Jul 16 2026
Mount Belford 🏔️ Overview Mount Belford is a high, broad-shouldered fourteener in the Collegiate Peaks of Colorado’s Sawatch Range. Rising above Missouri Gulch within the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, the mountain offers one of the most popular high-altitude hiking objectives near Buena Vista and Leadville. Although Mount Belford’s standard route does not require technical climbing, the …
Jul 16 2026
Mount Richthofen Mount Richthofen 🏔️ Overview Mount Richthofen is the highest summit in Colorado’s Never Summer Mountains, a rugged and geologically unusual range along the northwestern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. Rising to approximately 12,944 feet (3,945 meters), the mountain forms a dark, steep-sided landmark above the glacial basin surrounding Lake Agnes. Unlike many …
Jul 16 2026
Mount Columbia 🏔️ Overview Mount Columbia is a 14,073-foot summit in Colorado’s Collegiate Peaks, a celebrated group of mountains in the central Sawatch Range. Located northwest of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, the peak rises within the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest. Although Mount Columbia is lower and less topographically independent than …
Jul 16 2026
Mount Powell 🏔️ Overview Mount Powell is the highest mountain in Colorado’s rugged Gore Range. Rising to approximately 13,556 feet (4,132 meters), this prominent thirteener stands within the Eagles Nest Wilderness north of Vail. Although Mount Powell falls nearly 450 feet short of fourteener status, it is one of the most topographically significant summits in …
Jul 15 2026
Highest Mountains by Continent 🏔️ Overview From the snow-covered giants of the Himalayas to the ice-clad peaks of Antarctica, every continent is home to mountains that define its landscape and inspire climbers from around the world. These highest summits are more than just impressive elevations—they are symbols of geology, exploration, culture, and human endurance. The …
Jul 15 2026
A hiking map does much more than show the name of a trail. A good map reveals how trails connect, where the terrain climbs or descends, which waterways cross the route, how far alternative exits are, and what natural or human-made features may help you determine your location. Modern hikers can choose from printed trail …
Jul 14 2026
Hats and gloves may be small compared with boots, backpacks, and jackets, but they can make a major difference in comfort and safety. A sun hat protects the face, ears, and neck from ultraviolet exposure, while an insulated hat reduces heat loss in cold and windy conditions. Gloves protect the hands from cold, rain, snow, …
Jul 13 2026
Rain can turn a comfortable hike into a cold and potentially dangerous experience. Wet clothing loses warmth, trails become slippery, visibility decreases, and falling temperatures or strong winds can increase the risk of hypothermia. Good rain gear helps prevent outside moisture from soaking your clothing while also allowing some of the heat and perspiration produced …
Jul 12 2026
Seven Second Summits Many climbers dream of completing the Seven Summits—the highest mountain on each continent. But among experienced alpinists, an even greater test of mountaineering skill has emerged: the Seven Second Summits. Rather than climbing each continent’s highest peak, the challenge is to climb the second-highest independent mountain on every continent. Surprisingly, many of …
Jul 12 2026
Seven Summits For many mountaineers, no challenge is more iconic than climbing the Seven Summits—the highest mountain on each of Earth’s seven continents. From the icy glaciers of Antarctica to the towering Himalayas, the Seven Summits represent the ultimate global mountaineering goal. Successfully completing the Seven Summits requires far more than strength and endurance. Climbers …
