The Next Summit: A Mountain Blog
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Facebook is Not a Guidebook: Do Your Own Research
In every hiking Facebook group, there are a good number of people who treat it like their own personal travel agent. Asking open-ended questions that could easily be answered through a google search, these individuals
Colorado Hiking Boots: The 3 Best Options in 2022
In the rugged state of Colorado, hiking boots are an essential piece of gear. Whether you plan to climb a fourteener in the front range or explore a canyon on the western slope, boots provide
Does Boost Oxygen Help With Altitude Sickness on 14ers? It’s a Brazen Scam.
If you’ve shopped at a Colorado grocery store or gas station this year, you’ve probably seen it: A little green and silver can with the words Boost Oxygen clearly visible on the can. These little
Bear Spray and 14ers: Is It Critical or Overkill?
If you’re heading out to climb a fourteener, you might be wondering about norms when it comes to bear spray and fourteeners. Are bears common on these trails, and is bear kill necessary to protect
What is a 14er? An Intro to America’s Most Spectacular Mountains
“Let’s bag a 14er this weekend!” If this phrase has ever confused you and left you wondering, “what is a 14er,” don’t worry. If you’re not from Colorado it’s normal not to know the lingo.
Preventative Search and Rescue: The Forgotten Solution to our SAR Crisis
Being a search and rescue (SAR) volunteer in Colorado these days isn’t easy. The state’s 2,800 volunteers respond to more than 3,600 rescues every year… a number that continues to grow along with the state’s
Colorado Hiking 14ers: 6 Great Peaks With Trails to the Top
When someone describes a fourteener experience, it often sounds like quite an ordeal. Lots of scrambling up boulders, sometimes with significant exposure and steep cliffs, would leave even an experienced hiker a bit anxious. Thankfully
How to Call Search and Rescue: 12 Critical Tips for Calling for Help
You can do a lot to limit your risk in the mountains. However, even with the best preparation, accidents can and do happen. If you wander off route or break your leg during a fall,
13ers near Denver: 9 Breathtaking Summits Close to Home
Colorado is home to more than six-hundred 13,000-foot peaks known as “13ers”. These mountains offer spectacular views from their summits, with a wide range of routes in terms of difficulty. Best of all, they are
Dispersed Camping in Colorado: 13 Tips & Superb Spots
Campgrounds offer the convenience of reservations, outhouses, and drinking water, along with basic amenities like a picnic table and fire grill. However as people pack into a campground they bring noise, alcohol, and lots of
Mount Elbert Winter Guide: Resources for a Successful 14er Ascent
Mount Elbert is Colorado’s tallest mountain, reaching an elevation of 14,439 feet at the summit. This makes it a very busy peak in the summer months when conditions are warmest. Mount Elbert winter hikes and
Avalanches in Colorado: 10 Top Tips to Stay Alive in Treacherous Terrain
The force of a Colorado avalanche is hard to comprehend. Thousands of tons worth of snow, ice, rock, and trees, barreling down a slope at speeds up to 200 miles per hour. There is no
