Hi
I am from Cape Cod and have hiked a lot in the White Mountains in NH in all 4 seasons. I have completed all 48 4Ks more than once. My family is coming out to CO January 8-15th. I am also the Hiking Chair for Southeast MA Appalachian Mountain Club Chapter. My wife and son will be skiing, but my daughter (24) and I are considering some hiking. We have full gear, except for ice axes. I have read the info put together on this website for beginner hikers but since I am unfamiliar with hiking 14Ks in Colorado, I am thinking its best to see if there are group hikes going on near Breckenridge that we could join. Can anyone provide any recommendations on where I might find organized hikes?
Thanks
Bill
Are there organized hike trips for CO 14Ks?
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Bill B
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12ersRule
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Re: Are there organized hike trips for CO 14Ks?
Welcome from the Cape! My parents live in Harwich. The White Mountains are quite the drive from there, congrats on multiple completions of the 4k peaks of NH.
The CMC - Colorado Mountain Club, is one of the most historic groups for hiking. Here's what they have going on in that time frame:
https://www.cmc.org/education-adventure ... &b_start=0
It doesn't appear that they have too much going on, 14er wise, but something might pop up later.
There are Facebook groups for hiking 13ers and 14ers. Perhaps there's something going on there. Not nearly as many people are doing 14ers in the winter, but there's probably enough to find a group somewhere.
I'd ask around in Breck if you don't have any luck on-line.
The CMC - Colorado Mountain Club, is one of the most historic groups for hiking. Here's what they have going on in that time frame:
https://www.cmc.org/education-adventure ... &b_start=0
It doesn't appear that they have too much going on, 14er wise, but something might pop up later.
There are Facebook groups for hiking 13ers and 14ers. Perhaps there's something going on there. Not nearly as many people are doing 14ers in the winter, but there's probably enough to find a group somewhere.
I'd ask around in Breck if you don't have any luck on-line.
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daway8
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Re: Are there organized hike trips for CO 14Ks?
Your best option for a 14er near Breck in January would be to do Quandary - there will probably be at least a few folks doing that one most any weekend through the winter and some folks going out during the week. It's considered one of the "easiest" winter 14ers (not to be mistaken with "easy"). You might try making a post in the Climbing Connection section of this forum and mention which specific days you're thinking of and you could likely find a person or two to join you. Wouldn't be quite the same as an "organized" hike but if you have proper winter gear (especially layers for wind) then you wouldn't necessarily need a lot of help - just one main spot where the trail diverges from the summer trail to avoid possible avy danger.
The other key option near Breck in winter would be the Decalibron loop (Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, Bross). Also considered among the safer and easier winter 14ers, with the primary avy potential being possibly needing to swing a little away from the base of Democrat going up.
Summer is a more likely time to find organized groups on 14ers. In winter, it tends to be small groups of friends or the occasional handful linking up through this site, maybe an occasional CMC group.
The other key option near Breck in winter would be the Decalibron loop (Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, Bross). Also considered among the safer and easier winter 14ers, with the primary avy potential being possibly needing to swing a little away from the base of Democrat going up.
Summer is a more likely time to find organized groups on 14ers. In winter, it tends to be small groups of friends or the occasional handful linking up through this site, maybe an occasional CMC group.
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peter303
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Re: Are there organized hike trips for CO 14Ks?
CMC is perhaps "over-organized". They 'd want proof of snows skills course and at least one simpler winter treeline hike before they'd someone on a winter summit hike. Too many people boast that they are better than they are to take a stranger at their word.
On the other hand there are some not too dangerous winter hikes one can do by themselves (along with the other 300 people who be on the trail that day.) I'd hike Sniktau ridge (12,800') from Loveland Pass to test acclimatization and gear for the gale force winds often there. If the ridge is not too difficult, then continue to the southeast summit.
Then another day climb Quandry. There is likely to be a broken in trail from previous hikers.
On the other hand there are some not too dangerous winter hikes one can do by themselves (along with the other 300 people who be on the trail that day.) I'd hike Sniktau ridge (12,800') from Loveland Pass to test acclimatization and gear for the gale force winds often there. If the ridge is not too difficult, then continue to the southeast summit.
Then another day climb Quandry. There is likely to be a broken in trail from previous hikers.