14er in a kilt?

[Nighthawk]

Tell you what - think you'll be happily surprised. Remember, hot air rises...kilts hold that warm air.

There are lots of kilts in the snow pics on this board that verify that. Think there are some 'how cold?' and kilts in the wind threads too.

Bet if you "started" out with it you'll wind up leaving it on all the way...

You're gonna love it.

Ron

Yep! I do everything kilted. It's so much more comfortable- especially in cold weather! (OK, not everything... I don't help set up the Ren Scots camp kilted ironically enough- a good strong wind when you're bent over pulling on tent pilings will lift even the best kilt. Trust me on this- I know from experience! )

[GMan]

I would say wave to me from atop Longs, as I can see it from my patio, but I am not going to be home.

[mudd]

Well, did you make it?

It's one of the three 14ers I've made it to the top of. I don't think I'd try it in a Kilt, though. Some friends and I tried it twice and only made it once. During the failed attempt it was so windy it was blowing us off the trail (if you can call it that) with each step. We got to the Keyhole and, with the wind about blowing us through the hole and out the other side, turned back. On the second attempt started the trail at 04:30 and made it to the top by 10:30. Got back down to the tree line just before the storms rolled in.

That was 16 years ago, and when we got down I was so exhaust... I mean excited, I haven't wanted to try again.

I'm very interested to hear if you made it.

John

[Livingston]

I don't think he did.....yet. Tuesday last week was just too much weather and this last Tuesday wasn't much better. He indicated that he was going to give me a call to maybe get together after they came down.

[irishcoloradoan]

Well, we didn't make Long's. The weather was going to be a bit sketchy, so we settled for Grey's. My wife got a little altitude sickness, but we made Grey's OK. Livingston, sorry we didn't call, but our change of 14er was a bit sudden.

Oh, and yeah, I did it kilted! Here's some pics:

http://tinyurl.com/notaup

[Livingston]

I'm logged into photobucket but can't see your pics.

No problem on not calling. We ended up down in Loveland on Tuesday having crowns put in so wouldn't have been here till about 7 or so.

[irishcoloradoan]

Sorry bout the pics not showing up, I'll do a direct upload of three here. BTW, the 16oz Clark was PERFECT up on top. The wind wasn't too bad, and with my Columbia it was just right:

[RB51]

It's a Coloradoan term. It means a mountain who's peak is at least 14,000 feet above sea level. Trees stop growing for lack of oxygen after about 12,000 feet- just for perspective.

Thanks for providing this defintion, and sorry for not thanking you sooner...seems I neglected to note where the thread was and couldn't for the life of me find it again (note to self - PAY ATTENTION). From the pics it looks like a nice hike...glad it went well.

Laurie

[McNulty]

Great pix! Looks like a great trail and the wild flowers are just coming out... at least the Indian Paintbrush in one pic. Hiking kilted is the only way to go. I usually put on a pair of polypro boxers when hiking in any weather as they keep me cool/warm and dry..
Grand Mesa after a hail storm last Aug.

A trail at the base of the Flattops

Last Fall up on the Flattops

[ForresterModern]

It's a Coloradoan term. It means a mountain who's peak is at least 14,000 feet above sea level. Trees stop growing for lack of oxygen after about 12,000 feet- just for perspective.

Mr Wizard here again. Yes they are called 14ers because their peaks are above 14,000 feet above sea level, Mt Elbert I beleive being the highest in Colordo by only a few feet. To my recollection Colorado has more 14ers than any other state and there is actually a club you can join if you have surmounted all of them.

One correction about the treeline is in order. Trees stop growing above a certain altitude for a combination of reasons but oxygen is not one of them. Trees clear CO2 out of the atmosphere and MAKE oxygen rather than use it. The altitude restricts the absolute concentration of CO2 for plants the same way it does for O2 needed by animals, partially choking off its abilitiy to grow. Add to this the tendency for the areas above tree line to be covered with snow for longer periods of the year making the growing season far shorter than at lower altitudes. And the little remnant organic material present as nutritional resource (nothing grows so nothing is shed to be decomposed to nourish new plant life to grow again) and erosion takes its toll with little actual soil remaining for trees to root into. Grasses, low shrubs and lichens (less metabolically demanding than trees) will grow up to a higher altitude but even they run out of sustenance at a point and the slopes become completely lifeless. For similar reasons animal life disappears nearly at the same levels with some exceptions---voles, martins and marmots, and the mountain goats and sheep (which migrate up and down depending on the weather and snow coverage).

Any 14er is quite an accomplishement at any time of year as they generally remain snow covered the year round, and the air becomes dangerously thin of O2 after about 11000 feet, making every foot step upward exponentially harder, without supplemental O2.

Congratulations to those who have made it. One day, when I shed the weight of a small vietnamese family myself, I may give it yet another go.