Advice on first 14er

[mckenzielz]

Hello all -
I'm planning on taking a trip out to CO this summer with my family. I've been wanting to hike a 14er for a while now, but was curious as to which one would be best for my family to join me on. We're from Ohio, so they aren't used to the high altitude. I've taken a couple of trips out west and am pretty fit so I'm not too worried about myself. My sisters are only 12 and 14 and have done little to no hiking... I was thinking about Longs, Pikes, or Bierstadt (because of their closer proximity to cities). I've heard Longs isn't the best for beginners though. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[Jim Davies]

Read this: http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15348" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kansas]

Longs is a big day. Even if you don't have any issues with it being class 3, the physical demands may be too much for new hikers.

Personally, I like Pikes, but with the train and store on top it may not be what you're looking for.

Bierstadt is a shitshow.


You're already coming from Ohio, drive a couple extra hours and hit Huron or Handies. Short, beautiful hikes.

[colokeith]

Longs is really not a beginner peak. It is a very long hike, and includes a fair amount of class 3 scrambling

Pikes via bar trail is a really long day. It is fun in its own way, but I much prefer the peaks with out doughnuts and hoards of people who just drove up.

I would recommend looking at these
Great scenery not terribly far, relatively easy hikes
* La Plata
* Massive (southwest slopes)

Easy and close to Denver
* Bierstadt
* Grays / Torry's
* Sherman

Evans may be a really good choice given your family who haven't done much hiking. From summit lake it is a pretty easy hike, and the road gives you a bailout option.

just fair warning someone who has done little to no hiking may struggle on any 14er, you probably want to take them out on a shorter hike at altitude first to see how they do

[HULKHIKEGOOD]

You're already coming from Ohio, drive a couple extra hours and hit Huron or Handies. Short, beautiful hikes.

I agree with Kansas, Handies was my first 14er and it was an AWESOME experience! Coming from Oklahoma, and basically NO acclimatization, I was able to get to the top with no issues. Hope you have a great trip!!!

[peter303]

Mt. Evans, Bierstadt, Quandry, and Elbert are easier climbs and have decent road access 30 minutes from I-70.
Though Coloradoans consider the Mt Evans road fairly easy, it does have steep dropoffs and hairpin turns.

[JTOlson26]

Drive a bit further and hit Quandary. Very manageable hike for beginners and yet still a great 14er experience. If you are looking to camp there are some great places down the road past the TH for the standard route.

[Scott P]

Grays/Torreys are also somewhat close to the city (if that's what you are looking for), though the road to the northern trailhead is a little rough.

[leggaj5]

Whatever you do, do NOT do Sherman from Iowa Gulch. I took my roommate on this route for her first 14er....and she moved to Wisconsin a few months later.

[Stephen Butler]

Out of the three you listed, Bierstadt seems the best candidtate due to the inexperience of your sisters. However, during the summer, especially on weekends, Bierstadt is a zoo.

A couple others mentioned Grays/Torreys and Quandary. Although a little further from the Denver area I enjoyed those far more than Bierstadt.

[GeezerClimber]

Your sisters will be miserable and unlikely to succeed. Even the easiest 14ers require a decent level of fitness. 2000 feet or more of vertical at altitude will be extremely difficult for them. If they have no interest to begin with, you will be in for a whine fest of epic proportions.

Dave

[pseudoghost]

Quandary or Huron. Start early and take it slow. I think most people vastly overestimate the real difficulty of a 14er. Anyone can make it up if you start early enough, have good weather and take it slow.