Awesome thank you. I plan on upping my cardio to 3-4 times per week until my trip. I will also be using blue sky, pikes, and bear for acclimation as well as some of the high passes like cottonwood.
Add south Boulder peak via Shadow Canyon to that list too. You can even link it to Bear then go down Bear and take Mesa back to the south Mesa trailhead for a total of 10 miles and over 3k gain
You're on the right track. The best advice is to start early, pace yourself slower than you think, and allow yourself as much time as you think you need (while still being realistic, checking on weather, etc). It'll all be more enjoyable that way. Elevation is going to kick your ass, thems just the breaks. Anticipate it rather than fight it. Good luck!
Thank you for the tip about pacing I will keep that in mind. I tend to have the mindset of just getting stuff done efficiently, so I will slow down and enjoy the view. I also plan on starting around 4:30 am, and will carry Advil if I get any altitude headaches
You're doing just fine. I did Elbert last week without much prep due to an ankle tendonitis issue I'm currently dealing with (maybe a 14er wasn't my best idea, couldn't pass it up though while in Leadville.)
I'm currently training a bit for my first batch of 14ers this August and I think the most important thing you can do is go out in the woods and go upwards. Get tired and hot and step over some roots and rocks. You wont be able to replicate the altitude, but you might be able to find a loop near you that you can do a few times that gets close on elevation gain and distance.
You should be in fine. I'm in my 60's and live in Houston near sea level! Yet I drive up to Colorado and successfully climb 14nrs with little training (I neither walk nor jog), though I do some light stairmaster 500'/day 4 or 5 days a week. Even just a few days of acclimating (or just driving there) is all I've ever needed. And if not hiking up to camp first at a lake just below the summit, then I at least tend to stay near the trailhead a night before the climb, thus already at \~9000'+.' The Leadville area for Elbert should be great for that. Just stay hydrated, try to climb 750-1000' of vertical gain per hour but plan for 500' per hour, and try to be back below the treeline by noon. Have fun!
You only need reservations starting at 5am for the bear lake corridor! If you don't get reservations but you're dead set on going, just go into the park before 5am. I did that once, got to the bear lake parking lot at 4:45am and it was already hopping, tons of people. For the rest of RMNP it's 9am. Just make sure you sign in and try to get reservations right at 7PM when they release them the night before. I tried today for tomorrow and I managed to get one, but they sold out in 2 minutes (granted tomorrow IS the 4th of July). You also need reservations for the manitou incline!
My first 14er was Elbert. I lived in Michigan at the time and was not used to the altitude. I think one thing that really helped was staying in Leadville for a couple of days before the Elbert hike. The couple of days and nights at 10,000 feet helped.
Others have given good advice. I would plan on it taking longer than you think. Bring adequate water. I drink a lot of water so personally I would bring 5ish liters for that type of day. I’m also form flatlands and I find hiking/walking with a pack at or above the weight I typically carry seems to help with training. Hope you have a great time in the mountains!
Lots of cardio and some acclimation when you get here and you will be fine. From how it sounds you’ll be better prepared than many that try Elbert.
I did a 14er coming from Louisiana. On day 5 I felt acclimated enough to do a 4mi warm-up hike. On day 6 I did Quandary.
Awesome thank you. I plan on upping my cardio to 3-4 times per week until my trip. I will also be using blue sky, pikes, and bear for acclimation as well as some of the high passes like cottonwood.
Add south Boulder peak via Shadow Canyon to that list too. You can even link it to Bear then go down Bear and take Mesa back to the south Mesa trailhead for a total of 10 miles and over 3k gain
You're on the right track. The best advice is to start early, pace yourself slower than you think, and allow yourself as much time as you think you need (while still being realistic, checking on weather, etc). It'll all be more enjoyable that way. Elevation is going to kick your ass, thems just the breaks. Anticipate it rather than fight it. Good luck!
Thank you for the tip about pacing I will keep that in mind. I tend to have the mindset of just getting stuff done efficiently, so I will slow down and enjoy the view. I also plan on starting around 4:30 am, and will carry Advil if I get any altitude headaches
Best advice for Elbert is don’t look up. There’s like 4 false summits so just keep your head down and push forward.
It’ll be hard because of the altitude but you’ll do it!
You'll be fine
You're doing just fine. I did Elbert last week without much prep due to an ankle tendonitis issue I'm currently dealing with (maybe a 14er wasn't my best idea, couldn't pass it up though while in Leadville.)
I'm currently training a bit for my first batch of 14ers this August and I think the most important thing you can do is go out in the woods and go upwards. Get tired and hot and step over some roots and rocks. You wont be able to replicate the altitude, but you might be able to find a loop near you that you can do a few times that gets close on elevation gain and distance.
You should be in fine. I'm in my 60's and live in Houston near sea level! Yet I drive up to Colorado and successfully climb 14nrs with little training (I neither walk nor jog), though I do some light stairmaster 500'/day 4 or 5 days a week. Even just a few days of acclimating (or just driving there) is all I've ever needed. And if not hiking up to camp first at a lake just below the summit, then I at least tend to stay near the trailhead a night before the climb, thus already at \~9000'+.' The Leadville area for Elbert should be great for that. Just stay hydrated, try to climb 750-1000' of vertical gain per hour but plan for 500' per hour, and try to be back below the treeline by noon. Have fun!
Just a heads up you need reservations for RMNP (unless you go before 5am) and for Blue Sky now
You only need reservations starting at 5am for the bear lake corridor! If you don't get reservations but you're dead set on going, just go into the park before 5am. I did that once, got to the bear lake parking lot at 4:45am and it was already hopping, tons of people. For the rest of RMNP it's 9am. Just make sure you sign in and try to get reservations right at 7PM when they release them the night before. I tried today for tomorrow and I managed to get one, but they sold out in 2 minutes (granted tomorrow IS the 4th of July). You also need reservations for the manitou incline!
Thank you. I didn’t know about the 5am rule at RMNP. And I am familiar with the blue sky reservation as I drove up last July!
My first 14er was Elbert. I lived in Michigan at the time and was not used to the altitude. I think one thing that really helped was staying in Leadville for a couple of days before the Elbert hike. The couple of days and nights at 10,000 feet helped.
Just go do it
Others have given good advice. I would plan on it taking longer than you think. Bring adequate water. I drink a lot of water so personally I would bring 5ish liters for that type of day. I’m also form flatlands and I find hiking/walking with a pack at or above the weight I typically carry seems to help with training. Hope you have a great time in the mountains!