Hiking A 14'er Alone: My First Solo Summit
Posted
by
WinterWomen
on Wednesday, September 24, 2014
This past weekend, I did something I never thought I would do: hike a fourteener solo.
If you would have told me last year at this time how much my life would be changing in the next year (and that I would be hiking a fourteener alone in twenty fourteen), I would have laughed. I do not usually like change.
However, this year has ended up being full of big changes for me--the biggest being my move out of the house I shared with my boyfriend of five years. With that came a search of my new identity, and finding out who I truly am as an individual, and not who I was in a partnership.
One of the greatest pleasures in this journey of becoming my own person has been taking risks outside my comfort zone and pushing my boundaries. For a woman who didn't like change much, I was making leaps and bounds! And one thing I've realized about myself in the past few months? I really like new adventures.
My third fourteener (and first alone) that I summited was Quandary Peak. At 14,265 feet, Quandary Peak sits right outside Breckenridge, CO, a little less than a two hour drive from Denver. With the snow and cold fast approaching, I knew this was one of my last chances to make it up there for the season. The weather was predicted to be sunny and warm, so what better day for me to find a little inner peace and do some soul searching?
I prepared my food, pack, and clothing the night before, and was on the road at 4:15am. It was an unbelievably serene drive up to the mountains alone; it was so peaceful that I drove in silence the entire time.
Arriving at the trailhead with the early morning hours still as dark as midnight, my nerves calmed down as I saw a few other cars parked and fellow hikers getting out of their cars and getting ready to begin the hike. I was pleasantly surprised at the small amount of people at the trailhead, since fourteeners on a warm, Saturday day are usually fairly packed and the hikers look like little ants marching up a hill.
I began the hike around 6:15am with the help of my flashlight. Although it was still dark outside, I knew sunlight was fast approaching and I wanted to get a good head start. For the majority of the hike, I was alone--completely alone. I absolutely loved the solitude of being isolated in the mountains during sunrise. The peace and quiet surrounding me in the wilderness was indescribable.
It couldn't have been a better morning with the weather. Clear blue skies and no wind make for a beautiful, breathtaking morning above treeline!
So, needless to say, I was taken quite off guard--when fully lost in the moment at an altitude of around 13,000 feet--I came face to face with a mountain goat.
This furry (and rather large) mountain goat was walking slowly down the mountain on the trail. I moved off the trail to the left to give the goat the right of way heading down. Mountain goats, known to be attracted to salt, can get curious--and aggressive--towards humans.
The goat ended up walking up towards where I was standing off the trail, so I slowly made my way back down to the trail to get out of the way. The goat and I safely passed each other, but not without me being close enough for me to see his or her chest moving up and down with every breath. That was something I had never come close to experiencing before.
Once I safely passed the goat on the mountain, I had the last big stretch of uphill hiking before reaching the summit. This is when I finally had to stop and eat half of my PB&J sandwich--I suddenly needed that surge of energy to get me to the top.
At last--I had finally made it to the top! It was the best weather I've ever experienced on a fourteener--warm, sunny, and zero wind. I met some new friends on top of the summit, and stayed up there for about 45 minutes enjoying the stunning view. I found the perfect rock to sit on to finish my sandwich and munch on trail mix, while savoring--and fully living--in the moment.
The hike down was just as enjoyable for me as the hike up. Due to the later time in the morning, I passed several hikers summiting while I was on my way down. However, it was still early, so the skies stayed clear blue and the temperatures were perfect (not hot, but definitely not cold--a good mix of warm and sunny).
As I made my way back down in elevation and into the trees, I was thrilled to see the changing colors of the Aspen trees. It was peak time for the fall colors! All of this I had missed on my way up, since I began the hike in the dark.
I was on cloud nine when I arrived back at my car (and was able to take off my hiking boots!). I was proud of myself for taking the plunge, the risk, and venturing out to 14,000 feet on my own. More than just a hike, this accomplishment symbolized things deeper in my life than I had planned. It was confirmation that I am an independent person and can do things on my own--without any companion or partner. It made me realize that I am OK by myself.
Don't be afraid to venture out and do something you've never done before. You are stronger than you think! When you allow yourself to take a risk and head into the unknown, you'll be amazed at what you can do mentally and physically, and what you will gain spiritually and with your own self-awareness.
Have you ever hiked a fourteener alone, or gone on a soul-searching adventure by yourself? Let us know in the comments below!
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