Mike Nelson's Colorado-Climbing Your 1st 14er

Have you climbed a 14er yet? Many hikers can you tell exactly how many they've done. A 14er is one of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks. There are 54 of them in the state. One expert says, "Colorado is truly the home of America’s high country—of all the land 10,000 above sea level, 75% of it is right here in Colorado."

While 7NEWS meteorologist Mike Nelson hasn't tried one yet, 7NEWS forecaster Lisa Hidalgo can now say she's climbed one.

At just before 7 a.m. on a Thursday morning, Lisa, 7NEWS photographer Jim Hucks and TJ Rapoport of the Colorado's 14ers Initiative left the trail head parking lot for Grays and Torreys, four miles away or as Rapoport describes it, "It's going to be basically five hours on a treadmill and it's going to be terrific." Grays & Torreys were named for two botanists, Gray and Torrey, who had been exploring the area in the 1860s.

Even though Lisa, Hucks and Rapoport did the hike on a weekday, there were a lot of people on the trail. They met one man who has climbed every single Colorado 14er, his wife has only two to go. TJ says the sport is growing and while that's great, it's also leaving more than just footprints on these peaks. Rapoport is the Executive Director for the Colorado 14ers Initiative, a group dedicated to protecting and preserving the 14ers. "With all of the people climbing Fourteeners these days, it is critically important that climbers do their part to Leave No Trace in Colorado’s high country. People can learn more about the challenges facing Colorado’s tallest mountains by getting involved with CFI’s Partnership for Preservation as a donor or volunteer. No one who’s worked hard to help build a switchback on a gourteener will ever cut a switchback again! We still have several volunteer opportunities available on fourteeners this season. I hope many 7News viewers come out to join us!”

For a hike at this altitude you need lots of sunscreen, at least two to three liters of water and food for energy. Being in shape helps too, at 14,270 feet, each breath you take has 12 percent less oxygen than you would have at sea level.

Formed in 1994, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is a partnership among nonprofit organizations, concerned individuals, and public agencies to protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado’s Fourteeners and the quality of the recreational opportunities they provide. In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, CFI has completed impact studies on all of Colorado’s 54 Fourteeners. Using criteria on resource damage, rate of change, impacts to threatened, endangered, or sensitive species, and U.S. Forest Service priorities at the district level, CFI has identified 35 heavily impacted peaks and basins for priority action. For more information about the Colorado 14ers Initiative, click here.

Goals of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Programs:
- Restore damaged and eroded areas to protect sensitive alpine plant ecosystems from further degradation.
- Establish well-delineated, sustainable hiking routes that maintain the challenge and adventure associated with climbing the peaks, while providing for long-term protection of alpine resources.
- Educate hikers on sustainable recreation practices and Leave No Trace principles.
- Maintain and monitor routes and ensure their long-term sustainability.
- Create a structure for local community awareness and involvement in Fourteener stewardship.

For more information about climbing Grays click here.

For more information about climbing Torreys click here.