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what 14,000er in co is closet to denver airport?

PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:32 am
by snoopdhani
I am going to be in denver for work for a few days, but dont have that much time travel. What is the closet 14,000er in relation to denver.

And how technical?
I would prefer just an easy/moderate hike as opposed to something more serious.
I will be in there in at the end of March. Thanks.

PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:44 am
by MarthaP
Hey, Snoop Doggie,

Take your pick. Mt. Evans. Greys. Torreys. Longs Peak. Even Quandary.

The question is how much of a sufferfest do you want? It's not exactly a drive-to-the-trailhead time of year.

Nothing's technical unless you're unfamiliar with winter conditions. Then, given March is the snowiest month in CO, you're pretty much dead.

What the hell? Do y'all think this is KANSAS? :shock:

PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 5:42 pm
by Buz Groshong
Hey, I don't know about what others think, but it seems to me that MarthaP is a bit pissed just because some guy posted a question here rather than doing a tiny bit of work researching the subject he wanted info on. Now, in spite of that, she gave him some very useful info. Probably shouldn't have, probably should have told him to go do his own research. After all, he wasn't looking for some sort of special inside info that only a local would know. Hell, a good map would have given him some answers; after that he could have looked up mountain pages here for some more info. That would have given him what he was asking for and maybe a bit more.

Just my $0.02 worth.

PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 5:58 pm
by stormflap
post question first. research later. the best way. i didnt know march was the snowiest month in Colorado... 8)

PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:47 pm
by MarthaP
Bierstadt's also a choice. Road is closed from the Georgetown side and, depending on conditions coming in from 285, will include more of the same type slogfest. So add that mileage on to a 6-mile R/T which, if the wind is howling up Guanella Pass, will take a lot longer than 6 hours.

Yeah, Buz, I was pretty pissed off last night. Had nothing to do with Snoop Doggie, at least not entirely...told my former boss to piss off after he sent me a pretty stupid email. He, too, had failed to do any research....

stormflap wrote:post question first. research later.


:lol: Stormy's had experience with this one - post question first, get ripped a new one, research later. :lol:

PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 11:16 pm
by Pivvay
Quandary is probably your best bet from a trailhead being open, trail being prepacked, time driven on the highway and lowest amount of distance to the summit "combined factors" standpoint.

That being said, March is a crapshoot if you want an easy hike on a 14er. Could be a cakewalk, could be brutal. Just depends on the current weather/snow conditions.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:24 am
by Steven Cross
It's hard to say what would mountain would be the best for you. It might help if you posted what difficulty you are comfortable at. Being march, you might want to consider a thirteener, like Mt. Sniktau, which has an easy approach and it not that long of a hike. There are lots of options here, more then just the fourteeners. If a fourteener is what you really want, you'll most probably really have to work for it.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:37 pm
by rasgoat
DO NOT ask questions on the SP forum UNTIL you have done at least a week of research first!. DAMMIT! I though everbody knew this.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:49 pm
by xDoogiex
stormflap wrote:i didnt know march was the snowiest month in Colorado... 8)


me either. learn something new everyday

PostPosted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:28 pm
by Day Hiker
xDoogiex wrote:
stormflap wrote:i didnt know march was the snowiest month in Colorado... 8)


me either. learn something new everyday


March is a snowy month in Hawaii too:

Image

20 March 2006

PostPosted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:29 am
by MarthaP

PostPosted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:53 am
by xDoogiex
Kinda scared to go to CO now

PostPosted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:56 am
by MarthaP
:lol: If the locals don't rip you a new one, the avalanches will. :lol:

Re: what 14,000er in co is closet to denver airport?

PostPosted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:20 pm
by Steven Cross
snoopdhani wrote: ...but dont have that much time travel.

And how technical?
I would prefer just an easy/moderate hike as opposed to something more serious.
I will be in there in at the end of March. Thanks.


This is really simple. If you don't have much time to travel, you don't have time to hike a 14er in March. There usually is not such thing as an easy/moderate 14er in March. If you would have done your research you would have known this. I would say your best bet for short travel, moderate hike would be Mt. Sniktau (13,234 feet), Colorado Mines Mtn. (12,497 feet) with the option of doing Mt Flora (13,146 feet). Snowshoes are recommended for these hikes. If you don't have snowshoes, and good winter gear you might want to just take a nice drive through the rockies.