at all tired, you're just out of breath.

If you want suggestions on how to do those peaks easily (they're near Leadville), let me know.

Much of the climbing is above the treeline, which is quite a bit different from around here. You'll see your destination (and even the trail), even a couple miles away.

Another thing. You have to start EARLY to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, which are a lot more worrisome than around here. That starting early means that you'll have to do a peak relatively close to where you are, or camp at the trailhead the night before.

Although you should do at least one 14er while out there, I would suggest spending time climbing closer (smaller) peaks so that you won't be spending as much time driving.

Also: If your hosts are hikers, trust their judgement.

[Dick]

Pete is correct. I lived out there for a few years and did climb a few of the 14ers. One thing that took some getting used to for me was the sheer size of the state, and how long it can take to get from one part of the state to another. Distances above treeline can also be deceptive, and what might look like a hop, skip, and jump can take quite a while. More important, the altitude is a consideration (I also got sick once). For me, I walked a hundred feet or so, then stopped to rest (repeat to summit). Late PM storms in the summer were almost a given, as I recall.

Others will have better and more specific info, as it's simply been too long since I was there. I'd love to visit again - with the principal danger being that it's such a wonderful place, I might forget to come back!

Dick

[Antlerpeak]

Pete is correct. I lived out there for a few years and did climb a few of the 14ers. One thing that took some getting used to for me was the sheer size of the state, and how long it can take to get from one part of the state to another. Distances above treeline can also be deceptive, and what might look like a hop, skip, and jump can take quite a while. More important, the altitude is a consideration (I also got sick once). For me, I walked a hundred feet or so, then stopped to rest (repeat to summit). Late PM storms in the summer were almost a given, as I recall.

Others will have better and more specific info, as it's simply been too long since I was there. I'd love to visit again - with the principal danger being that it's such a wonderful place, I might forget to come back!

Dick

Dick is so right about distance being skewed the same hold true for elevation. Everything is so open and appears a lot closer than it is. I recall sitting on a perch in the Cascades less than an air mile from Mt Ranier at 7500 feet. Rainier looked much like Giant from Rocky, that was your perspective. My buddy commented "it looks like a quick walkup" I replied "look at your altimeter" He said "that can't be 7,500 feet above us."

You can walk all day with a distant peak in view and seem not to gain anything on it. And yes the trails are visible from long distances.

[Boreal Chickadee]

I've only been to Mesa Verde National Park. Fantastic exploring and there is some good hiking there. I had to switch planes in Denver and what a view out the window of the terminal!

[WalksWithBlackflies]

Ditto what everyone said.

http://www.fourteeners.org/14er_main.htm

http://www.summitpost.org/object_list.php?object_type=1&object_name_1=colorado&order_type=ASC&&orderby=elevation&order_type=DESC

I'm jealous. Have fun!!!

[hawk]

Pete is correct. I lived out there for a few years and did climb a few of the 14ers. One thing that took some getting used to for me was the sheer size of the state, and how long it can take to get from one part of the state to another. Distances above treeline can also be deceptive, and what might look like a hop, skip, and jump can take quite a while. More important, the altitude is a consideration (I also got sick once). For me, I walked a hundred feet or so, then stopped to rest (repeat to summit). Late PM storms in the summer were almost a given, as I recall.
Dick

Really!!

Seemed to me when I mentioned the 14's somewhere in a thread, someone (who obviously has never done any)remarked that there was little difference between the 14's and the 46's because you're already at altitude.

Also said that they're really 'easier" because of switchbacks.

I didn't reply at the time because it would have been impossible to do so without accusing them of being completely ignorant.

And you certainly don't bag multiple peaks walking across a ridge either.

I know that when I walked over a few as a young man in the best of shape, I was sucking wind pretty quickly.

Great thing about out there is that they're tough enough that the area isn't crawling with people.

[lx93]

I have "Colorado's Fourteeners From Hikes to Climbs" by Gerry Roach, & would 2nd the vote for it as being clearly the best guide for CO 14k'ers. One thing I really liked about it is that it's clearly written by a hiker, not a tourist.

I've also heard good things about a book by Dawson.

I'll also repeat the thoughts about altitude- after 9 consecutive months of being at literally only about a mile from the ocean, when I did two 4k'ers here in Virginia last Friday, I found myself feeling like Pete described- no leg muscle pain at all, but huffing & puffing whereas I had never felt like that in the New England 67. Yes, I am in good shape cardio-wise, I routinely do 30-55 mile bike rides & don't even drive my car.

[Pig Pen]

Great thing about out there is that they're tough enough that the area isn't crawling with people.

This is probably true in most cases. However, try Mt. Bierstadt on a sunny weekend day in August. When I was there you could see people on the trail from top to bottom and we shared the summit with at least 100 people. I hear Gray and Torreys are the same way. The ones near Denver can get very crowded. I'm not complaining, I enjoy people watching now and then, just saying its not all solitude.

[Dick]

This is probably true in most cases. However, try Mt. Bierstadt on a sunny weekend day in August. When I was there you could see people on the trail from top to bottom and we shared the summit with at least 100 people. I hear Gray and Torreys are the same way. The ones near Denver can get very crowded. I'm not complaining, I enjoy people watching now and then, just saying its not all solitude.

Yes, I've done those peaks a few times many years ago, and they were crowded back then, not as bad as a Mt. Marcy hike, but close. I can only imagine what they're like now. Gray and Torreys can be done as one dayhike, with a saddle between them, if I remember correctly. Of course, they're not all like that!

Dick