Top Weather Tips For Climbing 14ers?

[kimo]

What are some good weather tips for climbing 14ers?

I've heard that it's important to be off the mountain by noon, but is that always necessary? For example, if the forecast is showing a sunny day with 0% chance of precipitation?

The reason I ask is because some of those hikes sound like they can take up to 7-8 hours, which in some cases would mean hiking in the dark. And obviously that's less than ideal if it can be avoided.

The weather forecast is reasonably accurate a day or two out; however, it is wrong from time to time, as mountain create their own weather. Starting early is non-negotiable--exactly how early depends on your pace and the difficult and/or length of what you intend to climb. Regardless, expecting to be able to sleep in until say 8 or 9 in the morning and then start climbing is not a realistic proposition. In terms of time, taking 7-8 hours to complete a climb isn't that unusual.

As far as the conventional wisdom of being off by noon, it's more of a final deadline than a suggestion: i.e. you want to be heading down earlier, if possible. I would also note that although storms are most likely to hit in the afternoon, that isn't an absolute--my first attempt at Long's was thwarted when it socked in around 9-10am.

I don’t care what time you go up and down the mountain but this is misinformation. The OP asked about a 0% precip forecast. The NWS will forecast 0% only when positive it is 0%. If there is any hint of precip the NWS will make 10% their prudent forecast. If the forecast is for 10% or greater, then yes, watch the weather. Many times I have slept in and/or pulled off a long mileage day when the forecast is for no precip. What happened to savoring the experience when conditions allow?

This past weekend forecast was for no precip. We started after 9 am each day, pulled off moderate hikes, and we were back at camp in time for dinner. It was clear and sunny just like the NWS said it would be. This noon ultimatum crap on a 0% precip day is for children.

[akoller]

Last Saturday I started a hike at 11:30 am. This was given the 0% forecast but of course I kept a close eye on the clouds.

[sarahhaubert]

After living up here for a while, I've realized that the forecasts mean little, and it's much more realistic to think of every day having at least a 50% chance of storming between 12 and 2 (no matter what the sky looks like). Remember that what you're worried about is lightning, and as you head above treeline onto variable terrain, you are heading into lightning territory if it storms. Make the call before you leave the trees, especially on routes that may be technically difficult or are long above treeline, as it may well take you longer to get down than to get up sometimes. A storm system can sweep in in minutes up that high, with or without warning. If you can come flying off the summit in a matter of minutes to the safety of treeline, cool. If not, make sure you're off the summit (and preferrablt back to treeline) before noon. People sometimes make it seem like it's not a big deal...but people (and dogs) die getting struck by lightning up here. It's not worth that risk.
Also be prepared for (sometimes large and painful) hail, sleet, wind, and snow any time of year. Hiking pre-sunrise seems sketchy and terrible at first, your comfort level will change amazingly fast and you'll love it like the rest of us soon enough.

[madbuck]

My tips are Awareness, Flexibility and Calendar

Great heuristics!

I think Flexibility is especially great. I have friends and family members that will plan a hike (or camp) weeks in advance, on a very specific date, and then will not reach an objective, or be surprised, that the weather is terrible at the specifically-chosen location.

One thing to help with this is to become familiar with different places and options. So depending on the weather, you know where to go in the trees to avoid wind and rain, or very hot days; where it melts or drains better after snow or rain; interesting places to hike in each direction if some part of the state has noticeably better weather, etc. You kind of incorporate hiking into the flow of your lifestyle, and vice-versa, rather than specifically scheduling it. (YMMV)

The 'off summit by noon' is a great start and keeps people out of trouble, but I often worry or wonder that it becomes too much of a creed. Ascending afternoon on a brilliant, perhaps typical September day, can be better than descending at 11:30AM on a perhaps typical 30% chance July day with thunderheads obviously developing.
My added tip is to see when there is a high-pressure lasting several days in a row -- and then pick the middle day -- when you can, when the summit or weather exposure is important. It means (to me) that even if weather shifts slower or faster than expected, you're most likely to have the clearest day.

Leading up to last weekend, for example, was blissful in the Sawatch. Pre-monsoon June. Last Thursday was uncannily clear, Friday and Sat had great forecasts. Friday was awesome, and my family started leisurely at 7am. Had we started earlier, it mostly would have meant being more tired for no reason and wearing warm clothes that we would have switched within the first hour. People were still heading up well after noon, and we were still above treeline into the afternoon, but there was no threat of storms.
Over time, you can get used to the development patterns of storms in specific areas.

That said, it's best to get going as early as you're able. Even if not caught in a storm, it's nicer to head down and not think about it rather than look over your shoulder.

[madbuck]

This noon ultimatum crap on a 0% precip day is for children.

Not even!

(Picture taken after noon)

IMG_1395_small.jpg (122.6 KiB) Viewed 3812 times

[TallGrass]

Read the clouds and keep looking 360 degrees (and up too). Thin strips are high altitude but puffy cotton balls are condensating which can, but doesn't always, come back to the ground. Not direction and speed of both wind and clouds. Winds shift, fronts collide, and sometimes you can see clouds coming your way even though the wind isn't.

Mountains can trap moisture in a cycle where it rises as steam from basins and valleys, cools into clouds like where mountains force air up higher when it runs into them causing it to rain back down later in the day. That's why you'll see clear skies all around except for a chain bedecked in seemingly permanent clouds.

I've started as late as 11am and 4pm and encountered beautiful weather thru the night, and had dawn starts from high camp turned back by rain and hail (graupel). Clouds and wind were pretty reliable indicators.

Sometimes rain or clouds pass and you can continue on, or it's warm front rain (light, steady, can last all day) which doesn't generate lightning like cold fronts (heavy, varied intensities, often pass within an hour). +1 on what ChicagoTransplant wrote. Read up on reading weather, staying alert, and adapting are better than any rule of thumb like "off by noon."

[12ersRule]

This noon ultimatum crap on a 0% precip day is for children.

Not even!

IMG_1395_small.jpg

I can't believe you make your son carry a pack that big.

[madbuck]

I can't believe you make your son carry a pack that big.

If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!

Read the clouds and keep looking 360 degrees (and up too).

Also good. Was looking up the whole time going up Pikes a few years ago. Took ~15-20 minutes on an otherwise nice day to enjoy donuts, sit down and chat with tourists, etc. Hadn't looked around for a bit and then saw a big cloud coming overhead. Graupel, rain, lightning of course, within minutes.
Moral: No gaping!

[Trotter]

weather related question.

I've always heard that the 14ers create their own weather, and so even though there is 0% chance of rain for that mountain (with hikercast or mountain weather forecast), you still have a good chance of afternoon thunderstorms on the 14er. Is this true, or just a better safe then sorry rule?

[Jim Davies]

I usually climb on the 0% days. It works. The secret is to not have a job, so you can climb on weekdays. I can't remember the last time I got caught by a thunderstorm on a 0% day. Be sure to check the summit forecast, not the forecast for Denver.

[TA2773]

Be sure to check the summit forecast, not the forecast for Denver.

That's another thing I wondered about.

If I'm climbing Handies Peak, for example, is it good enough to check the TWC weather forecast for the nearest town (Lake City)? Or is there a better way to check the localized weather for that specific peak?

[Scott P]

I would not trust the town forecast. You can type in the peak name in the NOAA forecast. Also 14ers.com has weather links to all the peaks.