That's great that you did this solo, but I know that the increase in backcountry users this year will have a direct correlation to the increase in accidents, no matter how "safe" the mountain is known to be. Also, "favorable" weather doesn't always mean it will stay that way. I've had plenty of days when it said 0% chance of anything and ended up in whiteouts. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer here, just trying to be realistic in a situation where tons of inexperienced backcountry travelers will begin to start doing things they normally haven't in the past because ski season is different this year.rpdawes wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:22 am Go solo climb up Quandary Peak if you can regardless of what barnold41 said provided that you have winter gear ready and the weather forecast is favorable. I did it at the age of 74 on Happy Valentine's Day. That day I saw 3 or 4 souls. It is most likely that you will find a trench almost all the way to the summit.
first winter 14er
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- Barnold41
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Re: first winter 14er
Re: first winter 14er
Evidently, we have different experiences of reading and interpreting weather forecasts. Over my past 150 hikes, the weather forecastBarnold41 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:50 amThat's great that you did this solo, but I know that the increase in backcountry users this year will have a direct correlation to the increase in accidents, no matter how "safe" the mountain is known to be. Also, "favorable" weather doesn't always mean it will stay that way. I've had plenty of days when it said 0% chance of anything and ended up in whiteouts. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer here, just trying to be realistic in a situation where tons of inexperienced backcountry travelers will begin to start doing things they normally haven't in the past because ski season is different this year.rpdawes wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:22 am Go solo climb up Quandary Peak if you can regardless of what barnold41 said provided that you have winter gear ready and the weather forecast is favorable. I did it at the age of 74 on Happy Valentine's Day. That day I saw 3 or 4 souls. It is most likely that you will find a trench almost all the way to the summit.
has stayed true all day for a certain day that I hiked. I have not met any storm or foul weather at all. I depend upon National Weather Service for all mountain weather forecasts. I go hiking around the year.
Re: first winter 14er
Quandary is the best first winter peak... go with someone experienced. Go on a good weather day.
Big Differences in summer and winter hiking:
1. Snow: take micro spikes and snowshoes.
2. Effort: You'll move slower, guestimate 1 mph up and down for any trip, until you figure out your own speed. Takes more energy to move in snow, take more food. If you're postholing in deep snow... A LOT more effort.
3. Trail: unless there is a path/boot pack or trench from previous hikers, you'll have to find the trail. (Don't always follow a snow trail blindly, they could have gone the wrong way)
4. Clothes: It can take numerous winter hikes to figure out your layers. Do you hike hot or cold? Do you sweat a lot? How does the wind impact your layers? Boots and socks? You don't need "mountaineering boots" for most winter 14ers, especially the easier ones.
5. Less people: you'll be alone a lot, so take precautions, emergency beacon, give someone your itinerary and stick to it. Take emergency gear/layers so you can you survive the night.
6. It's beautiful out there in winter.
If the Winter Welcomer happens... go! Or try to connect with someone on here to hike with.
Joel
Big Differences in summer and winter hiking:
1. Snow: take micro spikes and snowshoes.
2. Effort: You'll move slower, guestimate 1 mph up and down for any trip, until you figure out your own speed. Takes more energy to move in snow, take more food. If you're postholing in deep snow... A LOT more effort.
3. Trail: unless there is a path/boot pack or trench from previous hikers, you'll have to find the trail. (Don't always follow a snow trail blindly, they could have gone the wrong way)
4. Clothes: It can take numerous winter hikes to figure out your layers. Do you hike hot or cold? Do you sweat a lot? How does the wind impact your layers? Boots and socks? You don't need "mountaineering boots" for most winter 14ers, especially the easier ones.
5. Less people: you'll be alone a lot, so take precautions, emergency beacon, give someone your itinerary and stick to it. Take emergency gear/layers so you can you survive the night.
6. It's beautiful out there in winter.
If the Winter Welcomer happens... go! Or try to connect with someone on here to hike with.
Joel
- mindfolded
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Re: first winter 14er
It's also possible that the trail for winter is different from the summer trail, which again means don't follow snow trails blindly.
Re: first winter 14er
I agree Quandary is a good one as winter access is great. One of the few others I did was Torreys in February.
Had to park at the lot by i70, then hiked up the road to a camp in Stevens gulch. It was great, no people at all and we had great weather for the Kelso ridge route the next day. Lots of fun.
Had to park at the lot by i70, then hiked up the road to a camp in Stevens gulch. It was great, no people at all and we had great weather for the Kelso ridge route the next day. Lots of fun.
- dwoodward13
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Re: first winter 14er
I'll caution that the standard (summer) trail for Grays and Torreys goes right over an avy path that kills people every few years. I would strongly advise against those as first winter peak(s) unless you are up to snuff on your avy skills. Not to mention its a lot longer hike than several other good starter peaks (Quandary/Bierstadt).ltlFish99 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:09 pm I agree Quandary is a good one as winter access is great. One of the few others I did was Torreys in February.
Had to park at the lot by i70, then hiked up the road to a camp in Stevens gulch. It was great, no people at all and we had great weather for the Kelso ridge route the next day. Lots of fun.
+1 to Joel's post
- cottonmountaineering
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Re: first winter 14er
you can just walk like 100 yards away from the trail for that spot, nothing crazy neededdwoodward13 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:15 pmI'll caution that the standard (summer) trail for Grays and Torreys goes right over an avy path that kills people every few years. I would strongly advise against those as first winter peak(s) unless you are up to snuff on your avy skills. Not to mention its a lot longer hike than several other good starter peaks (Quandary/Bierstadt).ltlFish99 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:09 pm I agree Quandary is a good one as winter access is great. One of the few others I did was Torreys in February.
Had to park at the lot by i70, then hiked up the road to a camp in Stevens gulch. It was great, no people at all and we had great weather for the Kelso ridge route the next day. Lots of fun.
+1 to Joel's post
- CaptainSuburbia
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Re: first winter 14er
I wouldn't mess with those slide paths on Kelso. They both went big 2 winters ago. It's a shorter route from Loveland Pass anyways. It was mostly windblown when I did it this past winter and snowshoes were not needed.dwoodward13 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:15 pmI'll caution that the standard (summer) trail for Grays and Torreys goes right over an avy path that kills people every few years. I would strongly advise against those as first winter peak(s) unless you are up to snuff on your avy skills. Not to mention its a lot longer hike than several other good starter peaks (Quandary/Bierstadt).ltlFish99 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:09 pm I agree Quandary is a good one as winter access is great. One of the few others I did was Torreys in February.
Had to park at the lot by i70, then hiked up the road to a camp in Stevens gulch. It was great, no people at all and we had great weather for the Kelso ridge route the next day. Lots of fun.
+1 to Joel's post
Some day our kids will study Clash lyrics in school.
Nothing drives people crazy like people drive people crazy.
Save Challenger Point
Nothing drives people crazy like people drive people crazy.
Save Challenger Point
- dwoodward13
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Re: first winter 14er
Totally agree, just you have to know its there/identify it to be able to avoid it. Which a first timer may not.cottonmountaineering wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:25 pmyou can just walk like 100 yards away from the trail for that spot, nothing crazy neededdwoodward13 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:15 pmI'll caution that the standard (summer) trail for Grays and Torreys goes right over an avy path that kills people every few years. I would strongly advise against those as first winter peak(s) unless you are up to snuff on your avy skills. Not to mention its a lot longer hike than several other good starter peaks (Quandary/Bierstadt).ltlFish99 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:09 pm I agree Quandary is a good one as winter access is great. One of the few others I did was Torreys in February.
Had to park at the lot by i70, then hiked up the road to a camp in Stevens gulch. It was great, no people at all and we had great weather for the Kelso ridge route the next day. Lots of fun.
+1 to Joel's post
-
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Re: first winter 14er
I reference this list a bit when picking out winter 14ers. Maybe it'll help you.
https://www.summitpost.org/colorado-14e ... ter/337648
https://www.summitpost.org/colorado-14e ... ter/337648
Re: first winter 14er
Everything is a bit weird this year, we are hoping it won't effect the 12th Annual Winter Welcomer. Stay tuned...
-Ryan
-Ryan
"Climbing mountains is the only thing I know that combines the best of the physical, spiritual, and emotional world all rolled into one." -Steve Gladbach
- nmjameswilson
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Re: first winter 14er
I looked into this last year and decided on Humboldt East Ridge. I did not end up climbing but from what I researched it is a good one.