Hey all,
I'm planning a trip with a group of my friends to hike our first 14er in late March (coordinating with grad school spring break). We are seeking trails that we can stay overnight and are reasonable for beginners in the late spring; we've hiked other mountains before and are well-conditioned. I've found a couple of good peaks online (Mount Elbert, San Luis Peak, and Uncompahgre Peak), but I don't know what kind of conditions to anticipate at this time especially since CO is getting a good amount of snowfall already this year.
What conditions should we anticipate in late March? Will we need to bring microspikes or snowshoes? Any recommended peaks best for beginners in the spring? Thank you in advance for the help!
First 14er end of March
Forum rules
- This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
- Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
- Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
- Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
- c1nar1
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 12/28/2015
- Trip Reports (0)
- AlexeyD
- Posts: 1286
- Joined: 10/28/2013
- 14ers: 44 4 2
- Trip Reports (3)
Re: First 14er end of March
I would describe late March in Colorado as late winter, rather than late spring. For reference, the snow depth in the mountains typically only peaks some time around early May! Thus, pretty much any of the "easy" winter 14ers would be the way to go - Quandary, Elbert, Massive, Bierstadt, Sherman, and Pikes are all reasonable options. I don't know much about San Luis, but I believe the approach is very long in the winter - though if you're looking at an overnight trip, that might work. Snowshoes and microspikes are a good idea for all of the above.
Re: First 14er end of March
What conditions should we anticipate in late March?
Not quite the deepest snow of the season. That usually comes in April.
Yes (unless you are bringing skis instead of snowshoes).Will we need to bring microspikes or snowshoes?
See this link:Any recommended peaks best for beginners in the spring?
http://www.summitpost.org/colorado-14er ... ter/337648" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It also applies to late March. Late March isn't quite winter, but the snow then is deeper than in winter and it can still be quite cold. The same gear is usually needed.
Here is a summary of the climate of Pikes Peak, but of course you can expect the temperatures to vary from averages:
http://www.summitpost.org/pikes-peak-we ... ics/337874" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Mount Elbert (and the other ones listed in the previous post) should be reasonable, but San Luis can be a long trek in that time of year.
we've hiked other mountains before
The 14ers in March would be considered to be more than "just hiking" to most people.
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
- SikYou
- Posts: 258
- Joined: 5/11/2012
- 14ers: 24
- 13ers: 5
- Trip Reports (0)
- Contact:
Re: First 14er end of March
March is not the ideal time for a first 14er IMO. There is still a lot of snow and conditions can be unpredictable.
I'm slower than Scott P.
- fahixson
- Posts: 430
- Joined: 9/11/2007
- 14ers: 57
- 13ers: 31
- Trip Reports (1)
Re: First 14er end of March
In addition to previous recommendations, go to the Trip Reports page and turn off all the months in the search field except March and April. If you leave the other fields at their default settings, you should see 1,000 trip reports to give you an idea of 14er and 13er conditions in previous years around the late March timeframe. Here's one from March 16, 2015 for Quandary ...
March Quandary Trip Report Example
March Quandary Trip Report Example
- SchralpTheGnar
- Posts: 1890
- Joined: 2/26/2008
- 14ers: 51 49 1
- 13ers: 38 30
- Trip Reports (22)
Re: First 14er end of March
Check out this TR from San Luis Peak end of March, it'll give you an idea of what conditions to expect. http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepor ... m=tripmine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Rollie Free
- Posts: 456
- Joined: 6/8/2012
- 14ers: 45
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: First 14er end of March
Since late March is late Winter, not late spring is there a typo here? Did you mean May?
I am no Coloradoan but I can tell you that at 14k late spring is in late June, early July.
I am no Coloradoan but I can tell you that at 14k late spring is in late June, early July.
"Quicker than I can tell it, my hands failed to hold, my feet slipped, and down I went with almost an arrow’s rapidity. An eternity of thought, of life, of death, wife, and home concentrated on my mind in those two seconds. Fortunately for me, I threw my right arm around a projecting boulder which stood above the icy plain some two or three feet." Rev. Elijah Lamb
- Jim Davies
- Posts: 7639
- Joined: 6/8/2006
- 14ers: 58 1
- 13ers: 67
- Trip Reports (5)
Re: First 14er end of March
Of course, 2012 was the lowest snow year in decades.SchralpTheGnar wrote:Check out this TR from San Luis Peak end of March, it'll give you an idea of what conditions to expect. http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepor ... m=tripmine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
-
- Posts: 3538
- Joined: 6/17/2009
- 14ers: 34
- 13ers: 12
- Trip Reports (3)
Re: First 14er end of March
Quandry is the most recommended first winter 14er. Its basic winter trailhead is close to a maintained road. Most of the east trail has little avalanche danger.
Most years Colorado mountain winter lasts into June, so "spring" break will still be cold and have lots of snow and some ice.
You should prepare for a range of temperatures from 50F in a sunny afternoon and -30F windchill on the ridge. At -30 your face could freeze and parts of your body you didnt know could freeze get quite painful.
Sometimes if you hike on Sunday or Monday you might find the already made path of the Saturday and Sunday people. But I would never rely on following other peoples paths. You should have and know navaigation like map-compass or GPS in case of a whiteout or fog.
Most years Colorado mountain winter lasts into June, so "spring" break will still be cold and have lots of snow and some ice.
You should prepare for a range of temperatures from 50F in a sunny afternoon and -30F windchill on the ridge. At -30 your face could freeze and parts of your body you didnt know could freeze get quite painful.
Sometimes if you hike on Sunday or Monday you might find the already made path of the Saturday and Sunday people. But I would never rely on following other peoples paths. You should have and know navaigation like map-compass or GPS in case of a whiteout or fog.