Training Articles

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 May 5, 2026

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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 May 4, 2026

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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 May 4, 2026

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Health & Safety

Altitude Sickness Prevention Through Training

Most altitude sickness advice is about what to do on summit day. The more durable fix happens over the 10 to 13 weeks before it, and your training plan is the quiet reason you stay healthy above 12,000 feet.

ZeroTo14k Team Apr 21, 2026

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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 Apr 21, 2026

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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 Apr 21, 2026

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Training Tips

April 14er Guide: Which Peak Can You Summit by August?

If you are starting to train in April, you have enough time to summit a Colorado 14er this summer. Here is exactly which peak fits your timeline and how to use the next 16 weeks.

ZeroTo14k Team Apr 5, 2026

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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 Apr 3, 2026

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Personal Experience

From Survived to Earned: How I Trained for Grays and Torreys

After Pikes Peak humbled me, I overhauled everything. Here's how running and stair-stepping prepared me to summit two 14ers in a single day.

Derrick Austin Mar 24, 2026

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