Adopt-A-Peak

Peak Steward field training in June 2009. Photo by Brian Wallace

The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is making a big push to expand its eight-year-old Peak Stewards program, in which 14er fans volunteer to spend several days educating visitors about the alpine environment, Leave No Trace practices, and peak-specific regulations. The nonprofit has added six one-day training sessions this winter and spring, hoping to more than triple its volunteer corps. We asked CFI education and outreach coordinator Brian Wallace to fill us in:

Mojo: So, briefly describe the Peak Stewards program.

Wallace: CFI’s mission statement in general is to protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks through active stewardship and public education. The Peak Stewards program exclusively focuses on the education portion. Peak Stewards receive specialized training in alpine ecology, 14er-specific Leave No Trace, Forest Service regulations, and visitor interaction techniques.

Mojo: How many volunteers do you have?

Wallace: We had 40 trained at the beginning of last summer and 30 active, completing a total of 140 days. This year I am hoping to recruit and train at least 100 more individuals, with aspirations of over 500 volunteer days on the peaks. … Continue Reading

14er Skiing: Best of the Best

The gorgeous south face of South Maroon. Courtesy of 14skiers.com

Frank Konsella, the fourth person to ski all the 14ers from their summits, recently posted a great series on his blog speculating on a new 14er skiing challenge. He writes: “There are still some firsts left on the 14ers—first snowboarder (maybe Eric Kling or Jarrett Luttrell), first woman (Brittany Walker, Pam Rice, and Christy Sauer are all closing in), and first to do them all in one season. But for somebody who isn’t in a hurry to be first at something, maybe getting the best possible descents would be the crowning achievement.”

In six posts, Konsella lists his nominations for the best descent line on each of the 54 peaks, including beauties like South Maroon’s southwest face, “a wilderness classic.” Inspired by his posts, we asked Konsella to pick a few superlatives—the best of the best: … Continue Reading

Every 14er in Lower 48 by Bike and Foot

Longs Peak: First of 73.

You know that sticker that says, “My best vacation is your worst nightmare”? Josh Holley  is planning a summer vacation that’s jaw-droppingly difficult. Time will tell if it turns out to be a dream or a nightmare.

Holley, 20, is going to attempt to climb every 14er in the Lower 48, solo and self-supported, without ever getting into a car or plane. Holley, who lives in Fort Collins and works at Noodles & Company (and also builds and sells single-speed and commuter bikes for extra cash), is building a custom bike on which he’ll carry all the gear for his three- or four-month odyssey. We asked him to describe his plan in more detail:

I got the idea for this journey about four years ago, just after I got my first car. I was then able to get to the mountains on my own, which was huge for me. While on the long drive to Holy Cross one day, I had a lot of time to think—and watch my gas gauge go down. I remember thinking that I could save so much money if I just rode my bike to the 14ers I wanted to climb.

… Continue Reading

Ken Nolan on ‘The Grid’

Ken Nolan below Rio Grande Pyramid in February 2008. Photo by Ken Nolan

Climbing all of the 14ers is challenging enough, and only three people are known to have climbed them all in calendar winter. Now imagine climbing each of the 14ers in every month of the year. Welcome to “The Grid,” a peakbagging concept that will seem utterly impossible to most people and yet inspiring to a few.

Ken Nolan, the third man to climb all of Colorado’s 12,000-foot peaks, is inspired. At age 62, Nolan says completing the requisite 708 ascents (59 14ers X 12 months) in his Grid is a “no hoper,” but that’s not stopping him from trying, and he’s more than halfway through the list. We decided to ask him about it.

Mojo: When did you climb your first peak in Colorado?

Ken Nolan: I came to Colorado from the San Jose area in 1978 and climbed Longs Peak two days after arrival. During a pre-move business trip, I picked up a copy of the Borneman and Lampert 14ers guide and was obviously itching to get started.

Mojo: Who came up with the Grid idea? … Continue Reading

The Lists of John

John Kirk during the day he completed the 231-summit Park County list. Photo by Steve Knapp

Let’s say you really want to know the name, elevation, and location of every peak in the state along the Continental Divide, from 14,270-foot Grays Peak to an unnamed 9,296-foot summit north of Kremmling. Or all the mountains in Colorado that require fifth-class climbing. Or the high point of each of Colorado’s 64 counties. If categorizing and tracking peak ascents is your thing, you need Lists of John, the compulsive climber’s ultimate online resource.

John Kirk, 33, created this remarkable website in 2005, building upon his personal online database. Kirk, who lives in Arvada, moved to Colorado in 2001 and has climbed all the 14ers and county high points. Curious about the Lists of John, we sent him a few questions:

Mojo: What was your first Colorado peak, and what’s on your personal tick list?

Kirk: My first was Blanca Peak (14,345 feet). I completed the 14ers in 2004, and the 64 county high points in 2005. I’ve been chipping away at the 13ers list and have it down to a couple hundred now. I’ve completed all summits in Park County (231 peaks; first ever to complete this list), Gilpin County (22 peaks), Clear Creek County (64 peaks), and Lake County (47 peaks). Boulder County and Chaffee County will probably be completed next. I’d like to complete the highest 1,000 list—I’m over halfway. … Continue Reading

Trailheads: Is That Road Still Open?

At this time of year, the operative question for hikers, climbers, and skiers often is, “Can I still drive to the trailhead?” (In the spring: “Is the road open yet?”) For the 14ers, at least, there’s an answer waiting online at 14ers.com, whose amazing Trailheads page is updated by users nearly every day. In the last five days, users have commented on access to Sherman, Red Cloud, Lindsey, Belford, Holy Cross, and several other 14ers. (The gist: 4WD will still get you there, but probably not for long.)

If only there were similar updates for trailhead access to the 13ers and lower peaks. Does such a service exist? If so, let us know, and we’ll add the link to our Conditions page.