Climbing a Class 3 without experience

[cottonmountaineering]

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.

it seems like ive seen some bots here lately, but there is no monetary incentive for them posting... it used to be like sending links to products/scams/etc but now nothing. are they training AI or something?

[cedica]

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.

Someone or something posting here means that they have an account. Bots can find any page on the site and answer any question asked about it, more or less convincingly. Humanoid bots can be trained to yelp after being kicked in the shin, but according to David Chalmers it is impossible to know whether they really felt the pain or not.

[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.

Someone or something posting here means that they have an account. Bots can find any page on the site and answer any question asked about it, more or less convincingly. Humanoid bots can be trained to yelp after being kicked in the shin, but according to David Chalmers it is impossible to know whether they really felt the pain or not.

Well that's a bummer. I miss the old days when a post claiming somebody knew a guy who climbed K2 3 times was written by an actual living, breathing person. Simpler times.

[Jephy]

Acute mountain sickness is not a joke. It can be a serious medical issue requiring immediate medical attention (where there often is none). Learn about it/know it cold before attempting a high altitude visit. Since you're new to Class 3 AND altitude, you might want to consider another interesting, challenging (CLASS 3+) hike this summer---but in a different direction at much lower elevation: The Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park. Killer! [n.b. it is closed part of the year to avoid disturbing falcon nesting]

[seannunn]

Acute mountain sickness is not a joke. It can be a serious medical issue requiring immediate medical attention (where there often is none). Learn about it/know it cold before attempting a high altitude visit. Since you're new to Class 3 AND altitude, you might want to consider another interesting, challenging (CLASS 3+) hike this summer---but in a different direction at much lower elevation: The Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park. Killer! [n.b. it is closed part of the year to avoid disturbing falcon nesting]

+1 here also. A lot of people assume that the ability to tolerate high altitude is directly correlated with aerobic fitness. That is NOT true. When I used to take high schoolers to Colorado every summer, I had one poor soul who would get dog sick every year (although never to a life threatening level). Think "throwing up several hours after being on the summit of Pike's Peak after taking the train up and back down" level.

He could run 2 miles in 10:00.

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

[nyker]

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.

Someone or something posting here means that they have an account. Bots can find any page on the site and answer any question asked about it, more or less convincingly. Humanoid bots can be trained to yelp after being kicked in the shin, but according to David Chalmers it is impossible to know whether they really felt the pain or not.

Or, who the Baron is...

[mpaskiewicz]

"+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."

Straying away from the bot conversation (gotta love online forums), and echoing Sean's post: Real time reps are critical. If you are new and want adventure (to which I retrospectively would say get some easier hikes or "wins" under your belt), maybe start with a more accessible class 3 like Kelso Ridge on Torreys Pk. I know many people have different experiences, but having recently done my first Chicago Basin adventure topping out on the Eoluses and my last remaining two "finishers" all being Sunlight and Windom, it is quite the commitment. The logistics of the train, camping, backpacking, etc. is a different variable beyond fitness. Personally, I did a run of Pyramid Pk., Bells Traverse, and Capitol and closed out the season with Eolus and N. Eolus during 2025 "summer season", and I was a bit surprised (expectations compared to perceived difficulty of finishing the Elks) at what Eolus presented. Also, not meant as a slight, but your bench press really doesn't matter. If anything, greater muscle mass means greater fuel and oxygen demand.

Learn to love the process more than the objectives. - Signed a former flatlander who's relocated to CO and has had ups and downs over a decade.

[Above_Treeline]

I've done class 3, good handhold rock climbing, to avoid a steep class 2 area before, not a fan of the steep slick talus slopes. Accidentally climbed short class 3 stretch one handed before, had a camera in the other hand, didn't really think about it


No idea on Windom or eolus though. Probably just harder 14ers in general. Yale harder than the easier ones I've done, though, eolus and windom generally considered harder vs Yale, I'd guess

I believe the op said he'd done some skiing and hadn't had any trouble so less concern. Might still have trouble 13k+ though, higher than ski areas, and if you have trouble you have to come down basically.