The mountains are more accessible during the summer, but severe afternoon thunderstorms are common. Wildlife in Fourteener country is plentiful. Black bear, mountain lion, mountain goat, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and elk are commonly spotted on the open slopes and in the fir and aspen forests. The mountain wilderness also includes abandoned mountain homesteads and ghost towns, remnants of the original Colorado settlers, who came to the region to mine gold and silver. The miners and Native Americans were the first to climb many of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks.

Words alone can not describe the beauty of the Colorado Rockies and its Fourteeners. The Colorado Mountain Photo Library website provides a collection of over 400 digital images of Colorado's Rocky Mountains that you can download for your own personal use. Featured are the Colorado "Fourteeners" and "Highest Hundred". Colorado Mountain Photo Library

Hiking the 14er's
Hiking Fourteeners can be a fun, challenging and rewarding experience. The view from the top of these high mountains is spectacular and the feeling of achievement upon reaching the top of a Fourteener is exhilarating. Some of these high mountains are so close to one another that experienced climbers have bagged more than one in a single day. To protect the unique alpine environment it is recommended that all visitors to these high places practice the principles of Leave No Trace identified later in this web page. There is no substitute for experience, all beginning Fourteener hikers and climbers should receive instruction before attempting their first climb or hire a local guide service. The Colorado Mountain Club trains thousands of climbers annually on how to safely and responsibly hike and climb Fourteeners. Each year the club's experienced trip leaders lead hundreds of Fourteener hikes. Visit their website for details on various programs they offer. Colorado Mountain Club  

To hike safely in the Colorado backcountry or up a 14,000 foot mountain it is necessary to plan your trip before you reach the trailhead. Define your group's goals and expectations, know the area and what to expect, carry and use appropriate equipment, and be prepared for adverse weather conditions that can be part of any trip into the high country. Virtually all backcountry accidents can be prevented through careful pre-trip planning. Fourteener climbs are challenging and require preparation, skill, and experience. For detailed information on how to safely hike a Fourteener, the best routes, and more, visit the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative website. 

General Backcountry Safety--This training program was prepared by Charley Shimanski of the Mountain Rescue Association Education Committee. It is an introductory course in backcountry safety for those with little or no experience in mountainous and backcountry terrain. This file is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file.

1. Observe local regulation and guidelines of Federal agencies or private owners.

2. Help to prevent trail erosion. Cutting across switchbacks creates serious erosion problems. Making duplicate paths should be avoided. Trails which cut across a slope where the angle is low will cause less erosion than those which cut across it where it is steep.

3. Protect the trees. Continuous use of belay and rappel anchors can damage and even kill trees. Tree climbing should not be a substitute for routes on rock.

4. Protect the alpine meadows. In general, the lower forested areas or the rocky alpine areas are more tolerant of use than the delicate sub alpine meadows and are therefore preferable for campsites.

5. Pack a stove. In many alpine and sub alpine areas, downed wood is in short supply. The lower dead branches of alpine trees are part of the natural scene and should be allowed to remain. Blackened campfire rings left in place are a sign of human impact on the wilderness environment; on the other hand, dispersing fire rings will damage the environment if many users are doing it.

6. Avoid polluting. Soap pollutes streams and lakes. Excrement should be buried a short distance into the top soil where natural processes will decompose it. All trash and garbage should be packed out. If it is buried, animals will dig up the soil to get at it.

7. Pack out litter left behind by thoughtless users, who unfortunately will always be with us.

8. Use restraint in the employment of climbing aids such as pitons and bolts which can permanently deface the rock and degrade the route for subsequent climbers.