This is what "unprepared" feels like?
Quandary Peak, Colorado That looks doable, right? .... Right? Oi. That is Quandary Peak, one of the most accessible "14ers" out there (that is, a 14,000+ elevation summit). Otherwise known as "the place I hope to be on Saturday." It's a class 1 hike, so for most purposes, not technical at all, it's a straight hike (i.e., no ropes, no rappelling, probably not even any bouldering or scrambling). That said, it's a vertical hike. Obviously. Notice the delightful lack of switchbacks up there. 6.3 mile out-and-back hike. 3,333ft elevation. So that's, what, 500ft per mile. That's really not too bad. Right? I'm sure it's fine. I'm completely calm. How do you even assess if you're ready for a mountain climb? I suppose you assess it by climbing a mountain. Preparation Me and my main hiking companions. Bree--immediately behind me--hits the backpacking trails with me. Lucy--far right--is my mountaineering partner. Lucy and I are committe
