The only thing that qualifies me to write seriously about hiking up 14ers is that I’ve managed to haul myself up 10 of them—and plan to do more. For people who hate the mountains, a 14er is a peak that exceeds 14,000 feet above sea level. Colorado has 54 of them, and you can walk or climb up to the top of all of them.

Surmounting one of these peaks can be a mind-altering experience, depending on your perspective. I’ve sat on the summit of a 14er and contemplated God. I’ve also stood on a peak thinking I was about to regurgitate a Clif Bar 1,000 feet off the side.

Regardless of physical and metaphysical consequences, undertaking a 14er is serious business, no matter which one you choose to do. So, I’ve put together this helpful list to move people from thinking about hiking a 14er into the realm of hiking a 14er. Follow these steps, and you’ll avoid the mistakes other hikers are prone to make the first time out. WARNING: HIKING 14ERS CAN BE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

1. Become a waterbaby. Drink lots of non-alcoholic fluids the day before your trip—and keep drinking them throughout your journey. How much do I drink/take? Basically, I don’t want my pee to have any coloration. On the mountain, I take three liters. Staying hydrated ameliorates the effects of altitude and helps you stay strong on the trails.
2. Goop up. Brings lots and lots of sunblock of at least 30 SPF. The sun on a 14er can be brutal, and in early parts of the season, you can also get charred by the reflected sun off the snow. Burns sustained on 14ers are immensely painful, so, trust me, apply and re-apply. And re-apply.
3. Get “Colorado’s 14ers” by Gerry Roach. To me, this is the be-all and end-all of 14ers guidebooks. It provides directions to trailheads, popular routes, trail descriptions, difficulty ratings and a helluva lot more. As you choose your adventures, you’ll get as close to this book as Southern Baptists get to Revelations. You’ll pick up on Roach’s wry sense of humor (Ex. “If you value your car, park here.”) and stern admonishments (Ex. “This is a long, arduous trek on a high, real mountain.”). For my money, it’s the best guidebook ever written.
4. Talk to the rangers. Lots and lots of 14er hikers I know don’t bother to call ahead and talk to the Forest Service or Park Service Rangers. I’ve often found them to be incredibly helpful in terms of helping to decide which mountain to climb. They can also tell you about access road conditions, avalanche hazards and even parking.
5. Use the Web. An excellent resource, www.14ers.com , provides useful information such as weather, trip reports, routes and more. I use it mostly to read the on-line trip reports. You can often gain a lot of insight about trail conditions by reading about someone else’s pain-in-the-ass day of postholing or their rapturous ascent to the top of the world. Looking at the pictures is a huge time waster, though.
6. Store energy. The night before a hike, I try to load up on carbs. For me, that means lots of pasta. Eat a good breakfast, too. And eat plenty of snacks on the way to the top. Keeping your body fueled will help you make it to the summit. I usually bring about 4 Clif Bars, but nutty trail mix is good, too. Lots of people bring beef jerky, but it makes me thirsty so I shy away from it.
7. Allow plenty of time. Make sure you get an early start. I try to be on the trail no later than 5:45 a.m. This allows you to get up and down most 14ers before the 2 p.m. summer thunderstorms roll in. Believe me, the last place you want experience lightning is above treeline. This situation is extremely dangerous. Experienced climbers who’ve climbed some of the world’s highest mountains have died because of lightning hubris.
8. Camp High. I’ve found that camping at 10,000 feet or above the night before your ascent will alleviate many of the effects of altitude sickness. For some reason, sleeping in the thin air really seems to help your body acclimate.
9. Shoes for Walking. Wear a good pair of lightweight hiking shoes that you’ve broken in. New shoes will kill your feet on a mountain. Buy your shoes and wear around town or on less intense hikes for about a month before you take them to the top. I also always wear shoes that cover my ankles. If you don’t do this, you’ll quickly and painfully come to understand why they’re called the Rocky Mountains. High-top shoes will help you avoid sprained ankles.
10. Know your limits. If a trail is too steep and you’re getting heart pangs, turn around. If the weather isn’t looking favorable, turn around. If you look to your left and see a 1,000-foot drop and it stops you in your tracks, turn around. Remember, this is supposed to fun. If you can’t take another step or the heights are too much or the weather looks shitty, go back to the car and try the mountain a different day. Don’t ever take risks based on ego. Pick off the peaks at your own pace. And don’t let any peer pressure or those snide, holier-than-thou mountain climbers in Boulder goad you into a poor decision.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. By all means, seek out the advice of other mountaineers who’ve trekked into the heavens.You live in Colorado. And 14ers are 54 reasons why it’s so damn fun to live here. If you’re smart and resilient, you’ll fall in love with them over and over again.

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