Friends of CAIC Reminder:
Wednesday is the deadline to enter the Friends of CAIC spring fundraiser raffle. Every $20 donation = one entry to win backcountry gear worth over $16,000 total.

CAIC's avalanche forecasts save lives every single day across Colorado. If you've ever checked the forecast before a backcountry trip, consider giving back.

Donate here:
https://community.friendsofcaic.org/campaign/768696/donate

#KnowBeforeYouGo #14ers #BePrepared

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqg09MobjA

Along the Colorado Trail, many of the state’s tallest mountains are easy to access even as a side trip to backpackers. Mount of the Holy Cross is NOT one of them! But that’s all the more reason for THE LONG RANGER to detour off the Colorado Trail in an attempt to summit Holy Cross by foot, starting outside the town of Breckenridge many, many miles […]

Colorado is boosting funding for its volunteer search and rescue teams with the first BSAR fee increase in nearly 40 years.

Here’s a full breakdown of what the shift means for safety and sustainability: https://thenextsummit.org/colorado-quadruples-backcountry-rescue-fee-to-shore-up-volunteer-sar-teams/

#SearchAndRescue #14ers #ColoradoSAR

New to Colorado fourteeners? My step-by-step beginner guide covers planning, packing, timing, and what to do when things go sideways. Save it and come back to each section as you plan for 2026.

Start here: https://thenextsummit.org/how-to-climb-a-14er/

Share with a partner who is eyeing their first summit next month.

#14ers #BeginnerHiker #TrailSafety

A game that took me to Colorado’s peaks!

I spent two weeks on a beautiful adventure exploring mountains, and I have 14ers to thank for it. Read about my journey from a novice climber to reaching peaks of over 14,000 feet, all from the tabletop!

Read my review article: https://pnptime.com/14ers-game-review/

#printandplay #kickstarter #mountainclimbing #colorado #14ers #traveling #boardgames #tabletopgaming

Thinking about tackling Colorado’s highest peak this winter? Mount Elbert is doable, but not without preparation. My guide covers:
✅ Gear for subzero conditions
✅ Route advice for snow & ice
✅ Safety considerations for short days

Start planning:
https://thenextsummit.org/mount-elbert-winter-guide/

#WinterHiking #14ers

Colorado's 14ers give us:
✅ Wild views
✅ Solitude
✅ A challenge

What do they ask in return? Respect.

7 simple Leave No Trace rules keep our summits intact 🌄 thenextsummit.org/how-to-climb-a-14er/leave-no-trace-ethics-for-14ers/

Which one do you see broken most often?

#LeaveNoTrace #14ers

🎒 Climbing a 14er this fall? Weather changes fast in September — don’t get caught unprepared. G

rab my free 14er Gear Checklist + pack with confidence: https://thenextsummit.org/what-gear-do-i-need-to-hike-a-14er/🏔️

What’s YOUR must-have item?

#14ers #HikingGear

In 1963, Harvard alumni hauled a 14-foot pole to the summit of Mount Harvard to jokingly claim it taller than Mt. Elbert. The pole stood for almost 20 years: One of Colorado’s tallest college pranks!

Note: This is an AI-generated image (no known photos of the pole exist).

#14ers #ColoradoHistory