Here is a list of necessary gear needed for hiking mountains. This list is intended for day hikes during the summer months. This is the stuff I generally wouldn't leave without. You can always bring more but I try to keep my pack weight to a minimum. I try to only carry what I will need without putting myself at risk if something doesn't quite go as planned.
1. Map, compass, and/or GPS
2. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun hat.
3. Sturdy yet comfortable hiking shoes with a good sock
4. A wind breaker
5. A rain jacket and maybe rain pants
6. Winter hat and gloves
7. Plenty of Water
8. Extra food
9. Hiking Poles
10. Layers (T-shirt, long sleeve shirts, fleece, shell)
11. First Aid Kit
12. Camera
Remember that you are entering a high alpine environment. You should be ready for high winds, rain, and lots of sunshine. The weather changes quickly and you will need layers to stay comfortable. Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must, you will get burned. Don't underestimate the amount of water you will need. Be smart, be safe, and have fun.
Showing posts with label Hiking Information. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hiking Information. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Risks and Dangers of Hiking Mountains
Overall mountain climbing is not a very dangerous sport. Thousands of people climb one or more of the Colorado 14ers each year with no problems. However, it is also important to point out that people do die each year in the Colorado back country. Death and serious injury can be caused by lightning, exposure to the elements, and falling from rocks and ledges.
While I don't consider climbing a 14,000 foot peak to be putting my life at risk, it is important to understand the risks that are involved. You may encounter a bear or mountain lion but the chance of being attacked by an animal in the Colorado wilderness is much less likely than people in the city would like to believe.
Lightning is a serious risk. Being up above the tree line makes you susceptible to being struck directly by lightning. Lightning kills people each year in Colorado and a direct hit is almost always fatal. The best advice to avoid being caught in a lightning storm is to start early. Thunderstorms roll in in the afternoons. It is best to summit in the morning and be headed down shortly after noon. Also, it is important to keep an eye on the clouds. If a storm is moving in get down. Anytime you see lightning or hear thunder it is important to get down to lower elevation immediately. There is too much risk in standing on top of a 14er in a thunderstorm.
Exposure to the elements takes lives every year too. Usually this happens when someone becomes lost in the wilderness and is forced to spend the night outside. Often day hikers with light jackets get caught out all night without a sleeping bag or jacket warm enough for the freezing night temperatures. Obviously, you can carry a sleeping bag and tent with you on every hike. The key is to know where you are, where you are going, and make sure someone knows where you went if you don't make it out. Bring a map and know how to read it. I always study the map the night before so I know what other mountains are around the one I'm climbing. This gives me the ability to recognize mountain features and keep me headed in the right direction. GPS unit are also very helpful but be sure to have plenty of batteries.
Falls from rocks and ledges. People die every year in the Colorado back country from slipping off rocks. If you are rock climbing know the dangers and bring a rope. If you are hiking, don't climb a rock. Some scrambling is fun but know what you are doing and don't put yourself at risk.
Be smart out there. Don't get yourself into more than you can handle and know when to turn around.
While I don't consider climbing a 14,000 foot peak to be putting my life at risk, it is important to understand the risks that are involved. You may encounter a bear or mountain lion but the chance of being attacked by an animal in the Colorado wilderness is much less likely than people in the city would like to believe.
Lightning is a serious risk. Being up above the tree line makes you susceptible to being struck directly by lightning. Lightning kills people each year in Colorado and a direct hit is almost always fatal. The best advice to avoid being caught in a lightning storm is to start early. Thunderstorms roll in in the afternoons. It is best to summit in the morning and be headed down shortly after noon. Also, it is important to keep an eye on the clouds. If a storm is moving in get down. Anytime you see lightning or hear thunder it is important to get down to lower elevation immediately. There is too much risk in standing on top of a 14er in a thunderstorm.
Exposure to the elements takes lives every year too. Usually this happens when someone becomes lost in the wilderness and is forced to spend the night outside. Often day hikers with light jackets get caught out all night without a sleeping bag or jacket warm enough for the freezing night temperatures. Obviously, you can carry a sleeping bag and tent with you on every hike. The key is to know where you are, where you are going, and make sure someone knows where you went if you don't make it out. Bring a map and know how to read it. I always study the map the night before so I know what other mountains are around the one I'm climbing. This gives me the ability to recognize mountain features and keep me headed in the right direction. GPS unit are also very helpful but be sure to have plenty of batteries.
Falls from rocks and ledges. People die every year in the Colorado back country from slipping off rocks. If you are rock climbing know the dangers and bring a rope. If you are hiking, don't climb a rock. Some scrambling is fun but know what you are doing and don't put yourself at risk.
Be smart out there. Don't get yourself into more than you can handle and know when to turn around.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Rating System
How hard is this mountain to climb? How do these two peaks compare in difficulty?
Difficulty is such a subjective matter. It depends on the skills of the climber. Something that seems very easy to one person may be nearly impossible to another less experience hiker. When someone talks about how easy or hard something is it is important to consider the differences in ability and experience.
The generally accepted rating system in the climbing community is known as the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). A rating for a route has four parts: Grade, Class, Snow Steepness, and Length. Snow Steepness and Length are pretty self explanatory so I will focus on Grade and Class in this post. Grade rates the overall difficulty of the entire route while Class rates the hardest part of the route.
Grade is expressed in roman numerals from I to VII. The higher the number the harder the overall route. For example a Grade I is a short day hike up to 3,000 feet of elevation gain and little or no technical climbing. A Grade II is a Day Hike with over 3,000 feet of elevation gained and possibly some technical climbing required. A Grade III is a long day climb with over 6,000 feet gained, a fair amount of technical climbing required or a considerable amount of scrambling possibly with some exposure. A Grade IV is a very long day. It would require a great deal of elevation gain and/or considerable technical climbing and scrambling.
Class is classified by numbers 1 through 5.14. Classes 1 to 4 are rated in whole numbers only. At 5 a decimal place is used to denote each bit of increased difficulty. Class 1 is hiking on a defined trail or or in open country which is as easy as hiking on a trail. Class 2 is hiking off the trail usually requiring some bushwhacking or climbing on a talus slope. In Class 2 you are not yet using your hands. Class 3 is the easiest category of climbing. People generally call Class 3 climbing 'scrambling'. You are now using basic climbing including the use of your hands. Class 4 is for even more climbing. Not only are you using your hands but you may have to search for and select handholds. You are using your upper body to continuing gaining elevation not just your legs. Class 5 is technical climbing. Most people prefer to use a rope as exposure is present. You are not not hiking but definitely climbing.
Difficulty is such a subjective matter. It depends on the skills of the climber. Something that seems very easy to one person may be nearly impossible to another less experience hiker. When someone talks about how easy or hard something is it is important to consider the differences in ability and experience.
The generally accepted rating system in the climbing community is known as the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). A rating for a route has four parts: Grade, Class, Snow Steepness, and Length. Snow Steepness and Length are pretty self explanatory so I will focus on Grade and Class in this post. Grade rates the overall difficulty of the entire route while Class rates the hardest part of the route.
Grade is expressed in roman numerals from I to VII. The higher the number the harder the overall route. For example a Grade I is a short day hike up to 3,000 feet of elevation gain and little or no technical climbing. A Grade II is a Day Hike with over 3,000 feet of elevation gained and possibly some technical climbing required. A Grade III is a long day climb with over 6,000 feet gained, a fair amount of technical climbing required or a considerable amount of scrambling possibly with some exposure. A Grade IV is a very long day. It would require a great deal of elevation gain and/or considerable technical climbing and scrambling.
Class is classified by numbers 1 through 5.14. Classes 1 to 4 are rated in whole numbers only. At 5 a decimal place is used to denote each bit of increased difficulty. Class 1 is hiking on a defined trail or or in open country which is as easy as hiking on a trail. Class 2 is hiking off the trail usually requiring some bushwhacking or climbing on a talus slope. In Class 2 you are not yet using your hands. Class 3 is the easiest category of climbing. People generally call Class 3 climbing 'scrambling'. You are now using basic climbing including the use of your hands. Class 4 is for even more climbing. Not only are you using your hands but you may have to search for and select handholds. You are using your upper body to continuing gaining elevation not just your legs. Class 5 is technical climbing. Most people prefer to use a rope as exposure is present. You are not not hiking but definitely climbing.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Easiest 14ers Near the Front Range
One of the most common questions on message boards is always: What is the easiest 14er? Or Which 14er is a good first climb for a beginner? Or What 14er is close to Denver?
The two 14ers that I suggest a beginner start with to get a taste of altitude on their first 14er hike is Quandary or Bierstadt.
The Quandary standard route up the east ridge is a nice hike. It is a semi gradual slope all the way up the ridge to the top. You can follow a trail (and often a line of people) all the way to the summit. The trail head is located south of Breckenridge just off of highway 9. More info available here.
Mount Bierstadt is an easy climb from the West Slopes accessible from Guanella Pass. This is a nice easy hike with no exposure. The trail is good and the terrain is easy for most beginners. The trail head is on Guanella Pass Road south of Georgetown. More info available here.
I would suggest either of these two to get a taste of climbing Fourteeners. Other easy peaks include Mount Sherman, Mount Elbert, Handies Peak, Grays, and Torreys.
The two 14ers that I suggest a beginner start with to get a taste of altitude on their first 14er hike is Quandary or Bierstadt.
The Quandary standard route up the east ridge is a nice hike. It is a semi gradual slope all the way up the ridge to the top. You can follow a trail (and often a line of people) all the way to the summit. The trail head is located south of Breckenridge just off of highway 9. More info available here.
Mount Bierstadt is an easy climb from the West Slopes accessible from Guanella Pass. This is a nice easy hike with no exposure. The trail is good and the terrain is easy for most beginners. The trail head is on Guanella Pass Road south of Georgetown. More info available here.
I would suggest either of these two to get a taste of climbing Fourteeners. Other easy peaks include Mount Sherman, Mount Elbert, Handies Peak, Grays, and Torreys.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Hiking Poles
Are Hiking Poles useful and worth them money? Absolutely.
When I first started hiking I noticed a lot of people using hiking poles. I thought it was just a phase. I thought these were just one more thing that people bought just to feel like they were real hikers. When I hiked my first 14er, my friend had brought poles with him. He was a few years older than me so I teased him about needing a cane to get up the hill. But I tried them out and I actually saw a big advantage in using them.
Some of the advantages of using hiking poles is that they help you keep good balance and posture. Many people begin to lean forward after hours of hiking especially with a heavy backpack. The poles keep you standing straight and keep you away from aggravating back ache.
The poles are also very helpful on loose gravel to help support you when your feet slip out from under you. They also come in very handy when rock hopping through talus and small boulders. By using the poles you can keep your balance. They are like hand extensions to help you climb down from one boulder to another (not rock climbing, just light scrambling).
Some people even like having poles in their hands to feel save in case of an attack by human or animal in the wild. They give you something easily available to scare off any critters or the rare human attack.
I never hike without them. They are a very valuable addition to my necessary gear. I highly recommend you purchase poles. There are poles of all price ranges and honestly the functionality doesn't change much so a lower end pole may be all you need to get started.
When I first started hiking I noticed a lot of people using hiking poles. I thought it was just a phase. I thought these were just one more thing that people bought just to feel like they were real hikers. When I hiked my first 14er, my friend had brought poles with him. He was a few years older than me so I teased him about needing a cane to get up the hill. But I tried them out and I actually saw a big advantage in using them.
Some of the advantages of using hiking poles is that they help you keep good balance and posture. Many people begin to lean forward after hours of hiking especially with a heavy backpack. The poles keep you standing straight and keep you away from aggravating back ache.
The poles are also very helpful on loose gravel to help support you when your feet slip out from under you. They also come in very handy when rock hopping through talus and small boulders. By using the poles you can keep your balance. They are like hand extensions to help you climb down from one boulder to another (not rock climbing, just light scrambling).
Some people even like having poles in their hands to feel save in case of an attack by human or animal in the wild. They give you something easily available to scare off any critters or the rare human attack.
I never hike without them. They are a very valuable addition to my necessary gear. I highly recommend you purchase poles. There are poles of all price ranges and honestly the functionality doesn't change much so a lower end pole may be all you need to get started.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The 3,000 Foot Rule
There is much discussion about how much elevation gain is necessary to actually claim you have climbed a peak. The most widely accepted and discussed rule is the 3,000 foot rule. Using the 3,000 foot rule, a climber must gain over 3,000 feet of elevation to have climbed the peak.
This is another one of those arbitrary rules that doesn't have much merit. Some say that 3,000 feet is just a nice round number. One popular guide book explains that in Colorado tree line is typically about 3,000 feet below the summit of the 14ers. That is an interesting thought, but actual tree line varies in different parts of the state and is typically closer to 12,000 feet.
The main problem with the 3,000 foot rule is that every peak is different and access by road makes certain trail heads the logical place to start climbing. For example, Guanella Pass is the most logically place to start when climbing Mount Bierstadt, However, that does not provide for a 3,000 foot gain.
I do agree that you can't 'count' Mount Evans if you drive up to the parking lot and scramble up the last 100 feet. I also think having a car on top of Evans to take you down cancels your ability to claim that you climbed the mountain.
If you decide to follow the 3K foot rule you would have to start many hikes from farther down the road. If you are a purest that is fine and I understand the desire to meet the required elevation gain, but to me it seems silly to walk down a perfectly good road just to add the extra gain.
I believe that mountain climbing is a very personal sport and each person can decide for themselves how much climbing is necessary. I use the 3K foot rule as a guidance but don't follow it if it doesn't seem to apply to the particular mountain. You do what you feel comfortable with.
This is another one of those arbitrary rules that doesn't have much merit. Some say that 3,000 feet is just a nice round number. One popular guide book explains that in Colorado tree line is typically about 3,000 feet below the summit of the 14ers. That is an interesting thought, but actual tree line varies in different parts of the state and is typically closer to 12,000 feet.
The main problem with the 3,000 foot rule is that every peak is different and access by road makes certain trail heads the logical place to start climbing. For example, Guanella Pass is the most logically place to start when climbing Mount Bierstadt, However, that does not provide for a 3,000 foot gain.
I do agree that you can't 'count' Mount Evans if you drive up to the parking lot and scramble up the last 100 feet. I also think having a car on top of Evans to take you down cancels your ability to claim that you climbed the mountain.
If you decide to follow the 3K foot rule you would have to start many hikes from farther down the road. If you are a purest that is fine and I understand the desire to meet the required elevation gain, but to me it seems silly to walk down a perfectly good road just to add the extra gain.
I believe that mountain climbing is a very personal sport and each person can decide for themselves how much climbing is necessary. I use the 3K foot rule as a guidance but don't follow it if it doesn't seem to apply to the particular mountain. You do what you feel comfortable with.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Lists of Colorado 14ers
Here is a list of the 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado separated by Ranges. The list includes Name, Height, and it's rank by height.
The Front Range
Grays Peak 14,270' 9th
Torreys Peak 14,267' 11th
Mount Evans 14,264' 14th
Longs Peak 14,255' 15th
Pikes Peak 14,110' 30th
Mount Bierstadt 14,060' 38th
Tenmile Range
Quandary Peak 14,265' 13th
Mosquito Range
Mount Lincoln 14,286’ 8th
Mount Cameron 14,238’ unranked*
Mount Bross 14,172’ 22nd
Mount Democrat 14,148’ 28th
Mount Sherman 14,036’ 45th
Sawatch Range
Mount Elbert 14,433' 1st
Mount Massive 14,421’ 2nd
Mount Harvard 14,420’ 3rd
La Plata Peak 14,336’ 5th
Mount Antero 14,269’ 10th
Mount Shavano 14,229’ 17th
Mount Princeton 14,197’ 18th
Mount Belford 14,197’ 19th
Mount Yale 14,196’ 21st
Tabequache Peak 14,155’ 25th
Mount Oxford 14,153’ 26th
Mount Columbia 14,073’ 35th
Missouri Mountain 14,067’ 36th
Mount of the Holy Cross 14,005’ 51st
Huron Peak 14,003’ 52nd
Elk Mountains
Castle Peak 14,265’ 12th
Maroon Peak 14,156’ 24th
Capitol Peak 14,130’ 29th
Snowmass Mountain 14,092’ 31st
Conundrum Peak 14,060’ unranked*
Pyramid Peak 14,018’ 47th
North Maroon Peak 14,014’ unranked*
San Juan Mountains
Uncompahgre Peak 14,309’ 6th
Mount Wilson 14,246’ 16th
El Diente Peak 14,159’ unranked*
Mount Sneffels 14,150’ 27th
Mount Eolus 14,083’ 32nd
Windom Peak 14,082’ 33rd
Sunlight Peak 14,059’ 39th
Handies Peak 14,048’ 40th
North Eolus 14,039’ unranked*
Redcloud Peak 14,034’ 46th
Wilson Peak 14,017’ 48th
Wetterhorn Peak 14,015’ 49th
San Luis Peak 14,014’ 50th
Sunshine Peak 14,001’ 53rd
Sangre de Cristo Range
Blanca Peak 14,345’ 4th
Crestone Peak 14,294’ 7th
Crestone Needle 14,197’ 20th
Kit Carson Peak 14,165’ 23rd
Challenger Point 14,081’ 34th
Humboldt Peak 14,064’ 37th
Culebra Peak 14,047’ 41st
Mount Lindsey 14,042’ 42nd
Ellingwood Point 14,042’ 43rd
Little Bear Peak 14,037’ 44th
*see Ranked/Unranked Post for details about what makes a peak ranked.
The Front Range
Grays Peak 14,270' 9th
Torreys Peak 14,267' 11th
Mount Evans 14,264' 14th
Longs Peak 14,255' 15th
Pikes Peak 14,110' 30th
Mount Bierstadt 14,060' 38th
Tenmile Range
Quandary Peak 14,265' 13th
Mosquito Range
Mount Lincoln 14,286’ 8th
Mount Cameron 14,238’ unranked*
Mount Bross 14,172’ 22nd
Mount Democrat 14,148’ 28th
Mount Sherman 14,036’ 45th
Sawatch Range
Mount Elbert 14,433' 1st
Mount Massive 14,421’ 2nd
Mount Harvard 14,420’ 3rd
La Plata Peak 14,336’ 5th
Mount Antero 14,269’ 10th
Mount Shavano 14,229’ 17th
Mount Princeton 14,197’ 18th
Mount Belford 14,197’ 19th
Mount Yale 14,196’ 21st
Tabequache Peak 14,155’ 25th
Mount Oxford 14,153’ 26th
Mount Columbia 14,073’ 35th
Missouri Mountain 14,067’ 36th
Mount of the Holy Cross 14,005’ 51st
Huron Peak 14,003’ 52nd
Elk Mountains
Castle Peak 14,265’ 12th
Maroon Peak 14,156’ 24th
Capitol Peak 14,130’ 29th
Snowmass Mountain 14,092’ 31st
Conundrum Peak 14,060’ unranked*
Pyramid Peak 14,018’ 47th
North Maroon Peak 14,014’ unranked*
San Juan Mountains
Uncompahgre Peak 14,309’ 6th
Mount Wilson 14,246’ 16th
El Diente Peak 14,159’ unranked*
Mount Sneffels 14,150’ 27th
Mount Eolus 14,083’ 32nd
Windom Peak 14,082’ 33rd
Sunlight Peak 14,059’ 39th
Handies Peak 14,048’ 40th
North Eolus 14,039’ unranked*
Redcloud Peak 14,034’ 46th
Wilson Peak 14,017’ 48th
Wetterhorn Peak 14,015’ 49th
San Luis Peak 14,014’ 50th
Sunshine Peak 14,001’ 53rd
Sangre de Cristo Range
Blanca Peak 14,345’ 4th
Crestone Peak 14,294’ 7th
Crestone Needle 14,197’ 20th
Kit Carson Peak 14,165’ 23rd
Challenger Point 14,081’ 34th
Humboldt Peak 14,064’ 37th
Culebra Peak 14,047’ 41st
Mount Lindsey 14,042’ 42nd
Ellingwood Point 14,042’ 43rd
Little Bear Peak 14,037’ 44th
*see Ranked/Unranked Post for details about what makes a peak ranked.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Introduction
This site is being formed to be a resource for hikers. I plan on providing valuable information about climbing Colorado's 54 peaks taller than 14,000 feet. I also plan on providing information about hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and other family friendly hikes across the Front Range.
I am an avid hiker. I have a deep passion for the mountains of Colorado. I was born in Iowa and managed to live there for 19 years before my thirst to live in the mountains was finally quenched. I have lived in Summit County, Durango, and Loveland. I began leisurely hiking in Colorado in 1996. I climbed my first 14er in 2005 and I immediately caught the fever. I have not climbed them all but I plan to finish climbing all of the top 100 peaks within a few years. I also love climbing interesting 13ers and nearly all the named peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park.
But this site is not about me. This site is about the mountains and about getting you into the mountains. I will provide information about the mountains, the gear necessary, and tips to keep you safe. There are other great sites available to find up to date information about current conditions, such as http://www.14ers.com/. While the forum sites are valuable in gaining knowledge about current conditions they quickly become hostile environments with people arguing and putting new comers down. I plan on covering the most commonly asked questions on those forums here where the information is easy to find and available in a safe and non intimidating environment.
My vision for this site is to be a place that you can come and educate yourself about the risks and rewards of climbing mountains. I will work on continually adding new content including lists, maps, trail information, and general tips. I may occasionally add a recent trip report but that won't be the focus of this site.
So check back often, give me feedback on what you like or don't like about the site, and be sure to share this site with your friends.
I am an avid hiker. I have a deep passion for the mountains of Colorado. I was born in Iowa and managed to live there for 19 years before my thirst to live in the mountains was finally quenched. I have lived in Summit County, Durango, and Loveland. I began leisurely hiking in Colorado in 1996. I climbed my first 14er in 2005 and I immediately caught the fever. I have not climbed them all but I plan to finish climbing all of the top 100 peaks within a few years. I also love climbing interesting 13ers and nearly all the named peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park.
But this site is not about me. This site is about the mountains and about getting you into the mountains. I will provide information about the mountains, the gear necessary, and tips to keep you safe. There are other great sites available to find up to date information about current conditions, such as http://www.14ers.com/. While the forum sites are valuable in gaining knowledge about current conditions they quickly become hostile environments with people arguing and putting new comers down. I plan on covering the most commonly asked questions on those forums here where the information is easy to find and available in a safe and non intimidating environment.
My vision for this site is to be a place that you can come and educate yourself about the risks and rewards of climbing mountains. I will work on continually adding new content including lists, maps, trail information, and general tips. I may occasionally add a recent trip report but that won't be the focus of this site.
So check back often, give me feedback on what you like or don't like about the site, and be sure to share this site with your friends.
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