Climbing a Class 3 without experience

[Wentzl]

Bot or Not?

Seems like a good place to start a new game.

How to play, what are the rules? I give that to the smart people here.

But this intrusion of AI generated posts for gathering marketable information bothers me.

Should we just watch it happen, play along like it is harmless?

start the count, 1 to zero, I say BOT.

[RhodoRose]

2 to zero, BOT.

[daway8]

I kinda chuckle at how quickly people on the forum jump to the "it's a Bot" conclusion. In some cases I've seen people toss out that assumption when I've actually met the person in real life. There are many real people out there who say, ask, and do some pretty bizarre things.

This particular post is not one where I can confirm for sure that it's a real person but I can tell you for sure that I've met many people in real life who have asked very similar questions and there are many more who at times ponder something similar.

So that's why I didn't hesitate to engage with the post on the assumption that it's a real person. My guess is this one probably is real but even if you're correct that it's a Bot post, the concepts discussed are going to be read by real people like yourself, some of whom are going to be people thinking of getting into 14ers for the first time and who could benefit from hearing the discussion (well at least until the discussion turned to "it's a Bot...")

[cedica]

So that's why I didn't hesitate to engage with the post on the assumption that it's a real person.

That's a win-win move. Even if it turns out to be a bot, the future General AI overlords will see that you've supported their message and be less likely to delete your offspring.

[mjt16940]

I am not a bot. Shocker. Just new.

[Ryan P]

Exactly what a bot would say. /s

[daway8]

Y'all got some serious Bot paranoia around here!

[Will_E]

FYI I’m pretty sure daway8 is a bot.

[daway8]

FYI I’m pretty sure daway8 is a bot.

Oh no - I've been discovered!!!

(Hopefully no one figures out that the version of me who's been showing up at Fall Gatherings, HHs, etc is just an android!)

[Fast Jimm]

So, we've got the following:

"Any 4 year old could do it"
"Altitude might be a factor"
"Don't underestimate route finding difficulty"

I'm not sure about the first one, but 2 and 3 are solid. My contribution would be:

Altitude is a factor and must be assessed in real time with turn back options. Usually after a couple days of hiking at altitude it will NOT be a significant factor, ie., producing acute mountain sickness and requiring elevation loss, for someone young and fit as OP or most fit people in general.
I would recommend buying the hiking boots you'll be using and break them in and start working up to a 10 mile day, preferably on varied terrain with altitude changes.

OP: You'll be fine, just research the route

[seannunn]

The biggest wildcard based on that brief bio is the question of how your body will respond to altitude. Some very fit people find they struggle greatly with the altitude - other people aren't really bothered by it.

Not a bad idea to try an "easy" 14er like Bierstadt or Quandary first to make sure the altitude isn't an issue. Windom isn't too hard as 14ers go but Eolus can be intimidating doing the catwalk with lots of exposure and then that last steep bit to the summit. If heights bother you that could be an issue. It's also a bit of a hike to get back in there - most people take the train and camp overnight. Bring a helmet for Eolus as there is rockfall danger on the final pitch.

+1 on everything here. Climb Bierstadt & Evans to be sure that you can handle climbing at 14000'. Stay around that area for a day or two before to make sure that you are able to SLEEP at 10000'+ elevation (these two capacities usually go together, but not always.) Make one of those nights in a tent at a campsite, but pack everything that you need for the next 24 hours in your backpack. Then get out your tent, set it up, eat your dinner, and go to sleep. Get up the next morning and eat breakfast, and repack your pack as if you were leaving a trailhead to climb. Then see if you left anything in the car (which will be right next to you). That will help you get ready for the logistics of getting dropped off by a train miles from civilization with only what you have in your backpack.

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

[jfm3]

I know how we can determine if someone is a bot or not: ask them what their favorite Hall of Fame thread is, and one reason why it's their favorite. That section of the forum is accessible only to people with an account, and it's not immediately obvious how a bot would be able to find that section of the website, "read" through everything on it and form an opinion. Or maybe that is in fact possible, and we're all just machines chattering at each other.