I’m finally able to say I hiked a 14er, and all I can say is it was quite a challenge for me! While looking at the summit of Mount Bierstadt from the base, I totally blanked on the quick altitude change, cold and mental challenge ahead! I would like to think that I’ve acclimated to the altitude, but I’m usually in Denver which is only 5,280’ above sea level. The base of Mount Bierstadt was already at least 10,000′ above sea level!
As we were going up the mountain, I could feel the altitude change because I was literally out of breath every 100 yards! Since the air is getting thinner the higher up you go, the less oxygen you’re able to inhale and therefore, it takes a lot more time to get enough oxygen to keep up with your body. So less oxygen and hiking a mountain with a 2,000’ elevation gain will do it to ya!
Along with the thin air, it was quite windy and chilly! I was not expecting to wear a sweater the entire way up, and then adding another jacket on top of that! I also had ski gloves and a beanie to stay as warm as possible. The reason it was pretty chilly was that as we got higher on the mountain, it got colder and the wind started to pick up! When we summited the mountain, it was actually very calm and not very windy, but the very last part of the hike was so windy, my partner said he couldn’t feel his fingers and my cousin, Kelly said that was her least favorite part! I was cold the entire time, so I really couldn’t tell a difference, but I definitely got windburn from the last part of the hike!
I thought climbing Devils Garden Loop in Moab, Utah was a challenge, but this 14er definitely took all my effort to complete! The incline to the top of the mountain was not getting easier until we finally found the marker at the top and everyone was congratulating each other and making small talk because no 14er is easy to climb and we all made it!
Hiking Mount Bierstadt was my first and last time up that mountain! I honestly don’t want to deal with that cold again or that incline but another challenge for me would be to hit another 14er. Since everything about Mount Bierstadt was the first time for me, it was overwhelming but still very accomplishing. Making it to the top was the hardest part and the hike back down to the base was a breeze, except a little hard on the knees!
