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bmmillard wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 6:35 am I’m reading about 4WD and 2WD THs!? Ugh. I currently drive a small two door.
However, the concerts at RR aren’t shaping up so it might be a climb only trip and, likely, Colorado Springs. That would make the combo De Ca Lin Bross (that’s wrong I know) a top pick?
Drive to Co Springs on a Friday. Climb on Saturday and Sunday. Back home on a Monday?

Huron via Lulu Gulch and tag a couple 13ers if you don't want to see anyone the 1st half of the hike. (2wd)

DeCaLiBross standard if you want to have a concert experience of being nuts to butts with hundreds of people on a weekend. (2wd but be prepared to walk along the road as the TH fills up).

Grays and Torreys via standard but you need 4wd and can't park along the road.

Times I've been alone all day on a 14er:
San Luis on a Thurs/Fri in Oct
Humboldt during the week in March, again on a Sunday in June of this year (that surprised me. Went up east, down standard, alone all day).
DeCaLiBross in Dec and Jan and Feb and April, all during the week.
Sunlight/windom and Eolus/nth next day during the week in August.
La plata in June

I've done non standard routes on Huron, Elbert, San Luis , Massive where I didn't see anyone until hitting the summit.

Ptglhs wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 11:09 am

bmmillard wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 6:35 am I’m reading about 4WD and 2WD THs!? Ugh. I currently drive a small two door.
However, the concerts at RR aren’t shaping up so it might be a climb only trip and, likely, Colorado Springs. That would make the combo De Ca Lin Bross (that’s wrong I know) a top pick?
Drive to Co Springs on a Friday. Climb on Saturday and Sunday. Back home on a Monday?

Huron via Lulu Gulch and tag a couple 13ers if you don't want to see anyone the 1st half of the hike. (2wd)

Lulu gulch TH is not a 2wd road

bmmillard wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 6:35 am I’m reading about 4WD and 2WD THs!? Ugh. I currently drive a small two door.
However, the concerts at RR aren’t shaping up so it might be a climb only trip and, likely, Colorado Springs. That would make the combo De Ca Lin Bross (that’s wrong I know) a top pick?
Drive to Co Springs on a Friday. Climb on Saturday and Sunday. Back home on a Monday?

I wouldn't worry about the 4wd trailheads and wouldn't make them gating factors to peak selection; All the peaks I've done with the exception of maybe 2-3, I started at 2wd trailheads in 2wd rental cars. It just means starting a little earlier and actually helps with acclimatizing for the day.

Trotter wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 11:22 am Lulu gulch TH is not a 2wd road

Start from Winfield where I have 2x times I did the peak. You won't see anyone hiking or driving up that road. Just your party and the dogs you bring with you.

Everyone else posting here has WAY more knowledge and experience with the 14ers, but I live in Fort Worth too and can tell you that there's plenty of areas in the mountains of Colorado that are within a day's drive (if you're willing to start early). The last time I went was back in July and made the Buena Vista area in about 13 hours - there's a good amount of 14ers in that area (I hiked Mt. Yale that trip) plus great camping. And I second the advice to give yourself some time to acclimate - I usually take a full day once I arrive to do a short hike, then do longer/bigger stuff the next full day.

One thing to keep in mind when you're planning the drive (if you didn't already know this) - just about everytime I've road tripped through the CO mountains, I've come across one or more constructions zones on 1-lane roads, where only 1 direction is allowed to go thru the construction zone at a time. They're usually not too bad but can add an extra 30-45 minutes to your trip - bring road snacks!