Happy Friday, friends! ☀️⛰️

The weekend is almost here! Where are you heading to get outside? Hitting a 14er? Chasing fall colors? Or just soaking in some fresh air close to home?

#Colorado14ers #OptOutside #TheNextSummit #WeekendWarriors

Have you ever regretted packing something heavy? What was it?

#Backpacking #TheNextSummit

Your Next Summit membership dues do double duty: they sharpen your own mountain skills and fund free webinars, safety campaigns, and public-lands advocacy that reach thousands of hikers every year.

If you care about confident, low-impact adventures for everyone, start here → https://thenextsummit.org/membership

#TheNextSummit #RecreateResponsibly #OutdoorEducation

Backcountry navigation? Altitude sickness? First aid? Leave No Trace? Members receive full, on-demand access to every lesson inside the Summit Skills Academy to learn at your own pace.

Enroll instantly when you join: https://thenextsummit.org/membership

#colorado14ers #leavenotrace #thenextsummit

Want to stop getting lost on the trail? Use *handrails* and *backstops*.

Handrails (like creeks or ridges) guide you; backstops (like roads or cliffs) stop you.

Plan with both before your hike to stay found, not lost. 🧭🏞️

#TheNextSummit #NavigationTips

🏔️ Planning your first 14er? May is the time to train.

✅ Hike weekly
🏋️ Build strength & core
🧘 Work on balance
⛰️ Get elevation when possible

Consistency now = safety later. Start strong!

#14erTraining #TheNextSummit #HikeColorado

🔥 A 40% drop in Forest Service firefighting capacity in CO puts us all at greater wildfire risk—just as fire season begins. Let’s hike smart, reduce fire risk & speak up for our public lands.

📖 https://www.koaa.com/advocates-of-accountability/teller-county-commissioner-says-forest-service-lost-40-firefighting-capacity-in-colorado-due-to-fed-cuts

#Colorado #WildfireRisk #TheNextSummit #ForestService #LeaveNoTrace

💦 Dreaming of waterfall hikes this spring? I rounded up 9 of the best waterfall trails in Colorado – from iconic cascades to hidden gems worth the trek.

📍Explore the full list: https://thenextsummit.org/best-colorado-waterfall-hikes-9-trails-with-stunning-views/

#ColoradoHiking #WaterfallWednesday #TheNextSummit

This land is your land—literally. 🏞️

Public lands are owned by all Americans. That means we have a shared responsibility to protect and preserve them.

⚠️ When they’re threatened, we speak up.

💪 Let’s defend our trails, forests, and mountains.

#TheNextSummit #DefendPublicLands #ColoradoOutdoors

🚨 The USDA just declared a logging “emergency” across 113 million acres of national forests.

That’s 60% of public lands—fast-tracked for timber harvest, with no public input.

We break down what it means & how to take action:
🔗 https://thenextsummit.org/the-usda-just-declared-a-logging-emergency-on-public-lands/

#PublicLands #TheNextSummit