Tips for summiting a fourteener
Climbing fourteeners is a quintessential Colorado adventure. Boasting more than 50 mountains with summits peaking above 14,000 feet, no other state in the Lower 48 comes close. California ranks second, with a measly 12.
The rewards of hiking above timberline with majestic views that take in distant peaks and valleys dozens or hundreds of miles away are profound, but what if you’ve never done one before? How do you start? Which peaks are best for the first-timer? What do you need to know to be safe?
We’re here to help.
First, while it’s common to use the term “climbing” when talking about fourteeners, the vast majority of them are really high-altitude hikes that are climbed without technical gear such as ropes and harnesses.
They still can be dangerous, though. Some have hundreds of feet of “exposure,” meaning if you take a fall, it could be a long one. Trails are rocky, and rocks sometimes wobble underfoot, so you could sprain an ankle or break a leg. Ice
and snow, even in summer, can complicate your climb. Altitude sickness can strike even the fittest climber. And always, you need to be on the lookout for weather that could bring thunderstorms. One of the triedandtrue rules for fourteener hiking is that it’s best to be off the summit and on the descent by noon to avoid lightning.
And just for the record: The Colorado Mountain Club recognizes 54 fourteeners. Some lists include more, but those include peaks that the CMC considers parts of other fourteeners.
Before we list the best fourteeners for firsttimers, we need to mention a peak that most firsttimers probably should avoid. Some firsttimers opt for Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park because it’s such a prominent Front Range landmark, and it’s certainly tempting for that reason, but starting with Longs can be a bad idea. Longs is aptly named because it is a very long way from the trailhead to the summit and back — more than 14 miles — and there is 5,100 feet of elevation gain. That’s why the Colorado Mountain Club discourages firsttimers from attempting it.
“It’s a tremendous amount of elevation gain,” said Roger J. Wendell, a certified CMC leader who has three decades of volunteer experience with the 107yearold club. “That’s a huge day for anybody. The trail is long, there is exposure and people somewhat regularly die on Longs. You can die on any of them, of course, but Longs has that added risk. Plus, with so much elevation gain, if you’re coming from the flatlands, the altitude can really take its toll on you. We’d like to keep you at about 3,000 feet of gain if you’re a beginner.”
Perhaps the best fourteener for a firsttimer is Mount Bierstadt, which rises above Guanella Pass near Georgetown and is connected by Sawtooth Ridge to Mount Evans, which is the most visible fourteener from Denver. Bierstadt tends to be crowded, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re inexperienced. It means if you get in trouble, there could be people nearby to help you.
“Bierstadt, to me, is ideal because when the weather is good, people can always see their car (down on Guanella Pass),” Wendell said. “You can’t get lost. If you’re nervous, the trail is clear. Bierstadt would probably be my No. 1 choice for anyone in the Boulderdenver area.”
Another fourteener that’s a good place to start, especially for Front Range folks, is Grays Peak. The exit on Interstate 70 for climbing Grays is only 33 miles from Genesee. It’s also connected by a saddle to a neighboring fourteener, Torreys Peak. If you’re feeling fit, you can