Easiest 14er?

[Monte Meals]

"I am chubby, and a very slow hiker."

Bingo ! Many of Us Are As Well !

But we still enjoy hiking in the mountains - See you on the trail !

Monte

[timf]

I'm not fast either. Just keep going out there and enjoy our beautiful state!

[huffy13]

Look at my peak list...with the exception of Mt. Lindsey, it will give you a good list of easy 14ers.

[nfalter]

IMO Sherman is easier than Beirstadt..
If you don't mind driving a little, Handies is just as easy as Sherman, and has 100 times better views.

I am looking at doing Handies as my first 14er. We are staying in Telluride. I heard that's too far of a drive from there to get to Handies in time to Summit. Can you tell me where you stayed, how long it took to get from your accommodations to the trailhead, and what time you recommend leaving the trailhead by? Thanks!

[rijaca]

I am looking at doing Handies as my first 14er. We are staying in Telluride. I heard that's too far of a drive from there to get to Handies in time to Summit. Can you tell me where you stayed, how long it took to get from your accommodations to the trailhead, and what time you recommend leaving the trailhead by? Thanks!

I camped at the TH.
2 minutes.
We left around 7:30 am (it was forecasted to be nice).

Closest non-camping accommodations would be Lake City, about 45 minutes away.
Most start around dawn.

[huffy13]

IMO Sherman is easier than Beirstadt..
If you don't mind driving a little, Handies is just as easy as Sherman, and has 100 times better views.

I am looking at doing Handies as my first 14er. We are staying in Telluride. I heard that's too far of a drive from there to get to Handies in time to Summit. Can you tell me where you stayed, how long it took to get from your accommodations to the trailhead, and what time you recommend leaving the trailhead by? Thanks!

Both times that I have started hikes at the Grizzly Gulch/Silver Creek TH, once for Handies and the second time for an attempt at the Redcloud/Sunshine combo, it took about 40-45 minutes to get there from Lake City. It takes a little while longer, probably about 15-20 minutes to drive on around to the American Basin TH. We would try to be at the TH around 6 am and we didn't have an issue getting to the summit before the weather turned.

[Molasses]

Fyi... the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is closed indefinitely for renovation. I think Mt. Sherman is the easiest, but Mt. Bierstadt is the better choice. Many visitors climbing their first 14er will climb Bierstadt. The boardwalk in the willows, and the rock hopping at the summit make it a better experience than climbing Sherman. Or, rent a Jeep and take it to the upper trailhead of Antero, giving your visitors the combined experience of a little 4-wheeling and an easy climb. One last option I don't think anyone else has mentioned yet - Mt. Evans, using the West Ridge via Mt. Spalding, only has 2,000 feet of vertical gain.

[ezabielski]

IMO Sherman is easier than Beirstadt..
If you don't mind driving a little, Handies is just as easy as Sherman, and has 100 times better views.

I am looking at doing Handies as my first 14er. We are staying in Telluride. I heard that's too far of a drive from there to get to Handies in time to Summit. Can you tell me where you stayed, how long it took to get from your accommodations to the trailhead, and what time you recommend leaving the trailhead by? Thanks!

You're quoting a post from August, 2008. I don't think they are going to answer...