colorado

What You Need to Know About Timing Your 14er Ascent

January 16, 2025 in Adventure Travel, California, Camping, Colorado, Grand Adventure, Hike, Micro Adventure, Mountaineering, North America, Peak Bagging, Rock Climbing, United States

Climbing a 14er—a peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet—is a bucket-list adventure for many hikers. However, timing your ascent is crucial for a safe and successful climb. Starting too late can put you at risk of thunderstorms, heat, and other hazards that can turn an enjoyable hike into a dangerous situation. Here’s what you need to know about timing your 14er adventure.

Mount Massive’s False Summit Is Heartbreaking

January 14, 2025 in Adventure Travel, Colorado, Grand Adventure, Hike, Micro Adventure, North America, Peak Bagging, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Road Trip, United States, Van Life

Waking up later than planned, I crawled out of my van with a packed bag, fueled by coffee and laced-up boots. Clicking my Coros watch to start recording my trek, I set off down the trail for a car-to-car push of Mount Massive. As Colorado's second-highest peak, I felt nervous but confident I could summit in good time. My legs were still sore from climbing Mount of the Holy Cross just a few days before, another challenging 14er in Colorado’s Sawatch Range.