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Week 13
Gear Articles Resources

Training Articles

Find expert tips and guides for your 14er journey.

Learn from our comprehensive collection of training advice, nutrition tips, gear reviews, and summit strategies.

Editor's Pick

My First Colorado 14er: What I Wish I Knew

This story shares altitude, pacing, weather, and gear lessons from a humbling Pikes Peak attempt. It is our most-read story for first-timers.
Nutrition

14er Nutrition Guide: What to Eat Before and After

What to eat before, during, and after your first 14er, including the best trail snacks and a sample food packing list for summit day.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Health & Safety

Altitude Sickness Prevention Through Training

Fitness will not make you immune to altitude sickness. Learn what training does, how to acclimatize, and which warning signs mean it is time to descend.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Training Tips

Couch to 14er Training Plan: 13-Week Beginner Guide

This free couch to 14er training plan takes you from zero fitness to summit in 13 weeks. Workouts, altitude prep, and gear for total beginners.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Training Tips

Week-by-Week 14er Training: What to Expect in Each Phase

Here's what your body and mind actually go through during 14er training: the highs, the lows, and the week where most people quit.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Gear

Best Day Packs for Climbing Colorado 14ers (Tested)

How to pick a day pack for a Colorado 14er. Seven packs that hold up on long, weather-changing summit days, with capacity, weight, hydration, and price compared side by side.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Route Planning

Colorado 14er Permits and Parking Reservations

Quandary Peak now requires a parking reservation in summer, and other 14ers are heading the same direction. Here is what you need to book before your climb.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Health & Safety

Lightning and Thunderstorm Safety on 14ers

Lightning is the leading weather-related cause of death on Colorado peaks. Here is how afternoon storms form, when to turn around, and what to do if a storm catches you above treeline.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Peak Guides

Beginner 14ers Ranked by Training Weeks, Not Mileage

Most guides rank easy 14ers by distance or elevation gain. This one ranks them by how many weeks of training you need, which is what actually decides whether you summit.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Peak Guides

Grays Peak Guide: North Slopes Route (14,275 ft)

Everything a beginner needs to climb Grays Peak via the North Slopes Route: trailhead directions, step-by-step route, gear list, fitness prep, and what to expect from Colorado's highest point on the Continental Divide.

ZeroTo14k Team
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Start Training Today

The guides above help you train smarter. Start the 13-week program now and be ready to summit.

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