Three 14ers in three days? Fitness and recovery...

[bking14ers]

Last year after flying into Co. late. My climbing partner and I did La Plata's SW ridge on three hours sleep in the back of a Kia Sorento. Second day we did Princton, then went to a brewry in Buena Vista and decided to hike up to the old cabin to camp, and then climb Missouri, Belford, and Oxford on day three. Day five we did Holy Cross. We're both flat landers, and we had great weather to do it all in. Yep, it can be done if you want it bad enough.

[sunny1]

I would do Holy Cross on day one, rather than wait until the last day. It will be unpleasant with spent legs.

+1

Whenever I am looking at climbing several peaks on consecutive days, I start with the toughest climb first. Or the one that I want to do the most.
Especially in this case, when you want Mt of the HC via the Halo Ridge. It's a big day! But a treasure, one of my favorites.

La Plata and Elbert will be much less demanding in comparison.

Enjoy!

[Andymcp1]

I think your plan is completely doable and with being in good shape wont be that difficult. Like others have said do Holy Cross on day 1, it will be a much nicer day with fresh legs! It is not near as physically tiring as a lot of people make it sound. We did it in about 7.5 hours last year and it was our 4th day in a row of 14ers.

Just take your time, enjoy the hikes, start early, and know on the numerous day hikes its all mental.

[peter303]

For me its nots so much uphill lung capacity but down hill leg muscle recovery times.
The first few 3000-5000 feet downhill hikes of a season I get sore quads.

So the advice is to know yourself. And not get too upset if you have pad in some rest days.

[SchralpTheGnar]

Totally doable anyway you attempt it so long as the altitude doesn't bother you too much. I find that eating tons of protein after the hike and drinking lots of beer and smoking a little pot at night helps me recover. Multiple times I've done three peaks 3 days in a row and this approach has yet to fail me.

[linuxsurfer]

I think your plan will work fine, you sound like you are in good shape. I've done 3 peaks in 3 days before too, but I do agree that Holy Cross can be tough...if I remember correctly it's almost 1000' of elevation gain *on the way back*. I would do it the first day if it were me.

[Nelson]

Last year after flying into Co. late. My climbing partner and I did La Plata's SW ridge on three hours sleep in the back of a Kia Sorento. Second day we did Princton, then went to a brewry in Buena Vista and decided to hike up to the old cabin to camp, and then climb Missouri, Belford, and Oxford on day three. Day five we did Holy Cross. We're both flat landers, and we had great weather to do it all in. Yep, it can be done if you want it bad enough.

Which Brewery in Buena Vista? That's the key.

[TallGrass]

Another vote for HC first via Halo to start, and via HM-pass+NotchMtn+Notch to get to the start of Halo. This is more direct and avoids the endless switchbacks of the Notch Shelter route. Take LOTS of WATER with (min 3L, better 4L). Bring collapsible trekking poles (BD's FL Z-poles are my pick) and a water filter (e.g. Sawyer mini-squeeze). The "dreaded" hike from E. Cross Creek back to HM Pass is just 1,000' of class 1 trail. Feeling strong, go for La Plata next, else use Elbert's C1 routes as a "rest" day.

[SeattleHc100er]

Hi, everyone!

I just wanted to say a very delayed thanks to all those who took the time to reply to my original post awhile back. Hiking and climbing communities/forums are usually always wonderful go-to place for information, and all the opinions shared are much appreciated by me. I'm definitely going to take the advice of most of you and do Halo Ridge first, especially since it was the climb I was most excited about doing anyway. Then I plan to hike the standard route up Elbert as a "rest-day," before doing the more northern class 2 ridge of La Plata as the closer. I'm debating trying Ellingwood if I have the strength and energy after two straight days of climbing. However, I get the impression that Ellingwood is best done with a partner used to 14er climbs as opposed to going solo.

[TravelingMatt]

You're from the Cascades, you'll be fine.

[SeattleHc100er]

You're from the Cascades, you'll be fine.

Yeah haha,...I'm sure I'll be okay to. I just make conscious efforts to prepare and get advice anyway, it helps one way or another.