Interest in CO 14ers or Whitney? (I don't have a permit)

GoalHiking · Post by **GoalHiking** » Fri Jul 24, 2026 2:54 pm

I'm current heading towards CO and if I and my car make it I'd like to do some of the more challenging 14ers. For the ones that are Class 3+/4 I'd like a partner(s) just for safety. If anyone else is headed that way, please let me know.

I'd also be interested in hiring a guide, and in that case I'd like a partner to split the costs. E.g., Capitol is $1800 and they really only want to do it as an overnight. Pyramid is about half that but even so it seems really pricey for something that I *might* be able to do solo (at a good deal of risk).

Then, once again assuming I & my car hold out, I'd swing around to get the ID, UT, and/or NV highpoints. The first is a Class 3 ridge, UT is an annoying Class 2 hike of 25 mi RT that I'd do as a day hike (the first several miles doesn't gain much elevation), and NV's greatest challenge appears to be the road and the remoteness.

Then, I'd be interested in doing Whitney if anyone has a permit or I can find one. If possible I'd like to do the MR in a day but considering the permitting situation I'm flexible.

LMK

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Fri Jul 24, 2026 9:25 pm

Colorado has some pretty awesome 14ers. I follow a group on facebook and they are very helpful with questions regarding the peaks.
I love Colorado and wish I could climb some of them. Good luck and have fun!

GoalHiking · Post by **GoalHiking** » Sun Jul 26, 2026 8:55 pm

Thanks but I don't use FB. They blocked an account under my real name, accusing me of impersonating myself. For another account I used a fake name and bought some FB ads. They blocked that too. They blocked a Threads account for no discernible reason. They temporarily suspended an Instagram account, accusing me of trying to get followers. I'd suggested to Friends of Griffith Park that they hold events during the week, apparently that'd questionable per Instagram. And, in all cases they want to see govt ID to restore the accounts. So, no biometrics for you, Zuck.

On a less soapboxy note, I started with the NM highpoint earlier today: I hope to do OK tomorrow, then Handies or Sneffels a couple days later. Elbert is also at the top of my list.

https://goalhiking.org/g/wheeler-peak-nm

GoalHiking · Post by **GoalHiking** » Wed Jul 29, 2026 9:20 pm

I did a CO 14er today, and then took a nature hike at Black Canyon of the Gunnison. I wasn't blown away by the park. The 14er is Handies and the road to it was no joke at all.

Post by **JeffH** » Thu Jul 30, 2026 8:05 pm

I thought you were planning only Colorado peaks. Now this reminds me of a trip I did many years ago, scaled the high points of AZ, NM, OK, KS and CO. Elbert was nice just because it's the highest, nothing more than a long walk up. I liked the drive to and hike up Wheeler in NM, took the steep way down past Williams Lake. Borah Peak in Idaho is hard because it's relentlessly steep, plus some adventure on chicken-out ridge. I did that one when It was still icy, wind blew so hard on the way down we were just covered in dust and sand.

GoalHiking · Post by **GoalHiking** » Fri Jul 31, 2026 7:30 pm

I did AZ->NM->OK. The OK HP was closed due to the heat; see my Reddit post at r/highpointers (or something like that). I also visited where CO/NM/OK meet. Now I'm in CO for a week or so. I've been in the south part of the state because I have to pick something up.

And, it's not going great: today I failed on this peak that another member here did last year:

https://ironhiker.blogspot.com/2025/08/ ... ls-co.html

Unlike him, my Subaru Forester couldn't even make it to that lot & I had to park way down. I also got a late start. So, as I was 500' below the peak and clouds started to roll in, I decided to turn around. Another thing that hurt me was mistakenly wearing my old boots that are like bowling shoes. That scree field is hellacious. Sadly, I turned around just as it was getting into bigger, more solid rocks. Sadly, I didn't make it up to the infamous v-notch.