Colorado sees a high number of major 14er rescues every summer and fall, many of which require assistance from the Colorado Search and Rescue Association’s state coordinators, the Colorado National Guard, and the Colorado Hoist Rescue Team. Many hikers and climbers, both newbies and experienced, rely on online resources for their planning process. There’s a lot out there, and we won’t try to cover it all. But we have several important recommendations:
- Use reputable online resources. Here are a few that we use:
- For trail conditions and up to date information, we use 14ers.com, 14ers.org, and the Facebook group 14ers.com.
- Current and focused weather information can save your life. We use the National Weather Service and Mountain Forecast. You can enter mountain names in the search fields, and you can also use the “forecast location” map to get a specific area forecast.
- Of the many mapping apps available, we especially recommend CalTopo and COTREX. COTREX is specific to Colorado and includes only trail information from official sources such as land management agencies.
- For more technical outings we often research Summit Post and Mountain Project.
- Don’t rely solely on summaries gleaned from AI chatbots. Why? Because they may not give you the local and time-specific information you need to make smart decisions, they’re not typically good at navigation, and sometimes they make mistakes and invent “facts.” We’re hearing of more and more poorly informed AI suggestions that lead to rescues. Use AI as a starting point to get ideas, but not as your only or final tool.
- Consider using AI not just for trip planning suggestions, but also for exploring potential risks. “What hazards should I be aware of on this route?”
- Once on the trail, forget what online resources told you if it conflicts with what you see and hear. Pay attention to your surroundings and be present and aware. Playing loud music or wearing headphones can dramatically reduce your awareness of dangers. If descending hikers tell you there’s an aggressive moose on the trail ahead, heed the warning. River levels can change quickly and people get stranded on the wrong side of rising waters every year.
For an example of using good quality online resources, if you were planning an early July hike and you searched for “a snow-free Colorado 14er in early July,” Chat GPT might pull from sources not specific enough to identify real-time information. If, on the other hand, you posted in the 14er Facebook group, “I’m looking for a hike that is snowfree in the central mountains area right now,” you might get someone who says, “I just hiked Quandary last weekend, as long as you stick to the East Ridge route it is snow-free all the way.”
Will you be planning your very first 14er hike? Go beyond online planning resources. Connect with a hiking organization or group like Colorado Mountain Club, hire a guide, talk to locals at outdoor shops, or find an experienced friend to hike with.
For further information about the dangers of over-reliance on AI for backcountry trip planning and how to use it safely, check out this webinar with the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association.