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Preparing for a 14'er

© Virginia O'Connor

Introduction

Preparing to hike a fourteener or any other very long hike in the mountains is a learning experience and don't expect to get it right the first few times. There have been several times when our equipment failed or we packed to much or too little. I remember our failed attempt to summit Mt. Quandary was because the rented snowshoes fell completely to bits. The long and short of preparing for a fourteener involves these basic elements:

• Know the area and what to expect
• Carry and use appropriate equipment
• Consider the weather
• Consider altitude, snowfields, and hypothermia

Each of these topics is covered in the information provided below. Additional information about getting started on the trail is included as well. You should not use this article as your sole preparation advice. Links to additional information is provided, but you should also consult other books and sources.

Research the Fourteener

Do your research about the Peak itself, the trail (if there is one), and the topography. The more you know, the less likely you are to get lost. Read other people's trip reports. If you are not skilled at reading topographic maps, take someone who is, or learn how to read them. We use the Garmin GPS and download the waypoints from the topographic software. We generally print a map to take with us and we store it in a zipped plastic bag to keep it dry. When we are finished, the map can be tossed and the bag reused.

Find guidebooks that you like and that work for you. We use the Dawson's Guides that are written by Louis Dawson, but there are others that work well too. Once you find a book that works for you, carefully read and re-read the information about the peak you want to climb. The book itself is probably more weight than you want to take along, but you can copy the pages and put them into zipped plastic bags for reference during your climb.

See the "How to Hike a Fourteener" guidelines published by the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI). These guidelines are the most comprehensive I could locate on the web. They are available at the following URL.

http://www.coloradofourteeners.org

What to Pack

Keep it light! If you pack a camera, you will have to bear the weight and after 7 miles of hiking up a strong grade, you may not care to take any pictures. It's a good idea to pack everything you will be carrying on your climb and take a short hike to see how well it works for you.

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