Fourteener

In less than 24 hours, my knees and I will be ascending Long's Peak with my little sister, her fiance, his Marine buddy and Marine buddy's girlfriend.  Yes, that's 3AM in Colorado.  Evidently, one must arrive at the peak before the afternoon in order to make it down in time.  The time I'm recalling in the informational recap rolling around inside my head encompasses a "cool, scary and monumental" adventure of roughly 16 hours.  I told my sister I'll focus on the cool and monumental part . . . but I'll be prepared for scary.  I think.

Now, my involvement in said outdoor trek came about two night ago when my sister called to say she had found an affordable airline ticket and wondered if I might want to join her little high altitude party on Saturday.  For me, who likes to plan and has plans stacked up into next year on her TO DO list of hobbies, chores and volunteering, THAT is pretty last minute.  But when how often does such an opportunity come round?  Especially pre-paid?!  A quick conference with the hubby left me with clearance for takeoff! (Though he made it abundantly clear just how much he detests caring for the animals . . . I think Hank is who he actually means . . . and Hank does require more attention than any pet we've previously owned, I must say.)

So, you'd think that boulder fields, and steep rocky paths, and a little thing that one climber called "the narrows" in the photo expose of HIS climb ( click here for pics: some other guy's adventure ) would rank as my main concern this morning.  Bu-u-u-t, NO.  In no specific order, perhaps even sharing pole position, my biggest challenges of the moment are packing and heartburn.

The heartburn comes courtesy of an all-day bake-and-cook fest for my only son's 17th birthday dinner party.  Lack of sleep, excitement and nervousness about the impromptu trip and hormones had me eating sugar from sun-up to sundown with a protein in between.  Not much in the way of fruits or veggies or whole grain. I did add flax seed to my cake and milk for lunch -- I believe flax can go anywhere -- and the addition of home-fried bacon bits in my Kentucky Delight ice cream proved to be a phenomenal combo!  I kid you not.  Would THIS face lie?

Or THIS face?

I did not, nor will I ever, prevaricate to garner sympathy and attention from my readers.

 No deception here.

 Surely THIS morning-hair is incapable of spreading untruth?

I paid the extra $20 to have the privilege -- because that's what the airlines make it seem like now -- of having a piece of luggage come along with me to Colorado.  And my borrowed internal-skeleton backpack from my daughter's boyfriend will be the most important item in that bag.  Followed by clothes for layering to meet any foreseeable weather conditions, including 45 degree temps as we draw near the summit, rain, sun, etc.  My living will (though it wasn't on the list).  Camera and lenses.  Carbo-rich food for energy.  Water.  Dry socks.  My iPhone.  Toilet paper and plastic bags for packing out.  A Swiss knife or comparable.  Maybe a small notebook and pen. Mini self-activating ice packs for my knees, which will be ensconced in flexible cloth braces.  And whatever else I'm instructed to include. This is my first true hike-climb of a "fourteener!"  I expect it to whup my hiney and plant itself firmly in my memory banks.  Wheee!

Below I've pasted a more-than-decent explanation of the whole fourteener thing.  I've always heard about them but never really expected to be a part of the movement.  This may be addicting and become a bucket list item.  As you scroll down, you'll see where the effects of altitude sickness are listed.  Yeah-h-h . . . I'm going in hydrated and staying that way.  As for the admonition at the very bottom of the write-up, no one has to tell me twice to avoid loose rock debris covering a slope!

So as I leave you dear readers to your day and go about the business of raiding my closet and dresser, please . . . say a little prayer for me and my climbing partners as we head out to tackle one of the less-than-easy mountains on the fourteener list.  Thanks.

FOURTEENERS

***Colorado has 54 mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet (known as "fourteeners" or "14ers" by locally) — the most of any state. Outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels will find peaks ranging from easy to very difficult, with hiking trails for exploring the state's scenery, wildlife and rugged beauty.

Some of the Colorado's best-known fourteeners include the tallest, Mount Elbert (14,433 feet); Pikes Peak (14,110), which inspired the poem "America the Beautiful"; and Longs Peak (14,255), which resides inside Rocky Mountain National Park.

The reward for reaching the summit of one of these giants? Some of the most breathtaking views you'll find anywhere on the planet. But it's important to know a few things before you head out to these massive Colorado fourteeners.

BE AWARE OF THE EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE

While climbing up a fourteener can lead you to breathtaking views, the thinner air can lead to altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is brought on by a lack of oxygen to your body and a failure to acclimate to air that has less oxygen. It can be caused by going too high, too fast.

The problem is, everyone's body has a different rate of acclimating, so it's important to be aware of any changes you feel. The most widely felt symptom is a headache, but other symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, marked fatigue and weakness. If you experience any of these, just follow the simple guidelines below and let others know you're not feeling 100 percent. Symptoms often improve once your body adapts to the higher elevation, but you need to be patient — and most importantly, keep hydrated and take it easy.

• Drink plenty of water; replenishing fluids helps to stabilize your body.

• Take it easy; don’t over-exert yourself.

• Experts recommend eating a high carbohydrate diet while at altitude.

• Keep alcohol intake and smoking to a minimum.

• Remember that altitude sickness can affect anybody, even top-flight athletes.

• Most importantly: if you're not feeling well, let someone know.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Colorado has the great fortune of having these 54 majestic fourteeners right in our backyard. But every year, an increasing number of hikers and climbers attempt to ascend one of these peaks, impacting the alpine environment. It is up to those who love these mountains to minimize damage to their fragile ecosystems. The Leave No Trace (LNT) program is dedicated to building awareness, appreciation, and most of all, respect for our public recreation places. It is not based on rules and regulations as much as attitude and awareness.

Please be sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles so that future generations can continue to enjoy Colorado's breathtaking mountains:

• Rest on rock, not on vegetation.

• Leave what you find, including flowers and berries.

• Pack out all food; don't throw it on the ground.

• Conduct bathroom stops at least 200 feet from bodies of water.

• Pack out toilet paper in plastic bags.

• Stay on designated trails and don't cut across switchbacks.

• Walk through puddles on the trail, not around them, to avoid creating wider or multiple trails.

• Spread out when walking in areas where there is no trail.

• Avoid loose rock debris covering a slope; use the most stable route.

For more information on the fourteeners in Colorado, including a complete list, visit the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.