The Next Summit

@TheNextSummitA1

Hiking & exploring the Rocky Mountains one summit at a time. 🏔 Follow me to learn how to leave no trace, stay safe, & protect public lands. 👇 #14ers #Colorado

Denver, Colorado

Joined October 2019

14KFollowing

27KFollowers

Pinned

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 11

💩 FREE WEBINAR 💩 How to Poop in the Woods (Responsibly) 🗓 July 30 | 7–8 PM MT It’s time to talk 💩—for the good of the trail. Learn when to bury vs. pack out waste, best backcountry bathroom gear, and LNT tips. 👇Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… #LeaveNoTrace

TheNextSummitA1's tweet image. 💩 FREE WEBINAR 💩
How to Poop in the Woods (Responsibly)
🗓 July 30 | 7–8 PM MT
It’s time to talk 💩—for the good of the trail.
Learn when to bury vs. pack out waste, best backcountry bathroom gear, and LNT tips.
👇Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…
#LeaveNoTrace

2.0K

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · 17 h

Your Next Summit membership dues do double duty: they sharpen your own mountain skills and fund free webinars, safety campaigns, and public-lands advocacy that reach thousands of hikers every year. If you care about confident, low-impact adventures for everyone, start here →…

280

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 24

🧭 5 Routefinding Tips Every Hiker Should Know: - Where am I? - Where am I going? - What route connects them? - How long will it take? - What should I expect to see? 🗺️ Example: “Stream, stream, pass, lake.” Say it out loud. Stay present. Stay found. #BackcountryNavigation

TheNextSummitA1's tweet image. 🧭 5 Routefinding Tips Every Hiker Should Know:

- Where am I?
- Where am I going?
- What route connects them?
- How long will it take?
- What should I expect to see?

🗺️ Example: “Stream, stream, pass, lake.”

Say it out loud. Stay present. Stay found.

#BackcountryNavigation

362

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 24

🚨 Colorado’s volunteer SAR teams are being pushed to the edge. 📈 2025 is on track to be a record year for backcountry rescues — many involving dangerous, costly helicopter hoists on 14ers. Learn what’s happening & how to stay safe: 🔗 thenextsummit.org/colorado-backc… #CO14ers #SAR

TheNextSummitA1's tweet card. Colorado SAR teams report record rescues this summer, straining volunteers. Learn how to stay safe and support them through preparedness and public funding.

237

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 16

Colorado’s juggling 5 major wildfires—crews are stretched thin, air quality alerts up, evacuations ongoing. Get the latest stats, maps & safety tips here 👇 thenextsummit.org/colorado-wildf… 🧑‍🚒 Support firefighters ➡️ donate, share updates, clear defensible space. #COwx #FireSeason2025

TheNextSummitA1's tweet card. Six significant wildfires—from Turner Gulch to South Rim—are burning across Colorado, with fresh winds hampering containment and new evacuations.

447

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 16

Backcountry navigation? Altitude sickness? First aid? Leave No Trace? Members receive full, on-demand access to every lesson inside the Summit Skills Academy to learn at your own pace. Enroll instantly when you join: thenextsummit.org/membership #colorado14ers #leavenotrace…

TheNextSummitA1's tweet image. Backcountry navigation? Altitude sickness? First aid? Leave No Trace? Members receive full, on-demand access to every lesson inside the Summit Skills Academy to learn at your own pace.

Enroll instantly when you join: thenextsummit.org/membership

#colorado14ers #leavenotrace…

191

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 16

🚧 Heads-up, peak-baggers: Kite Lake Rd closes Aug 1–Nov 15 for major rebuild, putting the entire Decalibron loop off-limits. Trespassing = risk of PERMANENT shutdown. Details ➡️ thenextsummit.org/roadwork-shuts… #Decalibron #14ers

TheNextSummitA1's tweet card. Forest road closure blocks Kite Lake trailhead, halting climbs of Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln & Bross until Nov 15. Plan ahead or choose alternate 14ers.

208

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 16

352

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 16

🧭 Know how to use a compass in the backcountry? Here’s how to take and follow a bearing — a must-have skill for any hiker or climber: 1. Face your target. 2. Hold the compass flat, point it forward. 3. Rotate the bezel until the needle aligns with the orienting arrow. 4. Read…

TheNextSummitA1's tweet image. 🧭 Know how to use a compass in the backcountry?

Here’s how to take and follow a bearing — a must-have skill for any hiker or climber:

1. Face your target.
2. Hold the compass flat, point it forward.
3. Rotate the bezel until the needle aligns with the orienting arrow.
4. Read…

788

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 15

🚫 New “No Overnight Parking” signs popped up at the South Colony Lakes 2WD Trailhead — with no public notice. This change impacts access to Crestone Peak, Humboldt, and Crestone Needle for 2WD users. What it means for your next 14er trip: 🔗 thenextsummit.org/new-parking-re… #14ers

TheNextSummitA1's tweet card. New "No Overnight Parking" signs at the South Colony Lakes 2WD Trailhead are complicating plans to climb Humboldt Peak, Crestone Peak, and Crestone Needle.

408

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 14

Another helicopter rescue on the Maroon Bells, only 4 days after the last. It's been a busy summer for Colorado's SAR community. thenextsummit.org/second-maroon-…

TheNextSummitA1's tweet card. A satellite SOS, volunteer rescuers and a Colorado National Guard Black Hawk combined to save a climber with a broken leg high on North Maroon Peak.

440

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 14

🚨 Another Maroon Bells rescue — 2nd in 4 days. A climber broke his leg on North Maroon Peak and was hoisted out by a Black Hawk helicopter at 13,850 ft. These peaks are no joke. 🧗‍♂️ Read what happened + essential safety tips: thenextsummit.org/second-maroon-… #Colorado14ers #SAR

289

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 12

"Man Falls to His Death Descending Mountain in Glacier National Park" The man fell from a steep, off-trail climbing route on the west side of Mount Gould, the authorities said. Read more: nytimes.com/2025/07/11/us/… #GlacierNationalPark #OutdoorAccident

TheNextSummitA1's tweet image. "Man Falls to His Death Descending Mountain in Glacier National Park"

The man fell from a steep, off-trail climbing route on the west side of Mount Gould, the authorities said.

Read more: nytimes.com/2025/07/11/us/…

#GlacierNationalPark #OutdoorAccident

1.0K

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 12

Who’s ultimately responsible for trash along a popular hiking trail: elected officials, land agencies, hikers, or local communities? #PublicLands #LeaveNoTrace #ColoradoHiking

TheNextSummitA1's tweet image. Who’s ultimately responsible for trash along a popular hiking trail: elected officials, land agencies, hikers, or local communities?

#PublicLands #LeaveNoTrace #ColoradoHiking

2.0K

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 11

Colorado’s rivers fuel more than recreation—they power $3B+ in economic impact and 16K+ jobs statewide. Without fair stream access, that’s all under threat. We need action now. 💧 🔗 coloradostreamaccess.org/why-colorados-… #ColoradoStreamAccess #LeaveNoTrace

236

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 11

🚨 Wildfires sparked by lightning have closed Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. One blaze has burned 1,640+ acres with 0% containment. Full story + wildfire safety tips ⬇️ thenextsummit.org/lightning-spar… #ColoradoWildfires #BlackCanyon

TheNextSummitA1's tweet card. Lightning-sparked wildfires force full evacuation of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park amid extreme fire danger and red flag conditions.

274

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 11

I wandered through Independence, CO ghost town (10,900 ft!) earlier this summer—where 1,500 miners once chased gold after a July 4th strike in 1879. Now it's just wind and memories. During winter 1899, the last residents fashioned skis from cabin boards to escape! 🏔️♻️…

TheNextSummitA1's tweet image. I wandered through Independence, CO ghost town (10,900 ft!) earlier this summer—where 1,500 miners once chased gold after a July 4th strike in 1879. Now it's just wind and memories. During winter 1899, the last residents fashioned skis from cabin boards to escape! 🏔️♻️…

451

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 10

Altitude sickness 101 🏔️ • Mild AMS: headache, light nausea, normal balance ➜ Rest, hydrate, reassess. • Severe AMS: stagger, confusion, wet cough ➜ Descend 1,500 ft ASAP, call SAR. Quick test: Can they walk a straight line & say the alphabet? Fail = Severe AMS.…

TheNextSummitA1's tweet image. Altitude sickness 101 🏔️

• Mild AMS: headache, light nausea, normal balance ➜ Rest, hydrate, reassess.
• Severe AMS: stagger, confusion, wet cough ➜ Descend 1,500 ft ASAP, call SAR.

Quick test: Can they walk a straight line &amp; say the alphabet? Fail = Severe AMS.…

2.0K

The Next Summit Retweeted

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 9

Planning a backpacking loop, peak-bagging weekend, or hut trip? Next Summit Members at the $10/mo level receive personalized trip plans crafted by Alex, with routes, gear lists, safety notes delivered to your inbox. Sign up and request your first Trip Plan →…

708

The Next Summit@TheNextSummitA1 · Jul 10

Solo climber falls 200 ft on Maroon Peak—saved by a bystander, 14 @MtnRescueAspen volunteers & a CO Guard Black Hawk. Full breakdown + 5 safety lessons: thenextsummit.org/helicopter-hoi… Hoist rescues doubled vs. 2024. Hike with a partner & pack a PLB. #SAR #14ers #LeaveNoTrace

TheNextSummitA1's tweet card. A bystander/witness, volunteer rescuers and a HAATS Black Hawk team save a 20-year-old who tumbled 200 feet on 14,163-ft Maroon Peak.

370