| Colorado Mountain climbing can be a very | | | | very important. Just because you think you are |
| dangerous undertaking. There are ways for | | | | fit in Florida does not necessarily mean that your |
| almost anyone to climb a fourteener. On the | | | | Colorado vacations to 14,000 feet will leave you in |
| other hand people have died from dehydration, | | | | the same condition. Most climbs require several |
| altitude sickness, exposure and other problems at | | | | hours of climbing up. |
| lower elevations. | | | | Other safety precautions all new climbers on |
| The most important consideration is safety. This | | | | Colorado vacations should take include traveling |
| may sound like a broken record, but no | | | | with experienced climber with maps. Always plan |
| recreational activity is worth dying over. The | | | | out your day, with and early start and |
| weather and conditions on top of a peak can | | | | emergency contacts. Long hikes should start |
| change quickly, so every climber needs to be | | | | before sunrise. Most thunderstorms roll in in the |
| prepared to turn back if possible. Not scaling a | | | | afternoon, so if you can plan your decent before |
| peak does not ruin a Colorado vacation. Getting | | | | noon you will miss most of the weather. |
| frostbite does. No serious mountain climber would | | | | The forest service offers information on all trail |
| attempt a summit in stormy weather. The best | | | | heads. Some are not accessible by car or during |
| cure for altitude sickness is to get to lower | | | | certain parts of the year. You need some sort of |
| elevations. | | | | navigation equipment like a compass or GPS. Then |
| Colorado is a skiing mecca because of the | | | | know your route on a map and tell a friend. You |
| numerous rocky mountain skiing areas. However | | | | should know your Colorado hiking route so well |
| back country skiing poses numerous dangers. Just | | | | that on the first trip you recognize many |
| like hiking, before going skiing always notify | | | | landmarks. The forest service should also have |
| someone of where you will be and at what time | | | | information on avalanche dangers in the area. |
| you plan on returning. Colorado has more | | | | Some of the gear you will need on a hiking trip |
| avalanche deaths than any other state, and | | | | include lots of water. A hat to block the sun. |
| experience does not make you invincible. | | | | Gloves in case you have to climb up cold rocks. |
| Some new hikers should take mountaineering | | | | Read a hiking guide to see other important |
| classes. The Colorado Mountain Club offers such | | | | survival gear. |
| classes. At high altitudes physical conditioning is | | | | |