The Next Summit
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I'm Alex Derr. I created this website to help share advice, stories, history and reflections from my time in the mountains. If you like what you see, please follow me on social media or subscribe for email updates!
The Next Summit
3y ago
73 Great Things You Should Do In The Mountains
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Alex Derr
June 10, 2021
2:55 am
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Mountaineering Advice
If you’ve visited my blog, you probably know I like to hike and camp in the mountains – but that’s just a small sample of what you can do in this amazing place. With alpine lakes, aspen forests, whitewater rivers, and high rocky crags, the mountains have something for everyone to enjoy. If you need a bit of inspiration coming up with your next mountain adventure, I pulled together a few ideas to get you started.
Here are 73 things y ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
14ers near Leadville: 9 Great Peaks to Hike
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Alex Derr
May 30, 2021
5:05 am
Mountaineering Advice
Leadville is one of Colorado’s most centrally located mountain towns. Nestled in the heart of the Sawatch and Ten-mile Range, the town is surrounded by fourteeners and other high peaks. Whether you visit the area for a weekend or a week, there are plenty of opportunities nearby to summit a fourteener. Here are nine of the best 14ers near Leadville, along with some route details and de ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
What To Do if You Encounter a Cougar: 7 Good Tips to Survive
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Alex Derr
May 12, 2021
11:58 pm
Mountaineering Advice
Seeing a cougar in the wild is a very uncommon, but amazing event. In most cases, it’s a nonviolent encounter – a moment where your eyes meet, before the mountain lion sprints away into the trees. However in extremely rare moments, a cougar can stalk, attack, or even hill a human – especially small children. There are things you can do when meeting a cougar to reduce ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
Mountain Features for Mountaineers: 19 Important Terms
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Alex Derr
May 8, 2021
9:08 pm
Mountaineering Advice
If you’ve ever read a mountain route guide, you may have seen some words that confused you. Bergschrund, Col, Dihedral… there are many mountain features and terms that get their name from French, German or Italian – making it difficult to understand. These mountain features are important to learn, as they can help you navigate and avoid major hazards. Here are 19 common moun ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
Mountain Accidents: 7 Critical Steps for Emergency Response
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Alex Derr
May 4, 2021
1:13 am
Mountaineering Advice
Slipping on an icy trail. Falling into a bubbling creek. Twisting your ankle on a scramble.
There are a thousand different ways to get into trouble in the mountains. Between the harsh weather and steep, rocky terrain, there’s a number of serious hazards, each threatening in its own unique way. Often, one small emergency quickly leads to additional mistakes and problems ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
14er Backpacking Trips | 7 Great Fourteeners for Overnight Adventures
Alex Derr
April 18, 2021
7:51 pm
Mountaineering Advice
The only thing better than a day hike up a fourteener is an overnight backpacking trip! Adding one or more nights in the mountains before or after your climb is a great way to add more adventure, acclimate, and break up long treks into shorter chunks. It’s also enjoyable in and of itself, with opportunities for wildlife viewing, late nights around the campfire, and long naps in your sleeping back or hammock. I put together seven of my favorite 14er backpacking t ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
14ers near Telluride | 10 Excellent Peaks
Alex Derr
April 16, 2021
3:48 am
Route Information
Telluride is one of southern Colorado’s most spectacular mountain towns. Nestled in a deep glacial valley, and surrounded by high alpinee peaks, it’s a classic skiing and hiking destination in the southern San Juan Range. For those looking to hike or climb a fourteener during their stay in Telluride, you have a few options to choose from. However, while there are a dozen or so significant peaks within a 2-3 hour drive of the town, many are difficult and dangerous 14ers best attempted by more ex ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
Caring for Public Lands: 6 Easy Ways to Support our Peaks
Alex Derr
April 4, 2021
3:22 pm
Leave No Trace
The American west has some of the most spectacular public lands in the country, including national parks and forests, bureau of land management areas, state parks, and wildlife preserves. As more and more Americans head into the mountains to recreate and explore, the strain on public lands continues to increase. We all have a role to play in helping manage this impact, both directly through our own activity and through advocacy and support at higher levels. Here’s an overview of the ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
9 Best Hikes Near Great Sand Dunes National Park
Alex Derr
March 22, 2021
1:58 am
Route Information
In the southeast corner of Colorado you’ll find Great Sand Dunes National Park, home to North America’s largest sand dunes. But it’s also home to much more, including 13,000 foot mountains, backcountry mountain passes, beach-like creeks and cascading waterfalls. As the Park is surrounded by National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Lands, there are even more hiking opportunities with an hour’s drive. Here are 9 of the best hikes near Great Sand Dunes National Park.
An Intro to the B ..read more
The Next Summit
3y ago
Cleaning up Dog Poop on Trails: Why It’s Important for 14ers
Alex Derr
March 14, 2021
9:54 pm
Leave No Trace
If you’ve hiked a 14er in summer, you’ve probably seen if for yourself: dozens of bags of dog poop lying besides the trail, as if waiting for someone to come collect them. There’s often just as much unbagged poop around as well. While many people shrug their shoulders at the sight, there are a lot of negative effects that come from the practice, especially when viewed cumulatively. Here’s a look at the impacts of not cleaning up dog poop on trails, along with my tips for making t ..read more