First 14er

[eerae]

Late June/early July is prime thunderstorm season so you'll increase your odds of success by a sunrise start. Realize storms can move in or form very quickly. Aim to be below treeline before noon. Being exposed during lightning storms might seem fun at the time, but won't be so much if you get fried. Most lightning strikes aren't direct hits, but occur with electrical conduction across the ground. Above treeline a current doesn't get buffered, dispersed or grounded very well since there is nothing but rocks and more rocks...so it can travel quite far. Probably a big reason why there are an unusual number of "strikes" up there. If you get caught in a storm above treeline, understand that statistically you have no better chance of survival whether you sit, stand, lay down, strike a yoga pose, or run. I choose run...like your hair is on fire. Less time exposed the better. Just don't trip and fall. That would suck and you'd look silly. And you'd endanger the other hikers as they slow to gawk and laugh.

Non-Coloradoan here. So sometimes it can start getting ugly pretty quick. If it has begun storming and you are still above treeline, and your current ridgeline route down is pretty flat, would you try to just scramble down the sides to get lower faster? Assuming you're not going to take a bad fall of course. I guess it's something you just have to weigh what the risks are... How often are people actually injured by lightning?

[christian349]

Late June/early July is prime thunderstorm season so you'll increase your odds of success by a sunrise start. Realize storms can move in or form very quickly. Aim to be below treeline before noon. Being exposed during lightning storms might seem fun at the time, but won't be so much if you get fried. Most lightning strikes aren't direct hits, but occur with electrical conduction across the ground. Above treeline a current doesn't get buffered, dispersed or grounded very well since there is nothing but rocks and more rocks...so it can travel quite far. Probably a big reason why there are an unusual number of "strikes" up there. If you get caught in a storm above treeline, understand that statistically you have no better chance of survival whether you sit, stand, lay down, strike a yoga pose, or run. I choose run...like your hair is on fire. Less time exposed the better. Just don't trip and fall. That would suck and you'd look silly. And you'd endanger the other hikers as they slow to gawk and laugh.

Non-Coloradoan here. So sometimes it can start getting ugly pretty quick. If it has begun storming and you are still above treeline, and your current ridgeline route down is pretty flat, would you try to just scramble down the sides to get lower faster? Assuming you're not going to take a bad fall of course. I guess it's something you just have to weigh what the risks are... How often are people actually injured by lightning?

It really, really depends on your skill level. If your comfortable with steep and loose terrain, and know the area around your route, it is certainly possible to bail and get below treeline faster through a quick descent. However, bailing off a ridgeline can leave you lost and off route (or, worst case, on the opposite side of the mountain, rather than the side you ascended). Always take maps and proper navigation equipment with you just in case.

As for the danger of lightning, below is the most harrowing example to me. It was on Colorado's "easiest" 14er, Bierstadt. Lightning is no joke, and storms can come in ridiculously fast in Colorado. Always watch the clouds and remember your life is more important than a summit.

The "Great" Bierstadt Lightning Strike: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/06/28/a ... bierstadt/

Another example in RMNP: https://www.cnn.com/2014/07/12/us/color ... index.html

[TallGrass]

Non-Coloradoan here. So sometimes it can start getting ugly pretty quick. If it has begun storming and you are still above treeline, and your current ridgeline route down is pretty flat, would you try to just scramble down the sides to get lower faster? Assuming you're not going to take a bad fall of course. I guess it's something you just have to weigh what the risks are... How often are people actually injured by lightning?

When looking at forecasts, look at humidity and the daily weather patterns for the week in relation to fronts. Sometimes a lot of moisture will just recirculate (evap as it warms then comes back down as rain, repeat) until blown out.

Simple bail suggestion, if you can't see the entire route down, assume it's because it cliffs out (unless you remember it does not from scouting it on the way up). Bailing off the ridge a big green grassy mound is a lot different than off a rocky pinnacle. Also, don't go down what you can't climb back up out of (and vice versa) to avoid cliffing out.

That said, I summited Blanca amid thunder and some graupel so I could bail down the face on the other side and eventually intercepted the trail that leaves the ridge the crosses the face going down. Sometimes the fastest way down is up.

[alrb6163]

Original Poster is back. Thanks for all of the very helpful responses. Drove 5+ hours from NY to New Hampshire last week to get in another 4000 footer (trying to all 48 of them) and to get in more hiking before my trip to Colorado. From reading the responses, I am now more worried about the thunderstorms than the hike itself. Temperature is supposed to be about 90 in Denver on the day I hike (7/1/8) but mid 70s in Georgetown and presumably even cooler as we gain elevation on the hike (with a 20% chance of rain). Since I'll be staying about 90 minutes to 2 hrs. away from the trailhead, do I really need to start my hike by 6 a.m. I was thinking of leaving my hotel around then and starting the hike by around 8 am. Would that work (unless the forecast changes dramatically)?

[dpage]

Original Poster is back. Thanks for all of the very helpful responses. Drove 5+ hours from NY to New Hampshire last week to get in another 4000 footer (trying to all 48 of them) and to get in more hiking before my trip to Colorado. From reading the responses, I am now more worried about the thunderstorms than the hike itself. Temperature is supposed to be about 90 in Denver on the day I hike (7/1/8) but mid 70s in Georgetown and presumably even cooler as we gain elevation on the hike (with a 20% chance of rain). Since I'll be staying about 90 minutes to 2 hrs. away from the trailhead, do I really need to start my hike by 6 a.m. I was thinking of leaving my hotel around then and starting the hike by around 8 am. Would that work (unless the forecast changes dramatically)?

Depends on the forecast for the mountains that day and if you truly desire to summit in safe conditions. I use the weather links on this site, look at the hourly graph and then decide. To me sacrificing sleep 1 day pit of the year to set myself up to be as successful as possible on summit day seems like an easy decision especially if I had to travel across the country.

[MtnTwister]

Original Poster is back. Thanks for all of the very helpful responses. Drove 5+ hours from NY to New Hampshire last week to get in another 4000 footer (trying to all 48 of them) and to get in more hiking before my trip to Colorado. From reading the responses, I am now more worried about the thunderstorms than the hike itself. Temperature is supposed to be about 90 in Denver on the day I hike (7/1/8) but mid 70s in Georgetown and presumably even cooler as we gain elevation on the hike (with a 20% chance of rain). Since I'll be staying about 90 minutes to 2 hrs. away from the trailhead, do I really need to start my hike by 6 a.m. I was thinking of leaving my hotel around then and starting the hike by around 8 am. Would that work (unless the forecast changes dramatically)?

Yes, I would still reccomend starting at 6am, if for nothing else just having space to park near the trailhead. Pretty much all the front range 14er trailheads are packed even by 6am. As for thunderstorm risk, the mountains tend to generate their own weather due to a number of reasons, and because of that, the forecast for any area is only somewhat reliable. Generally I use the daily forecast as a guide of what to expect, then I "nowcast" by looking for weather above and around me to make sure the atmosphere is behaving itself, and there isnt any danger on the horizon. No matter what, its always best to start at (or before depending on route length/difficulty) sunrise.

[Trotter]

Original Poster is back. Thanks for all of the very helpful responses. Drove 5+ hours from NY to New Hampshire last week to get in another 4000 footer (trying to all 48 of them) and to get in more hiking before my trip to Colorado. From reading the responses, I am now more worried about the thunderstorms than the hike itself. Temperature is supposed to be about 90 in Denver on the day I hike (7/1/8) but mid 70s in Georgetown and presumably even cooler as we gain elevation on the hike (with a 20% chance of rain). Since I'll be staying about 90 minutes to 2 hrs. away from the trailhead, do I really need to start my hike by 6 a.m. I was thinking of leaving my hotel around then and starting the hike by around 8 am. Would that work (unless the forecast changes dramatically)?

Start at 6. Better parking, and less worry for weather. Sleep in the rest of your life

[DeTour]

Start at 6. Don't overthink it, it's what you do on 14ers in summer months. So you get up at an ungodly early time. It's part of the experience.

[ultrarunningkid]

Starting at 6am for me is really the bare minimum. I'm decently fast when it comes to ascents, and i like to start at 3am to 3:30, and hopefully be well above the tree line by first light. Summit a little after sunrise, be back at my car before noon.

Doing that minimizes a lot of risks of being caught above the tree line in the afternoon. So 6am = ok, later = only if you are really a decent climber, have a short climb, and have a perfect weather forcast.

[Sean Nunn]

Starting at 6am for me is really the bare minimum. I'm decently fast when it comes to ascents, and i like to start at 3am to 3:30, and hopefully be well above the tree line by first light. Summit a little after sunrise, be back at my car before noon.

Doing that minimizes a lot of risks of being caught above the tree line in the afternoon. So 6am = ok, later = only if you are really a decent climber, have a short climb, and have a perfect weather forcast.

+1, except I am not quite as crazy as ultrarunningkid. I usually try to be climbing at very first light (5-5:30am), even if it is a fairly easy, straightforward climb. The lost of sleep is much less dangerous for you than the danger of lightning that comes from being on a mountain in summer in CO in the afternoon.

[ultrarunningkid]

Honestly doing much of the below tree-line work before the sun comes up makes it feel a lot shorter. Although, i would only recommend that if you are comfortable with your route finding skills with only a headlamp.