This Saturday, July 4th 2015, I accomplished my last fitness goal that I set for myself in January. I hiked a 14er and made it to the summit! For those that don’t know, a 14er is a mountain that reaches over 14,000 feet above sea level. Denver, the Mile High City, is 5,280 feet above sea level. Today’s post will consist of some advice for hiking and an account of how it went.
Can I Hike?
Anyone can hike as long as you choose a path that’s right for you. Here’s some things to consider when choosing a path:
1. Distance – Now I know it sounds silly but don’t forget most trails are posted for length one way. Most hikes you double the distance for there AND back. Be really careful here. Just because you can walk 3 miles, doesn’t necessarily mean you can hike three miles. All of the things below will effect how difficult the hike is. When in doubt start small because you can always add distance but you don’t want to get stuck half way down a trail.
2. Altitude – If you will be hiking through an elevation change, there’s lots to consider. I don’t notice much of a difference if the change in altitude is 500 feet or less. Once it’s more than that, my body will notice. The higher the elevation, the less oxygen there is in the air. This makes it harder to breathe and some people even experience altitude sickness. Remember to drink TONS of water and listen to your body. If you’re starting at a higher elevation than you live, give yourself a while to acclimate before starting your hike. Then remember to take lots of breaks on the way up!
3. Expected Weather – Try to prepare for all kinds of weather. I recommend bringing all items in ziplocs and bringing extra for your feet in case of rain. Also, remember to layer your clothes. Every 500 feet up will bring the temperature down 5 degrees. It’s hard to plan for how cool it will be versus how hot you’ll be from hiking. Bring lightweight layers so you can dress appropriately for that part of the hike. Remember sunscreen, sun glasses and bug spray!
4. Topography – I don’t like to track how far I am on a hike because I find it very discouraging. However, I do like to look at the topography of the course before I start. There is usually a sign at the beginning of most trails with this information. I like to look for check points like streams, hills and valleys. That helps me know where I am on the trail without having to think about how much farther it is to go. Every part of the hike will take a different amount of time. A half mile here is not the same as a half mile there so don’t push yourself to make great time because you really can’t compare one to the other.
5. Terrain – Depending on the popularity of your trail, it’s terrain can really vary. An ‘open trail’ hike that no one ever goes on is going to be more like a ‘no trail’ hike. However, a ‘closed trail’ hike can often be much more open and obvious if tons of people have done it. The terrain should help you decide on proper footwear and clothing. The more ‘closed’ a trail, the more hiking you’ll actually be doing versus walking. The more woodsy a trail, the more clothes you’ll want to wear for shade and protection from bugs.
Some popular trails even have message boards where you can see how the trail looked the day before you do it. Don’t be afraid to bring too much stuff you’re first time as long as you can carry the weight. You’ll figure out what you really need the more times you hike.
Hiking Mount Bierstadt
Hiking a 14er (Mountain that reaches 14,000 feet) has been one of my goals since moving to Colorado. However, in January I set it as a goal for this year. After not-so-patiently waiting for the temperature to rise high enough to hike, we set a date to hike Mount Bierstadt on the 4th of July. I really thought it was going to be no big deal. I’ve done a half marathon, so how hard could it be?
Answer: FREAKING HARD
The first mile of Bierstadt isn’t so bad. It’s not much more than walking, step up here, walk across here, small steam here, mud there…….and then it get’s hard. The hike up Bierstadt is a 3 mile hike with 3,000 foot elevation gain. After that first mile, the gain in elevation started to get to me. We had to stop and take breaks A LOT. You feel like you’ve only gone 10 steps since the last time you stopped but then you look back and you’ve made it farther then you thought. You take a minute to catch your breath and then within a few more steps, you’re already huffing and puffing. There’s no training for altitude without practice. I had not had enough practice.
When you train for physical goals, it gives you a bottom to refer to. You’re thinking, “I can make it, it doesn’t suck as bad as that one time.” But when you haven’t trained, sometimes the event IS your bottom. I hit bottom during the second mile. There was a point where I didn’t really know if I could do it. I wouldn’t let myself give up or turn back but I really really really wanted to. The last stretch of Bierstadt is all boulders that you have to figure out for yourself. There’s no trail at this point but you can tell where to go because you’re almost to the top. This was actually the most fun part.
And then you make it to the top. There were 20-30 people at the summit when we arrived and lots of dogs. Everyone is celebrating what they’ve just done and taking pictures. It’s kind of fun to celebrate with everyone! AND THE VIEW!
I have never been anywhere so beautiful in my entire life! The hike was so hard but so worth it. Where else can you see and do this on a Saturday for fun? I love where I live!
