In July 2007 I launched my quest to climb all 54 mountains over 14,000 feet in Colorado. I plan to keep record here of the ongoing saga.

Peaks Summitted (4):

Longs Peak, via Key Hole route. Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Total Time: 11 hours and 40 minutes. Total Distance: 14 miles. Elevation Gain: 5,100 feet. Trailhead Elevation: 9,400 feet. Summit Elevation: 14,255 feet.

Left at 2:20am with two of my brothers, Josh and Matt. We gained the boulder field just as the sun started to come up. Even with a few days set aside to acclimatize, I struggled with altitude sickness for the entire climb above 12,000 feet. Additionally, the 4 liters of water I brought proved to not be quite enough. Fortunately we were able to refill using a fellow climber’s water filter at the boulder field on the way down. I gained the summit at 9:25am. We pushed hard going down, as ominous clouds were gathering in the east. I noticed that people continued to hike up–above tree line–even as lightning could be seen striking the valley about fifteen miles away. That is a risk I am not willing to take. We got back to the trailhead at 2:00pm, just as the first drops were beginning to fall. Longs Peak was a magnificent climb, though one that proved very taxing. After getting back to our cabin in Estes Park I promptly went to bed.

Grays Peak via Grays Trail. Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Total Time: 5 hours and 45 minutes. Total Distance: 8.25 miles Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet. Trailhead Elevation: 11,280 feet. Summit Elevation: 14,270 feet.

Grays was my second 14er, and my wife Britt’s first. After navigating the rough 4×4 trail to the trailhead on Monday night we set up camp and gathered firewood, hoping to turn in early and catch some sleep before Tuesday’s climb. That hope was never realized, as both of us tossed and turned the entire night and barely slept at all. After getting up at 5:30am we managed to get on the trail at 6:30am, though we stopped almost right away for Britt to go back to the car to search for her sunglasses. Unfortunately she wasn’t able to find them. The Grays Trail is broad and relatively smooth trail, and the only thing that gives difficulty is the elevation. Britt and I both felt like turtles as we lumbered slowly but surely up the trail towards the imposing summit. Climbing is perhaps more psychological than anything else, and as the journey progresses perseverance and determination become more and more important. Finally, we rounded the final switchback and were welcomed with a beautifully expansive view over the western edge. The summit had been conquered. We reached the summit of Grays Peak at about 9:15am.

Torreys Peak via Grays Trail to Grays, and then over to Torreys via connecting saddle. Descended from the middle of the saddle. Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Total Time: 5 hours and 45 minutes. Total Distance: 8.25 miles Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet. Trailhead Elevation: 11,280 feet. Summit Elevation: 14,267 feet.

Since Grays and Torreys are right next to each other my plan had been to gain both summits on the same trip. After the slow slog up Grays, the partial descend and then the ascension on the far side of the saddle necessary to gain Torreys appeared more daunting than I had expected. On the Grays’ side of the saddles is a trail that skirts Grays’ eastern slope back down to the main trail. This is where Britt headed, having decided quite sensibly that one 14er was enough for the day. She would wait at the lower junction for me. Determined to gain Torreys I pressed on over the saddle, giving up hard won elevation and faced with the prospect of making it up on the steeper and more rocky face of Torreys’ south side. Fortunately, the altitude was not giving me the trouble it had on Longs Peak back in July and I was able to make it to the summit of Torreys at 10:25am. After spending a few minutes taking in the view I retreated back to the saddle and then took the connecting trail to the junction where I met Britt for the rest of our descent.

Mt. Bierstadt via Mt. Bierstadt Trail. Date: Monday, September 3, 2007 Total Time: 4 hours and 35 minutes. Total Distance: 7 miles Elevation Gain: 2,850 feet. Trailhead Elevation: 11,669 feet. Summit Elevation: 14,060 feet.

Report coming soon…
Left the Trailhead about 5 minutes before 7:00am, and returned to the car at about 11:30am.