“In the mountaineering parlance of the Western United States, a fourteener is a mountain peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet. There are 96 fourteeners in the United States, all west of the Mississippi River. Colorado has the most of any single state.” – Wikipedia
What is a 14er?
Colorado has 58 (or 53 depending on what rules you want to follow) glorious mountain peaks that are 14,000 feet (4,267 meters) or higher in elevation, the most in the United States. Outdoor enthusiasts and locals know them as 14ers (or fourteeners). Alaska has the second most 14ers in the United States with 29.
For countries that use the Imperial System of Measurement, 14ers are not a thing, so these peaks are mostly limited to North America and the United States. People of all walks of life come to Colorado to climb these peaks. Check out my tips for hiking 14ers below.
Resources
My favorite resource for all things 14er-related is to use 14ers.com, as it has a lot of key information you should know. A few great pages from that website is lists of all 58 fourteeners in Colorado, and Routes by Difficulty.
Plan Ahead
Always plan ahead. The first thing you should do before any adventure or excursion is focus on being prepared. Proper preparation will maximize your enjoyment. Determine where you can park your vehicle, preferably as close to the trailhead as possible. It’s always nice to be able to figure out where you’re going before you get somewhere, especially with varying/remote trailheads in the Rocky Mountains. Search Google Maps (ex. Google Maps – Quandary Peak Trailhead).
Search Google Maps for the trailhead of the mountain you are climbing. Also, be mindful of the weather. This is often unpredictable and can change in the blink of an eye at high altitudes.
A resource for peak conditions that are periodically updated can be found at 14ers.com Peak Status’. Above all, being prepared gives you the best chance to have fun!
Roads/Trailheads Ranked by Difficulty
Be mindful of accessibility. Some of the roads leading to trailheads are not suitable for all vehicles. Here is a list of trailheads by road difficulty.
I’ve driven to fourteener trailheads in a range of vehicles, from compact sedans (Subaru Legacy) to small/mid size SUVs (Toyota Rav 4). Although I haven’t had an issue in any of my ventures, I could see it being a real problem if you make the drive prepared to climb a fourteener, but you’re unable to access the trailhead itself due to its road and/or conditions.
Many fourteeners are very secluded, away from roads, but the most trafficked trails will either be paved or have easy dirt roads close to the trailhead. The bottom line is, try to take this potential problem out of the equation so you can focus on your climb. Next, I’ll go over things you should know before your hike.
Things to Know Before Climbing Your First 14er
There’s a list of important things you should know before you decide to attempt to summit one of these mountains. Here are my tips:
Choose an easier mountain for your first summit. 5 of these peaks include:
- Mt. Bierstadt
- Quandary Peak
- Handies Peak
- Grays Peak
- Torreys Peak
- Grays and Torreys Peaks can be accomplished on the same day/hike. It can be a challenge for your first (and second) 14ers, but it’s doable with the proper mindset.
Wear and pack the proper clothing.
- Depending on the season, you will need to wear clothing that will keep you the most comfortable. The temperature, winds, and weather can be the most unpredictable aspects of this journey of summiting a fourteener.
- Bring multiple layers. Mornings are chilly, it might get warm along the way, and summits are typically much cooler and windy.
- Wear comfortable footwear. I’ve hiked a few times with improper boots, and it makes for an unpleasant descent and day overall.
Plan for the worst.
- Storms and winds are prevalent on the mountain, and temperatures can drop unexpectedly.
- Bring a small first aid kit. You never know when you might need it.
Begin your hike early in the morning.
- It’s always smart to start your journey early in the morning because of the propensity for calmer weather conditions. Afternoon storms on the mountain are common, and something no one wants to be caught in.
- Have a headlamp. It’s ideal to begin hiking at or just before sunrise.
Take plenty of food and water, but not too much.
- Water will likely be the heaviest thing in your backpack, but a necessity for every hike. Hydration is key. A general guideline is 1 liter for every 2 hours of hiking.
- Load up on snacks. Bananas, granola, nuts, protein filled snack bars, and sports drinks are a few good ideas.
Prepare for high altitude.
- Colorado peaks are not so high in elevation that you should be overly concerned about acclimatization.
- Acclimating to higher altitudes is most helpful before ascending to high altitudes. Denver is around 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) in elevation, and spending a few days here before your climb is the minimum you should consider if you are from out of town.
- Going on a short hike at 10,000-11,000 feet (3,048-3,353 meters) a day or two before climbing a 14er would be a great way to acclimate. Try spending a good amount of time at high elevations, and drink a lot of fluids.
- Take your time. If you don’t have a lot of time to get acclimated, simply start early, climb slowly, and take breaks. It’s not a race. Do what’s best for your body, and go at your own pace.
Leave no trace. Pack in, pack out.
- Take your trash home with you!
- Whatever you bring for your climb needs to leave with you. Please don’t trash our beautiful mountains.
14ers are crowded.
- I’ve climbed 14ers during the week and on weekends, they’re always busy. Their popularity has only expanded in recent years, so it’s just something you have to deal with.
- The earlier you begin helps lessen the overall traffic you’ll encounter on the mountain.
