FAQ and threads for those just starting to hike the Colorado 14ers.
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Super excited to join and nice to meet you sll. I just moved in from Washington state and are curious sbout some environmental groups in Co that does Hiking,Reforestation and talks?
Anything environmental related group names?
And I am curious if there are any guided mountain tours in May-June to get myself familiar with the mountains?
And I am curious if there are any guided mountain tours in May-June to get myself familiar with the mountains?
Best
Yan Ming from Washington
The best way to get familiar with the mountains is get up there, drive around, hike around. Lots of books with hikes to do in Colorado, try the REI book section. And of course here for fourteener info. We had a big snow year, so May isn't going to be very good for hiking, and even in June it seems like the trails are usually in one of two states - muddy or snowy.
Super excited to join and nice to meet you sll. I just moved in from Washington state and are curious sbout some environmental groups in Co that does Hiking,Reforestation and talks?
Anything environmental related group names?
And I am curious if there are any guided mountain tours in May-June to get myself familiar with the mountains?
Best
Yan Ming from Washington
For basic familiarization I would not waste money on guided tours. There's plenty that you can safely do on your own. I spent my first few years in Colorado intimidated by the high mountains, but once I took the plunge I was able to get into it pretty easily & mostly solo. For more advanced stuff you need some skills and would benefit from more experienced hiking partners, but even there guided tours usually are not necessary. Spend the money you save on gear.
I'd also echo the prior comment about May & June, though there are plenty of lower elevation options during those months to whet your appetite.
I'm not that knowledgeable about environmental groups, but one sort of environmental adjacent group is the Colorado 14ers initiative. There are a number of volunteer trail building / maintenance opportunities with them. For hiking you might consider the CMC (Colorado Mountain Club).
CFI (Colorado Fourteeners Initiative) is a group that seeks to build sustainable trails that minimize damage to the Colorado 14er mountains. Not strictly an environmental group but definitely impact the environment of the Colorado mountains in a positive way.
Sean Nunn
"Thy righteousness is like the great mountains." --Psalms 36:6
