Colorado's Giant Peaks: The Fourteeners

The Rocky Mountains, a long twisty string of peaks, spans across North America from Alaska, through Canada, to central New Mexico. The state of Colorado boasts the tallest of the peaks where this range reaches its climax. The most dominant feature of the Rockies is the Continental Divide which is a long ridge that marks the divide of the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds. Colorado, alone, offers over 50 mountain ranges, 830 summits, and 55 peaks that reach over fourteen thousand feet above sea level. Coloradans refer to these 55 peaks as Fourteeners.

A word of caution: Depending on what literature you read, you might come across a list of 53 peaks or 56 peaks. Further explanation of why this is the case can be found if you continue reading...

Climbing and conquering the Fourteeners in Colorado is something that is often on the Bucket List for rock-climbing enthusiasts. Many people have made it their goal to at least attempt all of them. Most of Colorado's Fourteeners are not extreme challenges for experienced rock climbers. Most of the terrain that climbers encounter on Colorado's peaks include:

• scrambling across talus slopes (loose or broken rocks at the base of a rock wall),
• hiking up steep, grassy slopes, and
  
• picking through ice walls.

Every so often, climbers will require ropes, crampons, and ice axes, but those occasions are few and far between. Some of the peaks such as Longs and Capitol Peaks offer long, technical rock climbing rocks for those who are so inclined.

One thing climbers have to be very aware of is the rapidly changing weather, especially above the tree line where the land is barren. During the summer months, climbers have to be careful of thunder and lightning storms which occur almost every afternoon. During the winter, snow and high winds could affect a climb within seconds. It is crucial that climbers bring the right gear with them, including layers of clothing, plenty of water, and rain gear. If possible, it would also behoove climbers to bring a GPS unit or a map.

Altitude sickness is also something to be aware of when climbing any mountain, not just a Fourteener. If you start feeling nauseous, get a headache, and start to get dizzy, it would be a good idea to descend to lower elevations. One way to prevent altitude sickness is to drink as much water as possible. The thinner air will affect the amount of oxygen you are inhaling as well as the different air pressure at higher altitudes.

If you are planning on ascending a Fourteener, it would probably be a good idea to make sure you prepare your body appropriately for the challenge. Participating regularly in cardiovascular activities prior to the climb. Building up stamina and endurance would help your body tremendously before going on the adventure. Climbing steps, running, biking, and swimming are all good activities to participate in, in order to prepare your body.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) have certain criteria they use to qualify a peak as a Fourteener. Just because the summit of a mountain reaches 14,000 feet doesn't mean they automatically qualify. According to the guidelines, a peak must rise at least 300 feet above a "saddle" which connects it to another nearby peak. Some peaks do rise above the required 14,000 feet mark but at the low point between them and and a higher peak does not rise beyond 300 feet above sea level.

Official Fourteeners are also not independent mountains, but rather peaks that are joined together in a range.

• Mt. Cameron ~ 14,238 feet ~ Mosquito Range
• El Diente Peak ~ 14,159 feet ~ San Juan Range
• Conundrum Peak ~ 14,060 feet ~ Elk Range
• North Eolus ~ 14,039 feet ~ San Juan Range
  
• North Maroon Peak ~ 14,014 feet ~ Elk Range

Depending on the list you are looking at, these five peaks are sometimes included as Fourteeners even though they don't meet the USGS and CMC criteria.

For an interactive map of the Fourteeners, click here.