Newbie, looking for advice on 1st 14er

FAQ and threads for those just starting to hike the Colorado 14ers.
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Ed_Groves
Posts: 195
Joined: 6/6/2019
14ers: 33 
13ers: 11
Trip Reports (5)
 

Re: Newbie, looking for advice on 1st 14er

Post by Ed_Groves »

mtree wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 8:58 am If you have the vehicle and decent driving skills, I think Uncompahgre is a far better hike than Redcloud or Handies. Its only a smidgen more difficult.
I agree 100 percent. And I would even say from my perspective that Red Cloud's loose crap coming up off the saddle makes it harder than Uncompahgre, or at least less enjoyable. The short class 2 climb through the rocks on Uncompahgre is a nice bit of spice and fun for a newbie.

If the OP does Handies from Grizzly Gulch he will get some good wildflower views coming through the basin along the creek. Grizzly Gulch is approximately 30 to 40 minutes from 149 highway depending on how fast you drive.
"Education is the process of moving from cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty." (Utvich)