Total Newbie Mt Evans

[nyker]

How many days are you in CO for? Why not start with a lower peak and then move up subject to how everyone feels.
Does your first peak have to be a 14er? What about a low 13er or 12er? Then, see how you do and then go for a higher mountain, especially since
a young one is involved.

I also like Sniktau as an option - I climbed it this past weekend and even in snow was pretty straightforward.
If you guys all feel good, go on to do Cupid peak and if weather holds and you're feeling great, add Grizzly D.
Here is a shot from the final approach on Sniktau.

Depending on the condition of the road getting there, Bierstadt or Sherman could be two 14er options, pretty short and easy to turn around back to the car,
but also would tend to agree on not separating during the first climb.

[mtree]

Your plan sounds fine depending on the age of your "tyke". Start and finish early to avoid afternoon storms. I never recommend splitting up an inexperienced group midway into a hike, especially with young kids, let alone first-timers from sea level. That's a recipe for disaster.

If you're set on a 14er, you may try Mt. Sherman as an option. The road should be open to the forest gate (standard trailhead) which makes the hike fairly short. Kids get a kick out of all the old mining equipment and buildings...or what's left of them. Have fun!!!

[boliverallmon]

Nyker,

Current plans are to arrive on June 30th and we fly back on the 4th. Big goals are to see the sand dunes, hike a peak (whichever one we can), and we have to see our Houston Astros play in Colorado. Beyond that we are open.

[boliverallmon]

Oh and the tyke is four.

[jschooch]

I don't have kids but I wouldn't hike any 14er with a 4 year old. Even Sniktua would be a pretty tough hike for that age. If your kid is really tough it can certainly be done but for me it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

[nyker]

ok..if you want to see the sand dunes, then I would do that first, especially if you're driving up from TX. This way, you hit it on the way and you can use Alamosa area (~8000ft elevation) to acclimatize which should help a bit for your climbing goals that week. After a couple days there you can drive north see a Astros/Rockies game in Denver (Jul 2) and climb one of the peaks above on Jul 3, maybe Jul 4 and depart.

[LetsGoMets]

Green Mountain via the West Ridge in the Flatirons is a great family hike.

[davebobk47]

How long is your kid willing to hike at home? up a steep slope at 14k ft is going to be much harder and take a lot longer. I have a 3 year old and we typically go about a mile, any further and he loses interest.

[nyker]

Another peak option if you are driving up from TX, is Sandia Mountain in NM. Gets you to a bit above 10k and is a real nice class 1 hike with a road to the top on the other side.

I would echo the caution with the youngster on any mountain.

[mtree]

Another peak option if you are driving up from TX, is Sandia Mountain in NM. Gets you to a bit above 10k and is a real nice class 1 hike with a road to the top on the other side.

I would echo the caution with the youngster on any mountain.

I would NOT recommend hiking Sandia via the La Luz trail for a 4 year old. I would not recommend it for a newbie. Especially in late June/early July. That is a long hike thru multiple ecosystems. It starts in the desert and ends on a mountaintop. Its long. Its difficult. And the afternoon sun can be brutal. Drive it or take the tram, but a hike from the bottom is another animal. That said, there are plenty of hikes in the area ranging from difficult to easy. Be wary of what you choose.

Now knowing your "tyke" is a 4 year old, that changes things. I have no idea of your kid's drive or endurance ability. You may not know either. Can you spot the signs of altitude sickness? You better, because your kid may not be able to communicate this to you. I don't normally discourage anyone from their hiking plans. I figure they'll know what they're up against soon enough. But in the case of young kids, you better do your homework, be prepared, and know what you're getting into. Even an "easy" 14er is still a hike to 14,000 feet. There are plenty of issues to contend with and lots of things can go wrong in a hurry. Figure the Mt. Evans route will take you 3-5 hours rt. Mt. Sniktau 3-4 hours. Even Mt. Sherman would be 4-6. I'm being conservative of course. Maybe all y'all are in great shape and will power thru like mountain goats. I'm sure others will give you a laundry list of advice and opinions. I'll just leave it at that. Whatever you end up doing, enjoy!

[boliverallmon]

We are flying into Denver vs driving.

Kiddo is pretty decent. The pic I posted is from two days ago when we hiked 2.5 miles through the woods with some elevation change.

[mtnkub]

Can you spot the signs of altitude sickness? You better, because your kid may not be able to communicate this to you. I don't normally discourage anyone from their hiking plans.... But in the case of young kids, you better do your homework, be prepared, and know what you're getting into. ... enjoy!

This! (doesn't matter how good of a sport your kid is on hikes at low elevations)