Hiking a 14er

Posted by Stephen - 07/06/08 at 01:07:00 am

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! I must admit that I didn’t see any fireworks this year as I went to bed early so I could go for an early morning hike. If anyone is from the Rocky Mountain region, then they know what I’m talking about when I say the word “Fourteener.” The term Fourteener (or 14er) refers to a mountain with a summit elevation of at least 14,000 feet.

One thing you will learn as you hike these tall peaks is that elevation is definitely a factor in your performance. Personally, I really start to feel the effects of altitude as I get over 12,000 feet, but altitude sickness can start much lower than that. Altitude sickness can actually be quite serious, and if you’re interested in learning more here is a Wikipedia link.

Anyways, we hiked up to the top of Grays Peak, a summit elevation of 14,270 ft. Even though it is one of the easiest 14ers to summit in the Eastern Colorado region, it was a tough hike. From bottom to top, we gained about 3,000 ft. in elevation, and I could feel it every step of the way (Gyminee says I burned about 1,200 Calories and also let me track the elevation change!). It was definitely worth it, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking at the top. You tend to forget how difficult the hike was when you are looking at a 360 degree panorama of some of America’s most beautiful scenery!

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