14ers.com

Hi All,

Love the site, definitely a great resource to the 14ers!

A friend and I are planning to spend 3-5 days in the CO mountains this summer (Jun-Aug sometime). We're both interested in trying to hike a few 14ers during the trip. We both have a fair bit of mountain hiking experience but neither have done a 14er yet so we're not looking for any technical climbing. We'd like to setup camp somewhere that would allow us to try 2 or 3 peaks without moving around a ton. We're also not opposed to driving deeper into the mountains to avoid the crowds.

Any recommendations of 2-3 easy to moderate peaks to try or towns/places to use as a "basecamp" over a 3-5 day period? Thanks!

From the Lake City area you have good access to Handies Pk, Sunshine Pk, Redcloud Pk, Uncompaghre Pk & Wetterhorn Pk. All those are peaks are easy to moderate apart from Wetterhorn which does have Class 3 section at the top

Democrat,Lincoln,Bross,Cameron. I'm not sure of the camping situation.

Belford,Oxford,Missouri, Huron and La Plata can all be reached from the ghost town of Winfield, although not all from the same trailhead. Lots of camping there.

Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Antero, Shavano and Tabequache are all within easy reach of Buena Vista, which happens to be a nice mountain town to hang out - plenty of good food and beer.

Enjoy your trip.

Sbenfield wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 7:50 pm From the Lake City area you have good access to Handies Pk, Sunshine Pk, Redcloud Pk, Uncompaghre Pk & Wetterhorn Pk. All those are peaks are easy to moderate apart from Wetterhorn which does have Class 3 section at the top

I second this, great place lots of camping spots as well.

Huron and La Plata from Winfield camp. You can research numerous 13ers in the area if you are set on climbing another peak.

A few nice places to set up camp where you won't need to drive anywhere once set up and get your non-technical peaks:

Lake Como - park down low in the desert, hike up the road, setup camp one day and do Blanca and Ellingwood next day or two. Little Bear if you're feeling adventurous, but I'd only recommend that as a snow climb in Spring.
Willow Lake - Kit Carson and Challenger, maybe bag a 13er or two nearby, camping around or above Lake Willow.
Missouri Gulch - Belford/Oxford/Missouri in 1-2 days, and add on a day for both 13ers on the other side of the ridge (Iowa and Emerald) and pack out.
Frenchman's Creek Basin and do Harvard and Columbia
Somewhere up in the basin towards Grays and Torreys; do both of those peaks and if you're feeling strong and acclimatized you can get a 13er or two on either sides (check your topo for options) - this option will likely have the most people around though.

nyker wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 8:56 pm
Missouri Gulch - Belford/Oxford/Missouri in 1-2 days, and add on a day for both 13ers on the other side of the ridge (Iowa and Emerald) and pack out.

+1

I would agree with the Missouri group+ 13ers, but camp at Clohesy lake or higher up that stream above the trail (I believe it's the Lake Fork Trail). It would be a longer hike to Belford & Ox but worth it. Less people and super cool scenery.

If you don't have 4x4 it would be a backpack in to the lake.

Chicago Basin could be good, you've got Eolus, North Eolus, Sunlight, and Windom. Many other peaks around there to hike as well, not sure what the snow situation is though.

Sbenfield wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 7:50 pm From the Lake City area you have good access to Handies Pk, Sunshine Pk, Redcloud Pk, Uncompaghre Pk & Wetterhorn Pk. All those are peaks are easy to moderate apart from Wetterhorn which does have Class 3 section at the top

+1, great area

Sbenfield wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 7:50 pm From the Lake City area you have good access to Handies Pk, Sunshine Pk, Redcloud Pk, Uncompaghre Pk & Wetterhorn Pk. All those are peaks are easy to moderate apart from Wetterhorn which does have Class 3 section at the top

+1. If you do them in the order listed above, it would be a good progression.

Sean Nunn

Thanks for all the great recommendations! Can't wait to pick one and make the trip!