Is it culturally acceptable to hike 14ers by yourself?

[2giqs]

Began all 14er hikes solo but on the final ascents of Capitol, Crestone, Maroon, and Pyramid, I teamed up with other soloists. Two sets of eyes made for more efficient route finding. On Longs after soloing up thru the Keyhole another soloist graciously let me tag along back down the Loft route.

[Barnold41]

Personally, I've only done three 14ers with my friends but that's mainly because schedules didn't line up for the others. Majority of my backcountry experience has been solo (or with my dog) and I'm ok with that. I find my spirituality within nature and I'm comfortable making decisions that will provide safe passage for a future experience in the mountains.

That being said, this past summer I forced myself to do "busier" trails that I usually tend to avoid for any number of reasons and met some amazing people. This community can be a bit elitist at times but for me it's important to remember why I'm doing what I'm doing, and truly not being worried about what I can't control (other people, their feelings, their actions).

[mtree]

A third cultural question, do you guys say 'hello' to every person or group you pass on trail? I've read that this is a code of the Old West, or is it acceptable to pass people in silence?

Totally depends on my suffer factor.

If its not crowded (peaks away from the front range), I'll definitely acknowledge and maybe even chat a bit with others. On front range peaks, I'll usually give a "howdy", unless its a summer weekend on Bierstadt or Quandary. That gets old after awhile so I just keep moving unless someone greets me.

And I always tip my hat to the ladies. Of course, if its an obvious gunfight challenge I'll ask we move off trail so as not to obstruct others. Its the polite thing to do. This also gives each of us time to catch a breath and maybe a quick smoke since one of us ain't coming back. Just depends how he's dressed and if he's real twitchy or not.

[cedica]

read:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Bosnian-War

Read? My good sir, with all the respect...

[Jon Frohlich]

A third cultural question, do you guys say 'hello' to every person or group you pass on trail? I've read that this is a code of the Old West, or is it acceptable to pass people in silence?

I just fart in their general direction.

[two lunches]

I say, "howdy-do" myself.

count me in for a "mornin' *head nod*"

[HikesInGeologicTime]

And I always tip my hat to the ladies. Of course, if its an obvious gunfight challenge I'll ask we move off trail so as not to obstruct others. Its the polite thing to do. This also gives each of us time to catch a breath and maybe a quick smoke since one of us ain't coming back. Just depends how he's dressed and if he's real twitchy or not.

I find that packing heat adds too much weight to my pack, so I skip straight to the fisticuffs. Which are often necessary, as some of the ladies I tip my hat to are with their jealous husbands/boyfriends. Kids these days and their lack of chivalry, I tell ya.

***

OP, I’ve probably hiked the majority of my fourteener list (and definitely the majority of my thirteener list) solo. Can’t do that as much anymore with the fourteeners, at least, because the ones I have left will push the limits of my limited abilities, but I often prefer solo hikes; I’ve had some great hiking buddies, but a lot of times, I just want to enjoy the scenery and whatever music I’m listening to without feeling compelled to make commentary.

[douglas]

I oftentimes prefer to hike alone, unless I am at class 3 or above. Mostly because I like to go at my own pace (which is quite slow) and listen to my audiobooks.

[cedica]

word!

Agreed!
Btw my apologies for indiscretion, but since this is one of those "tell all" threads, aren't you and that Semper Fi gentleman the same person? Or at least sharing the same body?

[mtngoatwithstyle]

As years go by and I hike more and more and continue to notice more people on the mountains, I say "hello" or "good morning"... I hike mostly solo as well and feel pretty safe being a female on her own. I am from Spain but have lived in Colorado almost 20 years and when I talked about my solo hikes to my friends in Spain, I used to get a lot of looks like was a little "crazy" and because of being a woman not that accepted to be so "independent". By now they are all used to my hikes, and they all now that I follow mountain etiquette and a safety check list & contact in every hike I do.
I have enjoyed helping, supporting & encouraging other ladies to do that as well instead of waiting for friends to call them to hike and stay at home because they are scared. So far, still lots to learn but the more I hike solo, the more passionate I am about mountains and Nature.

[zinj]

Two pieces of advice:

1) Go on, get down with your bad self!

2) STRONGLY consider carrying a Garmin or other satellite communicator/ beacon *in addition to* leaving a record of your planned route with someone who will notice that you're missing if you don't come back. Not only might it save your life (or at least a really unpleasant, cold night immobilized with a broken back), a satellite beacon can dramatically reduce the strain we put on limited S&R resources when things go wrong... whilst getting down with our bad selves.

[mtree]

And I always tip my hat to the ladies. Of course, if its an obvious gunfight challenge I'll ask we move off trail so as not to obstruct others. Its the polite thing to do. This also gives each of us time to catch a breath and maybe a quick smoke since one of us ain't coming back. Just depends how he's dressed and if he's real twitchy or not.

I find that packing heat adds too much weight to my pack, so I skip straight to the fisticuffs. Which are often necessary, as some of the ladies I tip my hat to are with their jealous husbands/boyfriends. Kids these days and their lack of chivalry, I tell ya.

You don't carry your Bowie in your pack, so why put your pistol in it?! I balance my pistola on my hip with my Bowie and a canteen of water on the other side. When I run low on water I just unload a few rounds at the summit to redistribute the weight. Nothing like the sound of wild gunshots on a summit while shooting shots of whiskey! Folks seem to appreciate it. And those kids with no chivalry, yeah, they're just yella.