Colorado’s Top Five Easiest 14ers to Bag This Summer
It’s almost 14er season, and that means that thousands of people are going to be traveling to Colorado to attempt to climb our notorious 14,000-foot mountains. Doing so is pretty much a passage into the state. But what that also means is that when there are more people crowding these mountains, the risk of a fall is increased.
In this article, I’m going to briefly introduce you to Colorado’s five easiest 14ers so you don’t get caught in a life or death situation by ending up on a difficult one. While no 14er is technically “easy,” in relativity to the state’s 53 other 14ers, these five make the list as being the easiest. You need to be physically in shape — expect to be hiking for eight or more hours. And there is no substitution for a lack of mountain knowledge. Always do your research before you head out to hike one of these mountains. They might be easy to ascend, but there will always be a margin for fatal error.
Grays Peak: This is a great peak for beginners and inexperienced mountaineers. The hike is an eight mile round-trip and is only rated as class 1 hiking, meaning it’s a straight walk-up. The trail isn’t steep and is easy to find — and you’ll more than likely be surrounded by hundreds of other hikers so there is no way you’ll get lost. Grays peak is part of the Front Range and is located along the Continental Divide.
Torreys Peak: Torreys peak is another great peak for new hikers. The hike is short and is not steep. Many people who bag Grays make an effort to cross the saddle that connects it to Torreys to bag two 14ers in the same day. As with Grays, expect to be surrounded by hundreds of other hikers during the peak of 14er season. Torreys is located right next to Grays in the Front Range.
Quandary Peak: Many people like hiking Quandary because it is so close to Denver and Breckenridge. Like Grays and Torreys, you can’t miss the trail as hundreds of people hike this mountain every day during 14er season. The trip is seven miles to the summit and back to the trail head, and you’ll gain over 3,000 feet from start to finish.
Mount Bierstadt: Standing at 14,060 feet, Mount Bierstadt barely classifies as a 14er. It’s in the Mount Evans Wilderness, just two miles west of it’s neighboring 14er, Mount Evans. This is considered to be the easiest 14er in the state. It’s a class 2, but the hiking is hands-free. It’s a great peak for younger hikers and is a great first 14er for anyone who is coming from out of state and has yet to be acclimated to altitude.
Mount Elbert: Anyone who summits Mount Elbert has bragging rights because they can say they have stood on the highest peak in Colorado. The elevation gain in the nine mile hike is almost 5,000 feet. This hike will take you all day, so bring ample supplies and be prepared to enjoy the beauty that surrounds you in the San Isabel National Forest.
If you’re not familiar with a sustained hike like any of the ones listed above, but you want to embark on one, here are some tips for how you can prevent needing the services of search and rescue on your trip.
Start early. Most, if not all, of these hikes will take all day. And in the back-country, storms can brew from a blue sky in minutes. It’s important to get a head start on the day.
Wear proper clothing. Charles Pitman, a mission coordinator with the Summit County Rescue Group, says that it’s all too common to see hikers starting at the Mount Quandary trail head severely unprepared.
“It is a wonder we don’t have several calls a day,” said Pitman. “All you have to do is stand in the parking lot and see how people are equipped. And when they start, it really is mind-numbing — sandals, a bottle of water, shorts and a cotton t-shirt, no pack, no rain gear, no headlamp, little food, no emergency heat source and rain clouds on the horizon.”
Take his advice and don’t be that guy he just described.
Bring ample food, but don’t overdo it. You’ll want a sufficient amount of water, maybe 3 quarts max, and a supply of quick and easy snacks. If you pack a meal, make it lightweight.
Take it slow towards the summit. Some of the moves on these peaks listed here require some scrambling (using your hands), but it’s not difficult. Also, you’re at an extreme elevation when you’re closing on the summit, so you burn more masses with each step you take. You can avoid altitude sickness by pacing yourself.
Note: Most of this info was curated from The Coloradoan.
