Hey Team,
We’re just about one month out from the annual 14er Challenge, and I couldn’t be more excited! This year, we have the opportunity for participants to really push themselves—if they choose to. However, it’s important to remember that pushing ourselves in the gym is very different from pushing ourselves in the backcountry.
Here are a few tips to prepare for the trip:
This year, we’ll have an option to summit two peaks if you’re up for the challenge. Mount Columbia will be the main peak and the first one we tackle, but if you’re feeling good, Mount Harvard is just about 2.75 miles away.
A few things to keep in mind…
1. Trail Length & Time Commitment
The Mount Columbia trail itself is one of the longer trails we’ve done, measuring 12 miles. Last year, we did 10 miles, and in previous years, it ranged from 7 to 9 miles. If you decide to do both summits, you’ll be hiking a total of 15 miles. To put that into perspective, last year, I hiked at around 0.8 mph, which would’ve taken me roughly 18 hours and 45 minutes to complete—far too long to be on the mountain. To successfully summit both peaks, you’ll need to average more than 1 mph.
2. Trail Routes
If you do both Columbia and Harvard, you will descend a different trail than the one you took up (the trail will follow a “lollipop” shape). If you only summit Columbia, you’ll return via the same trail you hiked up.
3. Elevation Changes
When summiting Columbia, you’ll reach an elevation of 14,075 feet, then drop 1,500 feet in elevation. From there, you’ll need to hike back up to 12,275 feet to summit Harvard—an additional 1,800 feet of elevation gain. For some additional perspective, that means you’ll be hiking 3 miles longer and gaining 1,800 feet of elevation. Based on past experience and trip reports, this will add 2 to 4 hours to your hike.
I hope this gives you a realistic sense of the challenge. The goal here is to motivate you to either consider the challenge carefully or to encourage you to prepare differently than years past.
Training Tips:
To help you prepare, I recommend adding a few extra workouts to your routine over the next month leading up to the challenge. Two key components of your training should focus on:
-Longer, Sustained Workouts (getting used to the grind).
-Time on Your Feet (endurance and stamina).
Hiking this year’s 14er will take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours, and what hurts people the most on the mountain is not stopping—it’s the time spent on your feet. Maintaining a consistent pace, even when it feels tedious, is key.
Training Overview:
Remember, consistency is key. Short bursts of high-intensity work aren’t as effective as longer, slower, and more consistent training. This is also a mental challenge—learning to embrace the “boredom” of long hikes is crucial. A lot of people don’t make it to the top because they start getting frustrated with how much further they have to go. “I still have ___ miles/hours left…” or “I’m breathing hard now, how will I feel in two hours?” Don’t let these thoughts get in the way. If you’re prepared for the long haul and comfortable with the pace, you’ll be able to control those thoughts more easily.
Extra Workouts Outside of Class:
-Heavy pack walks: Once a week, go for a 60-120 minute walk with a heavy pack on your back.
-Accumulate 10-14 miles per week running or walking. When running, focus on time (not distance) and keep the pace easy enough to hold a conversation (think Zone 1 or 2 effort).
This additional training will help build the stamina and mental toughness required for success on the mountain.
Lastly, if you haven’t already committed to joining us this year, it’s not too late. Sign up using our google form here.
See you on the trail,
Jason & The CFN Team