6 things To Know about Colorado Mountain Climbing
1. Altitude sickness is a very real thing.
The higher above sea-level one gets, the less oxygen there is in the air. This can lead to a
serious condition
called “altitude sickness.” In its mildest form, altitude sickness
tends to feel like a bad hangover. It will make you dizzy, lightheaded,
and achy. In it’s most serious form, altitude sickness can lead to
passing out and
even death.
This condition can effect anyone, regardless of physical fitness, and
it tends to be more prevalent when someone is physically active at a
high altitude. Most sources pinpoint 8,000 feet as the elevation where
symptoms start to show, but this can vary from person to person. A few
tactics to help prevent altitude sickness include acclimation (letting
your body get used to the higher altitude), drinking plenty of water and
consuming mostly carbs, as well as breathing deeper, thus giving your
body more oxygen (some even suggested a portable oxygen tank). Most
importantly, know the initial signs of altitude sickness and move to a
lower elevation immediately when they start to develop. Want to learn
more about altitude sickness? Click
here.
2. All mountains aren’t created equally.
Some mountains are much harder to climb than others. When you’re
trying to summit a peak, be aware of the route you’ll be taking,
planning ahead to know what it will require. Never underestimate a
climb, even if you’ve heard something along the lines of “it’s not that
bad.” One website that can be helpful with Colorado fourteeners is
14ers.com, which even has a
list ranking
the difficulty of all fourteener summits in the state. Some mountains
require years of training to tackle and many require technical climbing
where a single mistake can mean death. Study the mountain you’re wanting
to climb. Be aware of it’s features and be aware of whether or not
climbing it is within your skill level. A few Colorado fourteeners that
can be good for beginners include Grays Peak, Torreys Peak, Mount
Sherman, and Quandary Peak, but even these “easier” mountains can be
deadly.
3. Bad weather can kill you.
One of the biggest mistakes that beginners tend to make is not
understanding how high-altitude weather works. The general rule of thumb
tends to be “be back below treeline before noon,” with the reason being
that intense mountain storms tend to roll in like clockwork after that.
At first sign of bad weather, the smartest decision is often to turn
back, even when that means you might not bag a summit. Lightning, wind,
and freezing rain can kill you and many times these storms can appear
with little notice. Take this point especially seriously. Mountain
weather is not something to mess around with, regardless of your skill
level.
4. Don’t overestimate your abilities.
Yes, you’ve hiked a trail that’s 10 miles long…but that wasn’t a
rugged trek above treeline. Yes, you can run a half-marathon with
ease…but that half marathon doesn’t require slow scrambling over loose
rocks where speed simply isn’t an option. When you’re climbing a
Colorado mountain, expect some of the hardest terrain you’ll ever
encounter. There might be snow, ice, and loose rock that makes moving
even just a mile per hour seem fast. The only way to know how you’ll do
climbing in these conditions is to try it on the easiest possible scale
and then go from there. Getting in over your head on a mountain climb
can result in serious injury, necessity of an expensive rescue, or even
death. Be aware of your own abilities and don’t overestimate what you’re
capable of doing.
5. Always leave no trace.
Mountain trails are often very remote and difficult to clean. Never
leave anything behind, whether it’s a banana peel, leftover food, trash,
or feces. Because these ecosystems are relatively untouched, any
abnormality can have an impact. Follow the Leave No Trace
principles religiously and consider bringing along a trash bag to clean up after those that don’t.
6. Plan for the worst.
When you’re climbing a mountain, preparation is key. When things go
wrong, preparation can save your life. Bring food, water, and survival
tools with you. Tell people where you’re going and when you’ll be back
before you leave. Familiarize yourself with features of the landscape so
that you might still be able to determine direction when all else
fails. Here’s a
list of 13 survival tips
that we put together with the help of a helicopter rescue service. The
mountains aren’t the place to take caution lightly. If you’re careless,
you might not get a second chance.
