Traditionally I have emailed out a link to my Picasa web album for each hike/trip/life event I have taken over the past several years. I'll still be sending out Picasa web albums for things like family vacations, my kids events/sports/games/etc., holidays and so forth but as I close in on the completion of my goal to finish all 58 14ERs (peaks that are 14,000+ feet in elevation) in Colorado I have decided to start a blog for sharing my adventures on these final hikes over the next two summers.

Currently I have 39 original 14ER peaks completed and 61 total summits on 14ERs (due to many repeats).

As I mentioned, my goal is to complete all 58 14ERs by the end of the summer 2015. The peaks that I have left to hike are more difficult to complete for a number of reasons. First, many require a backpack trip/hike several miles in from the trail head  in order to set up a base camp for a day or more. Second, most of the peaks that I have left to complete are technically for difficult. Lastly, long drives are required from my house just to reach the trail head.

When I use Picasa Web Albums I'm restricted on the number of words I can use to write about my hike/trip. I feel that since my future hikes/trips will be longer, more challenging, and in many ways more exciting, I want to have the option to write much longer posts than I have been currently able to do.

I'm very excited about my hikes over the course of the next 2 summers and am anxious to experience the adventure and scenery that they will bring. Over the last several years I have had the opportunity to hike with many friends and family members in my journey to completing these high peaks of Colorado. Just this past summer alone (2013) my Father-In-Law Gary Strawn came with us on his very first 14ER, Mt. Huron! My son JR completed his 10th 14ER and our good friend Steve Reed who comes out every summer from Missouri to camp and hike with us just finished his 16th 14ER.

My plan to finish the 14ERs will include hiking with friends and family along the way but will mostly include my regular hiking partners, which are my wife Michele and our friend Ben Holman.

I will update my blog after each 14ER trip and I will then send a email link to my blog letting you know that it has been updated. Also, I believe that you can subscribe to my blog by clicking somewhere on my home page. I will include a write up about the hike and include lots of pictures.

Please feel free to enter any comments or questions on my blog about the 14ERs and hikes!

Here is the plan for the 2014 hikes:

Friday June 27th - Sunday June 29th     SNOWMASS MOUNTAIN backpack trip. Class 3, located in the Elk Range

Friday July 11th - Sunday July 13th    14ER'S CRESTONE NEEDLE & CRESTONE PEAK backpack trip,  Class 3,  located in the Sangre De Cristo Range






Monday July 28th - Sunday August 3rd   CHICAGO BASIN BACKPACK/14ER TRIP located in the San Juan Range and include peaks Sunlight, Windom, Eolus, and North Eolus. Class 2+,3, & 4.



Friday August 22nd - Saturday August 23rd  LONGS PEAK,  located in the Front Range, Class 3. 



Saturday September 6th - Sunday September 7th   14ERS CASTLE/CONUNDRUM & MAROON PEAK  Class 3, located in the  Elk Range



Saturday September 20th - Monday September 22nd   CAPITOL PEAK BACKPACK TRIP/14ER    Class 4,  located in the  Elk Range.

 

Here is a definition of the Classes  that are used to describe the type of trail:

 

Class 1 Easy hiking - usually on a good trail.

 

Class 2 More difficult hiking that may be off-trail. You may also have to put your hands down occasionally to keep your balance.  May include easy snow climbs or hiking on talus/scree.

 

Class 3 Scrambling or un-roped climbing. You must use your hands most of the time to hold the terrain or find your route.  This may be caused by a combination of steepness and extreme terrain (large rocks or steep snow). Some Class 3 routes are better done with rope.

 

Class 4 Climbing. Rope is often used on Class 4 routes because falls can be fatal. The terrain is often steep and dangerous. Some routes can be done without rope because the terrain is stable enough.

 

-Hart