Easiest class 3 14er?

[Scott P]

I don't know if it matters which class 3 14er you do first. Is it really that important that which ever one you chose absolutely must be the easiest one? Just choose one and go for it.

[Shawnee Bob]

Limited experience here, but here goes:

Easiest Class 3 I did was N Eolus. But you need to plan ahead if you want to do anything in Chicago Basin.

Favorite was Wetterhorn. Shorter route, solid climbing. It is exposed, but not too bad. A little trickier with snow in the gullies below the final summit pitch.

Kelso Ridge was my first Class 3 14er route. Very fun, close to Denver. Has exposure as well, but manageable.

SW ridge on Sneffels is a close second in terms of favorite Class 3 routes. Mostly solid up high, but lower on the ridge, there's some loose stuff. Thankfully, the greater exposure is higher on the mountain where the rock is more solid. Downside is it's a haul from Denver/CSprings.

My first CO Class 3 was actually Matterhorn Peak, a 13er. And technically the easiest Class 3 I've done in the state.

[AlexeyD]

My first CO Class 3 was actually Matterhorn Peak, a 13er. And technically the easiest Class 3 I've done in the state.

Hah...probably the easiest Class 3 in the world A really fun little peak, though...and man, what a unique vantage point of both Wetterhorn and Uncompaghre from the summit!

[Shawnee Bob]

My first CO Class 3 was actually Matterhorn Peak, a 13er. And technically the easiest Class 3 I've done in the state.

Hah...probably the easiest Class 3 in the world A really fun little peak, though...and man, what a unique vantage point of both Wetterhorn and Uncompaghre from the summit!

Those views are exactly why I climbed it. The view of Wetterhorn is pretty dramatic, not to mention many of the nearby 13ers. Plus, at that time, I was skittish. Baby steps to Class 3!

[cardgenius]

I climbed Wetterhorn for my first class 3 this year and had a blast. I was a bit worried going into my first class 3 so I did some searching on the forum and narrowed it down to Wetterhorn, Longs or Kelso Ridge for my first. Chose Wetterhorn because of the short hike up to the class 3 stuff, how stable the rock was and had read a few trip reports about them being nervous before the climb, then realizing it wasn't as bad as they had thought afterwards(felt the same way). Only down side I could see is you'll have to make a trip out of it but you can knockout a few others while down there. Ive now got the confidence that I'm going to try Longs and Kelso Ridge this next summer.

[sigepnader]

Here is a silly question. If you were looking to do Matterhorn as your first class 3 would it be smart to go solo? 95% of my hikes have always been solo but I have been looking at making this peak my first of the year in late June.

[huffy13]

Here is a silly question. If you were looking to do Matterhorn as your first class 3 would it be smart to go solo? 95% of my hikes have always been solo but I have been looking at making this peak my first of the year in late June.

Chances are, in late June, you probably won't be solo. I've been to that area in late June and there are usually plenty of other folks....nothing like what you see on the front range and Sawatch peaks, but being completely alone is unlikely.

[Shawnee Bob]

Here is a silly question. If you were looking to do Matterhorn as your first class 3 would it be smart to go solo? 95% of my hikes have always been solo but I have been looking at making this peak my first of the year in late June.

You'd have company on Wetterhorn or Uncompahgre, but not many people do Matterhorn on its own. So you might, indeed, have the peak to yourself. Me and my buddy did. Not a soul close by.

That said, I think you'd be reasonably safe doing it solo, standard risks of doing a Class 3 solo notwithstanding.

[wineguy]

You'd have company on Wetterhorn or Uncompahgre, but not many people do Matterhorn on its own.

That's what I'd expect. In 38 13ers, I've only shared the summit of Ouray (other than with an occasional partner). Even passiing someone enroute is rare.

[TallGrass]

Here is a silly question. If you were looking to do Matterhorn as your first class 3 would it be smart to go solo? 95% of my hikes have always been solo but I have been looking at making this peak my first of the year in late June.

A car showing of 62,137 miles on the odometer means nothing to an American, but that's 100,000 kilometers to a Frenchman. Call Class 3 "Class 2+, 2++, 2+++++, 1+++++++++++++++" or whatever numeric magic feather works. I've wondered what people imagine or fear they'd actually encounter that they'd have to ask. So long as you adhere to the "don't ascend anything you don't want to descend" with each yard of hiking and go back the way you came (versus a loop route like up C2 but down C4), what possible "transition" surprise could there be?

[TravelingMatt]

You'd have company on Wetterhorn or Uncompahgre, but not many people do Matterhorn on its own.

That's what I'd expect. In 38 13ers, I've only shared the summit of Ouray (other than with an occasional partner). Even passiing someone enroute is rare.

Funny you say that. I've had company on something like 20 out of 341 thirteeners... and one of them was Matterhorn. Some day I'll do a list, not tonight.

That said, the people you do run into on 13ers are usually pretty interesting to talk to.

[XterraRob]

Funny you say that. I've had company on something like 20 out of 341 thirteeners... and one of them was Matterhorn. Some day I'll do a list, not tonight.

That said, the people you do run into on 13ers are usually pretty interesting to talk to.