14ers!

[Matt]

So, does anyone do them?
How Many?
Favorites?
Stories?
Winter/Summer?
blah blah blah...



I'm at 43 (with 8 repeats) and did 8 this summer. I'll have to see how winter goes and will try to get some in before next summer (since skiing is so $$$).

[Eric]

I rode to the top of Pike Peak on the cog railroad, does that count? How about driving to the top of Mt. Evans? :D I've been wanting to hike Long's Peak but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Machete]

I've got 21 so far. All this summer.
Crestones were probably my favorites. Blanca was a fun wheeling/climbing combo.
http://www.t-mobilepictures.com/photos/photo23/86/f8/659d156caa9b.jpg?_rh=5tp8op2cruomeucd9y6b6yh3j

[longboy]

I've never done one, but I have a feeling that I'll be trying in the next couple of years. My dad (61 years old) did his first this year-Mt. Quandary.

My wife has done 20+, so I'm clearly the lazy-ass of my family.

[OrangeCrush]

Drove to top of Evans and it was cold!!!

[Anthrax]

Done many of them. Sneffles in the winter was the most scenic. Im still a big fan of the technical snow routes in the park (Longs). Would also reccomend hitting some big 13ers WAY LESS TRAFFIC and most are just as fun, quiter hike/climbs.

[ColoradoXJ]

i love hiking the 14ers... unfortunately, i've only gotten a few under my belt (not counting driving to the top of pikes and evans)

bierstadt (at least 4 times)
grays
torres (twice each)
massive

have to do more... i feel like a lazy native right now :thumbsdown:

my fav. was definitely massive. long, long hike, but sooo beautiful once we got to the top. however, we did grays/torres in high school and coming back down decided to glissade down the north face of torres :D that was fun sliding down the snow field

me on bierstadt
http://i6.tinypic.com/71xwojt.jpg

and massive
http://i15.tinypic.com/8adsaj9.jpg

[Yota]

We drove up Mt. Evans and then climbed the..what.. 100 ft to the summit.

We were at the trailhead for Grays/Torres and turned around because it started to snow.

I doubt I'll be doing any 14ers any time soon with a 1 yr old kid and wife with a trick knee.

[Cruzin Illusion]

I would say the most memorable 14er's we have done is Mount Windom, Mount Eolus and North Eolus. We took the Durango-Silverton train and was dropped off at the Needleton drop off. Packed in seven miles and 4000 foot elevation gain to Chicago Basin and set up base camp. The mountain goats are everywhere and very beautiful. We did a late spring accent so we had to use cramp-ons and ice axes. It was my wifes first experience with anything close to mountaineering and she enjoyed it. It is a nice trip because you can't drive to the trailhead and just go. There are a couple ways in but taking the train in and out makes for a memorable trip. You do have to carry in all your equipment for at least 14 miles. My pack was 45 lbs. and the wifes was 33 lbs.

[denverd0n]

Bierstadt, Grays, Torreys, Quandry, Lincoln, Democrat, Bross, Cameron, Evans (from Summit Lake), and Pikes (via cog train--hey! I'm countin' it!).

[meatblanket]

Finished 'em in 1998, except for Culebra. I just can't bring myself to pay $$ or join CMC just to walk up that gravel pile.

I still have a few left to go on the "hundred heighest" list.

[Mudnyrey]

Yes... I do.

I have done 6 thus far, and a few others that I explored around the area using different paths. One of my favorite trails was in Steam Boat. There is a new trail system being made that is 80 miles of trail called Ring the Peak. I had completed only a fraction of that trail system that starts at Bear Creek Park Trail in Colorado Springs starting at I believe trail head #666. It is my understanding that there still remains two oposite points of the trail system that have not yet been completed to form the full trail system as of yet. I believe it may be on the new map that is being made for 08'. I could be wrong, but that is what I was told, after my inquiries in wanting a map.

I just recently moved to Portland area and plan on being a volunteer for the Mt.Hood search and rescue so i can still be involved in such activities I enjoy.

I also have ran the Ascent on Pikes Peak and still plan to fly back again in August for the 08' Ascent as well, not to mention Race to the Clouds.

I have just recently sent in a request to be considered as a guest to climb the peak with the adaman club for New Years. This is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time now.

Sure do miss not being there!

M:beer: D

[TJay]

I've got 4. Pikes (about 5 times), Elbert, Belford/Oxford double.

Ideally I'd like to get a couple next summer in between training for '08 Ascent and getting married. :o

[Machete]

I would say the most memorable 14er's we have done is Mount Windom, Mount Eolus and North Eolus. We took the Durango-Silverton train and was dropped off at the Needleton drop off. Packed in seven miles and 4000 foot elevation gain to Chicago Basin and set up base camp. The mountain goats are everywhere and very beautiful. We did a late spring accent so we had to use cramp-ons and ice axes. It was my wifes first experience with anything close to mountaineering and she enjoyed it. It is a nice trip because you can't drive to the trailhead and just go. There are a couple ways in but taking the train in and out makes for a memorable trip. You do have to carry in all your equipment for at least 14 miles. My pack was 45 lbs. and the wifes was 33 lbs.

I'd love to do that trip.

I will someday!

[rubbersidedown]

I did Humboldt when I was 14. Since then, NADA! I think next summer I would really love to meet up with some peeps and climb a few!

[Matt]

Favorite trail is the cottonwood trial up to Kit Carson
Favorite view would be from Sneffels
Favorite challenge would be S. Maroon Peak
Favorite overall would probably be Blanca/Crestone

Most unexpected cool one would be Wetterhorn.

I still have some pretty good ones left to do, but I'm excited to get up them. I'll look for a couple pics to post.

[Matt]

Finished 'em in 1998, except for Culebra. I just can't bring myself to pay $$ or join CMC just to walk up that gravel pile.

I still have a few left to go on the "hundred heighest" list.

Very cool! Congrats. :beer:

I'm sure you have some stories to tell.

[raythehandyman]

Seven, back when I could. Even then it was very hard for me ?
I did Longs Peak in the Moon light, on the trail at 11:00pm.
I'm 47 and have not climbed for years.
My favorite is Longs Peak, done it 3 times.
Mt. Prinsten ( spelling ? ) was the worst with it's false summit.

I still love the Mountains, thats why I love Colorado.

I now drive and see them.

[Matt]

Here's a couple pictures from this past summer.

Top of Castle at 8am.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j131/mountainmatt/14ers/IMG_0075.jpg

Top of Crestone Peak with the needle in the background.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j131/mountainmatt/14ers/IMG_1141.jpg

Heading up S Maroon Peak on the ridge.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j131/mountainmatt/14ers/IMG_1571.jpg

Typical area of the trail coming up S Maroon (notice the people on the trail in the middle of the picture).

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j131/mountainmatt/14ers/IMG_1566.jpg

[ColoradoXJ]

wow. didn't realize maroon was soo technical... looks like fun :thumbsup:

[meatblanket]

Very cool! Congrats. :beer:

I'm sure you have some stories to tell.

Not really. I've been very fortunate to resist summit fever and climb in good (meaning safe, not necessarily pleasant) conditions, and I haven't been involved in any significant accidents.

I've had some close calls, but not on 14ers. I was climbing the Super Star couloir on James Peak, which ends in a large cornice. Some years it is overhanging and you have to go around it on rock, but on this one occasion it was just a 7-8 ft section of vertical, hardened snow. I was trying to kick a foothold in the stuff (using crampons) and lost my balance. I was actually windmilling my arms, and came ever so close to going over backwards down the 55 degree couloir.

The scariest thing I've done on skis is a descent off the true summit of Torreys. Dead Dog Couloir itself is not that difficult-- I've skiied that at least 4 times. But coming off the summit and skiing into the Dead Dog scared the bejeezus out of me (to the point of getting a mild case of "sewing machine leg"), and I'll never do it again.

I do like steep snow routes-- the Bell Chord Couloir on South Maroon, the Cross Couloir on Mt. of the Holy Cross, and Notch Couloir on Longs Peak are all outstanding.

One thing that I've been wanting to do is to climb Capitol Peak during the winter. I'm 0-2 so far. If anyone is interested, let me know.... I'd like to go the following day after the trail has been broken!:beer:

[jredmond]

I did Longs in the 5th grade and that is it

[bsaunder]

favorites are Grays/Torres - gotta hit both while you're up there :D

[Matt]

wow. didn't realize maroon was soo technical... looks like fun :thumbsup:

It's not very technical, but a solid class 3. Never did I feel the need for a rope.

BUT, you don't want any goats above you when you're climbing the ridge! :eek: They'll stand up there and knock down rocks and scare the poop outta you. :rant: (and yes, I did yell a couple times thinking it was some careless climber, he he)

[Dunedain313]

Got about a dozen or so. Pikes, Greys, Torres and Quandary multiple times. Longs is my favorite hands down. Great trail, a little exposure, amazing views. Love it.

[WhtJeep]

Lincoln/democrat/bross/cameron all at once. Ran to the other peaks once we got to the top. I loved the boulder climb getting to the top of the first peak
Elbert was a lot of fun
Grays Torreys was the first two i guess that I ever made it up
Bierstadt was a good hike.
Tried to make it up Huron but about 3/4 the way, all I was doing was decorating the side of the mountain, not a pleasant experience at all.

I want to do another 2 this summer at least.

[ZooMad75]

Here's a quick one for you. I've haven't climbed any 14'ers my self, but my little sister's 5 year old daughter has done 5. I've been advised to get hiking boots for her for x-mas. She out skis me too. She's going to hit more next year so if you see a little girl bouncing up the trail with a big grin on her face, say hi!

They interviewed her in the Douglas County press, but the link isn't working I had for it. I'll see if I can find it again.

http://www.dcnewspress.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19005374&BRD=2713&PAG=461&dept_id=559878&rfi=8

[Matt]

Link worked for me, cute kid!

I can only hope that when I have kids I'll be able to do stuff like that with them.

[Alpine]

I have done 45 of them. I usually only get in 2-3 per year. :( This past summer it was Shavano, Crestone Peak, Humboldt, and Pyramid. :)

I will probably try to get up Quandary and Grays/Torreys this winter. I have done those in the summer, but want to do a few more in the winter.

I post over on 14ers.com also as 'Alpine', if any of you are active over there.

I don't post much here, but watch the boards regularly.

[starbreaker666]

We drove up Mt. Evans and then climbed the..what.. 100 ft to the summit.

We were at the trailhead for Grays/Torres and turned around because it started to snow.

I doubt I'll be doing any 14ers any time soon with a 1 yr old kid and wife with a trick knee.

I have done that 100 ft hike and though i was going to die..lol

[Clint]

I named all my servers after them years ago when I ran an ISP, does that count? :D I built sneffels, elbert, massive and a few others :D

[JKTODD]

After watching Everest-Beyond the Limit I always feel like I need to get out and hike some of the 14rs. :)