The final 14ers

The Chicago basin: Sunlight, Windom, Elois

This was the most amazing weekend. First, an awesome group of people agreed to accompany me on our final adventure. Then, we drive to Silverton, got on a train, got off the train in the middle of nowhere, and hiked for 6 miles in the rain to base camp. It took us two days and all our energy to bag the peaks in the basin, and it was so great to have the support of our friends! On the last day, it was looking like we might not finish due to weather. When my Dad and I stepped up onto the summit of Mt Elois, I was so overwhelmed I actually cried. This has been the most incredible adventure. I am so proud of us and I feel so lucky to have been able to share this journey with my Dad, and with all of you!

Thank you all for your support!! I love Colorado!

Pyramid

We've heard some scary stories about this peak, the last of the elks. So we got on a waiting list to go with an experienced team, but it never panned out... So, we decided to hack it on it own... And we killed it! We had a perfect day, beautiful weather, great route finding, awesome summit. Feeling so amazing! We can actually do this!!!

Three fourteeners remain on the list.  THREE.

The bells

What an incredible weekend. These two peaks were so beautiful and also terrifying. I'm exhausted and exhilarated. We had an amazing team of people without which I wouldn't have summited (see north bells, the chimney). We were careful but we were also lucky, and the reward was astounding.

Four more peaks remain on our list! Wow!!

Little bear

The mountain and the bear.

We had quite the adventure on little bear mountain this weekend. After the backpack into lake Como, we meet the bear himself, who was quite happy to help himself to most of our food for the weekend, all tied up in a nice little package for him.

The next day, we got up at 3am and started hiking. Up the gully to the notch, across the traverse, and to the hour glass. This is a step section of terror, and I was glad I brought some gear to do a prusick up! Then it's not too far to the summit, which means you're half way there. By the time we were down, out, and back to Denver it was 3am again. What an amazing hike. This was truly a physical and mental battle, and I feel so awesome for having made it through safely.

6 more to go!

Birthday 14er hikes

Redcloud, Sunshine, and Handies

Such an amazing weekend. Friends and family joined me for camping, a birthday BBQ, cheesecake, and three fourteeners. I had the most wonderful time and I am so grateful for all the awesome people I know. Year 29 is off to a great start!

Only 7 fourteeners to go!

Capitol peak

Number fifty one: the big one.

Considered to be the most difficult Colorado fourteener for one reason; the knife edge. 100ft of exposed ridge line where shear rock faces abut each other forming a 90 degree angle with 1000 ft drops to either side. But first, you have to get there. 7 mile backpack in, camp at the lake, wake up at 2:30am, scale the saddle and rock gully in the dark, summit a 13er; then it's the knife edge between you and the summit. And once you finally reach your goal, there's nothing for it but to go back across the knife to come down again! It was a long, exhausting, and completely amazing day.

coxcomb

high peak. the final climb for our basic mountaineering class.

dear friends, this was a serious climb.  we started with a 4 mile backpack over a stormy saddle, and camped in a beautiful sun set lit basin.  early early in the morning, before the sun, found us route-finding a steep couloir of loose talus rock. by the time the sunrise found us, we were at the base our goal; coxcomb. between us and the summit: class 4 scrambles, class 5 chimneys, 2 rappels, and a sidewalk wide path with steep deadly drops to either side.  at the very start of this trecherous path I thought I would have to turn back when another student shifted a 200lb rock toward my head as I was scrambling over a bouldering problem.  fortunately I got my head out of the way and it only grazed my hand. after some 1st aid I was ready to move on.  we made it all the way past the chimney and could see our goal of the summit... and also the large thunder clouds forming above.  we made the call to turn back and did a quick rapel down to the base, and were glad we did when it started hailing on us.  it was quite an adventure and I'm really proud of all we've learned in this class.  cheers to all our brilliant instructors including Mark to whom the credit of this picture is due.

Forty nine and fifty

Wilson peak and mount Wilson

In telluride for the fireworks on the fourth, then up early early on Saturday to hike Rick of ages to the saddle below the peak. Dropped camp and summited before the hail. Next morning the mountain complete with class four sections and protection.

Feeling awesome and empowered to do these hard climbs! 50/60 = 83% completion.

Dragontail

This Saturday we were on the trail by 4am so we had this spectacular view of the Dragontail couloir snow climb just as the sunrise hit it. By 9am we reached the top after a hard climb, exhausted and exhilarated. This was our semifinal exam for the BMS class and I think we nailed it!

Seal rock

A five pitch climb up the seal's back, then a 200 ft repel from off the top of the nose. Hardcore awesomeness in the Boulder flatirons this weekend!

Up and up

Here I am ascending a two story cliff by climbing a fixed line using prussic friction knots. With my pack on. Like a boss. This was one of the more difficult things I've ever done. Rock on!

Thanks to my instructor Erin for the picture.

Ice ice baby

2nd Snow day success! Crampons on steep snow, self belay, then vertical climbing with ice tools on a frozen ice column. It was heard work but lots of fun. Then, glissading and self arrest with an ice axe. Feeling pretty awesome and very sore.

Snow day

Snow anchors, crampons, ice axe technique and running belay on St. Mary's glacier. Beautiful weather and a great day!

On rappel

Here I am, about to jump off a cliff!  You know.. with all the proper equipment to do a safe rappel. 

Lost and found

There is something very empowering in being able to use simple instruments to stay found in the wilderness. Over the course of 6 hours we were able to pinpoint the exact location of 5 trees and use navigation techniques to make efficient paths between them.

Honestly, I was surprised at how well it worked. Here's me looking super dorky/awesome with my map, compass, and gear. Just as the weather was starting to move in and dust the tops of the trees with snow.

How was your weekend? Do you know where you are?

hiking with strangers

Dad and I are starting on a new phase of our 14er adventures: the scary ones.  The really tall and dangerous and scary ones.

And so we, like many others before us, find ourselves at the door of the Colorado Mountain Club.  We have registered for a Basic Mountaineering Cource which includes and intense series of training lessons to gain certification and class 4 mountaineering experience.

Hiking with strangers, we have found, is awkward.  But, it's going to push us to become better hikers and to be prepared for the difficult trails ahead.

Wish us luck!
~ Here's to you and your day and many happy trails for all of us ~

4th annual birthday backpack

Crestone Needle and Humbolt - #44 &45

Amazing birthday backpack weekend.  We returned to the South Colony Lakes to summit the needle, which was a beautiful class 3 hike. The sunrise as we climbed through broken hand pass was stunning.

 On the right, you can see us climbing the east gully, and on the left, the needle from the lakes, immersed in clouds.

And here's my Dad and I on the summit!

When we got back to basecamp around noon, we decided to take a risk and hike to the top of Humbolt despite the incoming weather.  We climbed through the clouds for a record 3 hour total climb, and were rewarded with a break in the weather at the summit. 

It's been a wonderful 14er season!  45/60 = 75% to completion.  Can't wait to bag some more next year!  Extra thanks to Brennan and Jodi for the awesome pictures. 

forty three

Snowmass Mountain

This is one of the most beautiful and most difficult hikes I've done.  The backpack trail in was 8.5 miles, but the view of Snowmass lake was well worth the trek.  From the lake, you can see the rest of the 8 hour climb to the summit; up through the boulder field in the center, then to the right through the basin, up some terrifying loose rock and scree, through the notch, across the ridge, and the summit is actually the bump in the top right of this picture.  The climb was long and steep with some frightening exposure, but the view from the summit, of course, was spectacular. 43/60 = 72% to completion.

forty two

El Diente

What a great hike!  We backpacked in and spent the night in the beautiful Killpacker basin, with awesome views of the summit above a gorgeous waterfall.  Soca joined us and had a wonderful time leaping through the tall grass chasing butterflies.

We had an early start on the next morning, but it was slow moving with a lot of loose rock class 3 terrain, but the view from the summit was well worth the effort.  42/60 = 70% to completion; rough roads ahead... forage onward!

Wishing you days as lovely and views as far 

forty & forty one

Lindsey and Culebra

The 14er season has begun!  This past weekend we took on two peaks in the Sangro de Cristo range.  Day one: Lindsey was a success even if we were a little slow.  View from the summit above.  During lunch on the saddle, the locals were very friendly. 

Day two: Culebra was an interesting hike because there is no official trail.  We wandered through elk territory up to the ridge, and followed the horseshoe curve to the summit.  It was a nice and quick hike with beautiful views of the valley floor. 

We've made it to the 40s! I wish I could say this meant we are 68% to completion, but the hikes we have left are all class 3 to class 4 ... we'll see how we do....  Also, we've realized it has taken us 11 years to get this far.  Wow.