I had been gawking at literature for years about climbing the Colorado 14ers, a mountain which exceeds an elevation of 14,000 feet. I poured over maps, read the books from the Colorado Mountain Club, and made favorite lists in my Alltrails app. Half of my social media feed is hiking, biking, and being outdoors. What are my physical and mental limits? Is the discomfort pain and effort worth the view or achievement? Where do I get the experience to do these safely or do I just start with the “easier” ones and go for it?
