Ascending Hikes Section
2023 MEMBER GUIDE TO ASCENDING HIKES
2023 TRIP LEADER GUIDE TO ASCENDING HIKES
Who we are: The Colorado Mountain Club's Ascending Hike Section (AHS) provides an opportunity to make new friends and explore new places in Colorado's backcountry, while increasing your personal hiking speed, strength, and stamina.
The section is administered by CMC volunteers. There is no cost, fee, or scheduling commitment. There are no dues or elections, but we do hope to form a member-run AHS Committee by next year. Open to all CMC members (not guests). To join the section, contact the CMC office.
How it works. The AHS Coordinators recruit CMC trip leaders to offer AHS-labeled trips, usually on Fridays, Saturdays, and/or Sundays, mid-May through September. We try to include a couple of High Peak climbs and some long hikes just for AHS members at the end of the season. We have a suggested list for leaders of progressively more difficult hikes, which members are free to draw upon also. However, trip leaders often come up with their own trips, which we welcome and add to the list.
For members, the overall experience is expected to be self-guided, and we hope you take advantage of the entire CMC trip calendar. Members are encouraged to choose hikes based on their own on-going self-assessment. A typical member chooses comfortable hikes to start and then gradually progresses in trip length, highest elevation, and difficulty. If you are consistent, you should be ready to tackle major new challenges by the end of summer.
Read the Guide. We have prepared a 2023 Guide To Ascending Hikes. It is all about hiking pace in the CMC, which relates to the fitness you are trying to achieve.
How to Sign Up For an Ascending Hike. To sign up for an Ascending Hike, visit the CMC start page and click “Find Trips.” In the left sidebar, scroll down to “Sections.” Check “Ascending Hikes.” (Note: if no Ascending Hikes are calendared, the section name will not appear.) The trips are mostly held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from May through September. Don’t see an Ascending Hike–labeled trip that fits your schedule? Search for any hikes offered at the difficulty rating and date you want.
Alert! This is a popular program. If there is a standby list, join it. Standby lists almost always clear. Your Trip Leader and AHS Coordinators put a lot of effort into planning section activities. Last minute cancellations and no-shows are very discouraging and insufficient numbers may jeopardize the program. SO, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR AN AHS TRIP UNLESS YOU FULLY INTEND TO PARTICIPATE ON TRIP DAY!