Originally written for Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides

(Republished here with permission)

Summiting one of Colorado’s 14ers is an iconic rite of passage in the hiking world. Each summer, hundreds of thousands of hikers set out in the wee hours of the morning to conquer one of the 58 sky high peaks in the state. If you’ve found yourself daydreaming of standing at 14,000 feet above sea level but don’t know where to get started, here’s a few tips to help you conquer new heights in the new year. 

Know Before You Go

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make on 14ers is lack of research and preparation. We may love the mountains, but the mountains don’t return the sentiment. To avoid finding yourself in the worst case scenario, make sure you have a good understanding of what you’re getting into. Websites like 14ers.com are excellent resources that provide route descriptions, conditions, difficulty and even cell reception info. Additionally, user forums on these sites are a great way to get a general idea of how hikers just like you fared on the mountain. In the weeks leading up to your climb, make sure you keep up to date on the weather and route conditions and adjust your plan accordingly.  

Set Realistic Expectations

Choose your mountain based on feasible distance, difficulty and elevation gain for your abilities, not on bragging rights. You want to be able to enjoy your first 14er and not put yourself in unnecessary risk. Recommended peaks for beginners are Gray’s Peak, Mount Bierstadt, and Quandary Peak. Another important thing to keep in mind is that conditions may change on your hike. Many people get ‘Summit Fever’ and ignore potentially dangerous situations in their mad dash to the top. Accept that conditions may change and force you to turn around early. That Instagram shot from the top is not worth your life. 

Get Comfortable at High Altitude

Once you’ve chosen your mountain, the biggest beast standing in the way of the summit isn’t the terrain or the physical difficulty, it’s the altitude. Altitude can affect anyone. It is recommended to train at higher elevations to understand how your body feels and increase your tolerance to high altitude conditions. Start off small, if you’re coming from sea level, try some harder hikes along the Front Range such as Mt. Sanitas in Boulder or Horsetooth Mountain in Fort Collins. From there, increase the elevation of your hikes gradually by moving up to Rocky Mountain National Park or Indian Peaks. When you’re feeling confident in your fitness and altitude tolerance, try summiting a lesser peak. Flattop Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park is an excellent training peak. Standing at 12,324 ft with 8.6 miles of 2,000+ ft elevation gain, this climb mimics the terrain and difficulty you’re likely to encounter on a 14er. In addition to elevation training, acquaint yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness so you can monitor yourself and others on the trail. 

Endurance Training

Typically, the best time of year to summit is late Summer to early Fall, which gives you plenty of time to start training. Even if you’re fairly active, it’s important to be prepared to be hiking for several hours. Start adding cardio, such as running or cycling, to your routine to increase endurance, ideally incorporating as much uphill as you can. It is recommended to train at 70 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate to improve your aerobic energy system. Another great way to increase your heart’s oxygen uptake and increase your endurance is interval training. Getting your heart rate up for short bursts followed by a brief rest period is an excellent way to increase your cardiovascular fitness and get you ready for the long haul ahead of you.

Be Prepared to Start Early

Because the typical climbing season coincides with Colorado’s afternoon thunderstorm season, plan to start your hike before the sun comes up. Lightning is one of the biggest dangers on ascents and you don’t want to find yourself exposed above treeline in a thunderstorm. Depending on the trail’s length and your hiking speed, plan on hitting the trail around 3 or 4am. (Night owls and early birds rejoice, there’s finally an activity for you both!) It’s wise to summit before noon and get back below treeline before you start to hear the first rumbles of thunder in the afternoon hours. While on the hike, be prepared to keep an eye to the sky and know what to look for. Colorado’s weather changes so rapidly and is so difficult to predict that a storm can still pop up even when the forecast calls for a 0% chance of rain. 

Assemble Your Team

Not only is there safety in numbers, but enlisting a summit buddy can help encourage and motivate you to reach your goal. If you have a friend who’s an avid hiker or has summited a 14er before, awesome! If not, make sure your climbing partner has good judgement and a similar level of risk tolerance to you. Also, while hiking with someone can be a great motivator to keep you climbing to the top, don’t push yourself past your limits trying to keep up with them. If you can’t find someone to hop on the 14er train with you, consider hiring a professional guide. Not only do guides know the route, but they can supply you with the gear and knowledge you need to reach the top. Also, they have wilderness first aid knowledge that can provide an additional safety net. 

Gear Prep

Even though you’ll technically only be doing a day hike, it’s still important to be prepared and hike responsibly with the right gear.  

Here’s a basic list of gear to get for your ascent:

First Aid Kit- REI has small, inexpensive kits for dayhikers.

Trekking Poles- While you might feel like these are overkill, they are a lifesaver for preventing injury from clumsy, tired legs and ankles on the descent.

Headlamp or flashlight- It will be dark for the first portion of your hike.

Route Map/GPS/Trail App- Although most 14ers are pretty well marked, it’s also a good idea to have a GPS/map or an app such as The Hiking Project which allows you to check your position on the trail even without cell reception.

Clothing- Layers are essential for the everchanging Colorado weather. A basic hiking outfit should consist of long pants, a short sleeve top, a warm long sleeve top or fleece, a rain jacket, wool socks, and hat. It is also important to avoid cotton clothing as it doesn’t dry quickly and you WILL be sweating. You can add extra layers or things like gloves depending on the specific forecast for your ascent day. 

Hiking Boots- Ideally with some ankle support to prevent sprains. Just make sure you’ve already broken them in to avoid blisters.

Food- Your body will be working hard for several hours so bring plenty of snacks to replenish calories and keep your energy up. Quick eats like trail mix, energy bars, apples, and PB&J’s are all great options.

Water- Don’t skimp on hydration. Bring at least 2-3 liters per person. A good option to meet this baseline is to bring both a Camelback and a Nalgene.

Camera- Get those sweet summit pics! 

The Day Before

The night before you’re planning on summiting, it’s a good idea to avoid alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the body and can amplify the effects of altitude and make the hike overall more painful than it needs to be. Save the beer for celebrating afterwards. This is also a great time to assemble your gear to ensure you don’t forget anything with your “it’s 3am why am I awake” brain. Before turning in, revisit your route and check the forecast. Finally, turn in early and get a good night’s sleep so you’re well rested for the big day.

The Big Day

Start your day off right with a hearty breakfast to fuel your hike. Once you start, be safe, be aware, stay hydrated, go at your own pace, and most of all, enjoy the experience! You’ve worked hard to get here, make the most of it. Good luck out there!