How to plan for your first Fourteener
Hiking up a 14,000 ft peak is definitely a bucket list hike for most hikers. If you get the chance to do it I would highly suggest you get after it and don’t think it’s impossible! There are 54 Fourteeners in the state of Colorado and they range from a 4 hour hike to very technical rock climbing full day hauls. Those more technical ones will need specific rock climbing gear and I did not go over them in this blog post. But most of easier 14ers can be done with what I broke down here in this post. Here are 5 steps to take to prepare for this awesome experience!
PACK YOUR BACKPACK
This is going to hold everything you need to get through this hike!
What should you bring?
First aid kit
Knife
Sunscreen
Extra socks
Trekking poles
Headlamp
Blister tape
Warm layers
Even if you go in August it is likely that their will be snow patches at the top. The weather up there is always changing and very windy.
I bring a fleece, a wind breaker or rain jacket, a hat, gloves and pants if I’m not already wearing them.
Water and lots of it! 2-3 liter per person
I use a water bladder and that is definitely the best way to pack and carry that much water in my opinion!
Lots of snacks and maybe a summit beer or seltzer!
2. PLAN YOUR TRIP
-Most 14ers can be done in half of a day, but you will want to get to the summit before 11-12 in the morning. This helps to make sure you beat the afternoon clouds and storms that tend to roll in at that elevation.
-14ers.com is a great place to decide and pick your peak! I also review all of the comments and recorded hikes on AllTrails, most people will have recent reviews about their hikes. Remember some peaks can have multiple starting locations so make sure you research the right trail.
- Remember to check the road you will be taking to the trial head, all trails usually says what kind of road it is. A lot of them can be 4WD roads and are closed during winter seasons.
- Pick an easy one for your first time at that elevation.
3. DON’T GO ALONE
This isn’t your usual day hike. This is rock scrambles, dramatic weather change, and extremely high elevation. Whether it’s the chance of being hurt or getting elevation sickness you should definitely have someone with you. And you’ll want a buddy to share the memory with!
4. PREPARE THE DAYS BEFORE
A little prep advice: Go for a few small hikes in high altitude the week of, or go for a few runs. Get your body adjusted to working out at a high elevation. Then drink a ton of water the day before. It’s super important when heading into high elevation to be very hydrated! Elevation sickness is real my friends.
5. TAKE YOUR TIME
Its gonna burn, it’s gonna be hard, but take breaks often, eat snacks, drink water, let your body acclimate as you hike and enjoy the views!
Just to review what you just read, here are a few BIG MISTAKES people often look over and forget.
Not bringing enough water. You need more than you want and more than you normally bring.
Not getting to the summit early enough.
Not bringing the right amount of warm layers, its always much colder in the morning and at that elevation.
Not enough snacks, your body will need the fuel.
