Mount Ouray - Sawatch Centennial

Last week, I posted about the solitude I enjoyed on Chiefs Head in RMNP. On Saturday, I climbed another less-traveled peak.

At 13,971 feet, Ouray is almost a fourteener. But with Colorado summits, “almost” doesn’t mean much. As a result, Ouray is much less popular than the higher peaks in the area (being in the Sawatch Range, Ouray has lots of 14,000-foot neighbors to compete with).

Still, Ouray is a notable summit and a worthwhile climb. It’s a Centennial – one of the top 100 peaks in Colorado. You can read more about the peak on its profile page on Summitpost.org.

The hike was supposed to be short and easy (we took the 6.5-mile West Ridge route) but ended up being more challenging than expected. It was quite steep, with no trail to speak of, and the final 1,000-foot ridge was a sporty scramble on rocks that were slick from recent rain.

Add to the mix some very unstable weather (see photo below), and Ouray turned out to be a pretty tough day! It was a good reminder that one should never underestimate the mountains.

Fourteener Fuel - What to Eat on Summit Day

Hiking a fourteener burns a lot of calories.

The actual number of calories you burn will vary depending on which peak you’re climbing, how much you weigh and a lot of other factors. But it’s safe to say you’ll need to eat a lot more than you would on a flat trail at sea level.

According to this article on Backcountry.com, “hikers, climbers and others traveling with packs over difficult terrain will need at least 500-1,000 more calories than they normally would.”

If you like to eat, you’re in luck.

Nutrition is important, and getting the right balance of carbs, fats and protein will certainly lead to better performance on the mountain. But in my experience, the key is to eat foods you like and that will still be appealing when altitude zaps your appetite.

Here’s a quick list of my favorites:

• M&Ms
• Nuts
• Peanut-butter & jelly sandwiches
• Fig Newtons
• Crackers
• Larabars (All-natural energy bars that actually taste good, made right here in Colorado. Read more about the company’s founder on their website.)

The above items pack a lot of calories with minimal weight. They also hold up well in a pack (except for the PB&J, which requires a little special handling).

You’ll want to customize the list according to your own tastes. Anything goes - I've seen people eating avocados and cold Big Macs on summits. Just avoid anything that might melt and bring more than you think you’ll eat.

Also take special note of Principle #3 in the Backcountry.com article, which explains why you need to snack often. Aim for a couple hundred calories every two hours or so.

As for what to eat after the climb, may I suggest:

Essential Gear

I could talk all day about the best raingear, softshell jackets, and antimicrobial polypropylene base layers. I could discourse on the virtues of one pack’s internal frame construction versus another’s top-loader functionality.

But when it comes down to it, you don’t have to be outfitted in all the latest (or most expensive) gear to climb a fourteener. The only thing you absolutely must have are the 10 Essentials.

According to Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (see more on FotH below), the 10 items every hiker should have on his or her person at all times are:

1. Map
2. Compass*
3. Sunglasses and sunscreen
4. Extra food and water
5. Extra clothes
6. Headlamp/flashlight
7. First aid kit
8. Fire starter
9. Matches
10. Knife
    *Can be supplemented (not replaced) with a GPS

As long as you have these 10 things covered, your chances of survival are greatly enhanced. If you also prefer to be comfortable, here are a few general recommendations:

Pack – Needs to hold all of your 10 essentials (2,000-3,000 cubic inches for summer day hikes). Hydration compatibility (see #3) is a big plus. I’m currently using an Osprey Stratos 40 and I’m very pleased with it. It has a mesh panel that allows air to circulate down your back, which helps keep you cool and comfortable.

Clothing – This local Colorado blogger created a great page on what to wear in the high country. He explains why cotton should be avoided at all costs, evaluates various synthetic fabrics and gives recommendations for different seasons.

Hydration Bladder – Carrying a water bottle is a recipe for dehydration. You won’t want to stop, pull the bottle out of your pack and take a drink. The solution is a hydration bladder. It allows you to drink from a hose while you hike. Look for one that holds at least 2 liters.

Trekking Poles – Not everyone uses them, some people disparage them, but I personally wouldn’t hit any trail without them. Poles save a ton of wear on your knees and are essential for crossing streams or rocky terrain.

A few more words on Freedom of the Hills. It is the definitive guide for anyone thinking of getting into mountaineering. The book, which first came out in 1960 and is now in its 7th edition, provides detailed descriptions of everything from pitching a tent above timberline to proper ice axe technique.

While you may not use a lot of this stuff climbing fourteeners in the summer, it’s an excellent resource that will teach you how to be safer in the mountains.

-Sarah

Chiefs Head – A Rocky Mountain Classic

Some of the easier and more popular fourteeners see hundreds of hikers on summer weekends (check out this handy peak usage guide on 14ers.com to find out which peaks are most crowded). In fact, foot traffic on the peaks has gotten so heavy that a dedicated initiative was formed in 1994 to protect and preserve Colorado’s fourteeners.

If you’re looking for solitude, you may want to try one of Colorado’s lower-elevation peaks.

Rocky Mountain National Park (another place often associated with crowds) has dozens of peaks that see very few hikers. This past weekend, I climbed Chiefs Head, the third-highest peak in RMNP. My partner and I didn’t see a soul for the first 8 hours of the hike and had the summit all to ourselves. 

(Side note: If you followed the Chiefs Head link above, you discovered Summitpost.org, a valuable resource for route information on just about any peak in the world.)

Part of the reason for the lack of crowds on Chiefs Head is its remoteness – the route we took from Sandbeach Lake is 16.4 miles and over 5,500 feet of elevation gain, more than half of it off-trail.

Realizing that afternoon thunderstorms must be avoided (especially during National Lightning Safety Awareness Week), we hit the trail at 4:00 a.m.

Sunrise at Sandbeach Lake was peaceful and a bit surreal:

We made the summit at about 10:00 a.m. The sun never did make an appearance…

The moral of the story is, don’t limit yourself to just the fourteeners! There are hundreds of peaks in this state that offer the same majestic views and physical challenge, without the crowds.

A great place to research what’s out there is Lists of John (click on Colorado Peaks by Elevation). You can view members’ lists of summits and add your own profile and peak list. The site is a great way to keep tabs on who’s climbing what in Colorado and track your own accomplishments. 

And if you're interested in hiking in Rocky Mountain NP, pick up a copy of Lisa Foster's Complete Hiking Guide. In the book's preface, Foster explains how she set out in the summer of 2004 to "finish hiking every named destination in RMNP." The results of her quest are documented in the book, which covers 440 destinations and 668 trails and routes.

-Sarah

Preparation

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that hiking a fourteener is a considerable physical challenge. If you go by the 3,000 foot rule, you’ll be gaining at least 3,000 feet of elevation, usually at a rate of about 1,000 feet per mile. And once you’re above treeline, you’ll have about two-thirds the amount of oxygen as you’d have at sea level.

You don’t need to train for your first peak like you’re preparing for a marathon, but you’ll have a better chance of gaining the summit if you've been getting some regular exercise. I’ve always felt that if you can run a mile comfortably, you can make it up a 14er.

The best way to prepare for hiking a mountain is to get out and hike. Walking on a trail (preferably one with some ups and downs) will condition the muscles you’ll use tackling the high peaks. Getting in some good long treks will also help you build the endurance you’ll need to keep moving all day.

If you don’t have access to any trails, go with activities that mimic hiking on steep ground. Walk on a treadmill with the incline maxed out. Better yet, do it wearing a loaded pack. The stepmill (scrolling staircase torture device… not available in all gyms) is another good option.

For even more ideas and info, check out this article on hikingdude's blog. He offers some great suggestions for preparing your body and mind for a serious hike. 

Regardless of what you’ve done to prepare for your first fourteener, the most important thing to remember when you finally hit the trail is take it slow. We all move at a snail’s pace in the thin alpine air (well, except for these guys.) It’s better to go slow and steady than charge ahead and have to stop every five minutes. 

Plus, you get to enjoy the scenery:

Where to Begin?

When I moved to Colorado, I had climbed a grand total of 11 mountains. My peak list now stands at 113, including 35 over 14K. If you want to summit a fourteener, you don't need a special training regimen, fancy equipment or even rock climbing skills. All you need is a healthy respect for the mountains and the willingness to push your limits.

I'm still a beginner myself, but my blog offers helpful advice, resources and information for those who are just getting started on their fourteener quests or are planning their very first summit attempt.

If you've already searched for answers on the Web, you know there is a staggering amount of information out there. That's because so many questions arise when you're contemplating your first foray to 14,000 feet.... questions like:

What should I eat?

What should I wear?

Which peak should I do first?

How should I train?

Where can I camp?

Will I get altitude sickness?

Do the marmots bite?

I'll do my best to answer all of these questions by relaying my own experiences and providing links to the best info on the Web.

For starters, you may have already discovered 14ers.com. If you haven't, I recommend checking it out. The discussion forum is always active and is almost like an online community. You can find a lot of excellent advice from very experienced people, and it's also a great place to find partners. Plus there are lots of helpful resources, including route descriptions with photos, gear lists and trailhead information.

A copy of Gerry Roach's guidebook is also a must-have... it's the Fourteener Bible. Roach's route descriptions are concise and easy to follow and his commentary is fun to read.

Happy Climbing!

Sarah