Colorado Fourteener Climbs | Other Climbs

  • African Safari
    On: Dec 02, 2025
        Rick and Mona’s S. Africa and Botswana Safari Sept 4 – 19, 2025; organized by National Geographic’s GeoEx. Our first time in S. Africa, we flew Aspen – Denver – Dulles – Capetown, over 24 hours flying. Capetown Capetown, population 6 million, is called the Mother City of South Africa being the first […]
  • Climbing a New York City Skyscraper
    On: May 17, 2023
    In Hudson Yards, NYC there is a building called the Edge that has the highest cantilevered deck in North America at the 100th floor. We elevatored to there and then went outside to climb to the top!
  • Mt. Sherman Revisited
    On: Sep 16, 2021
    After four years passing from finishing climbing all 58 fourteeners, I am back at a summit on Mt. Sherman with Mona Long.
  • Pikes Peak – Summiting My 58th and Final 14er
    On: Sep 25, 2017
    Pikes Peak is the 2nd most visited mountain in the world. I saved it for last because it has a road to the top so that some friends could climb with me and others could ride to the top to begin the celebration completing a 9-year mission to climb them all. We chose the Crags Trail, and then we had quite a party!
  • Mt. Wilson from the Southwest
    On: Sep 11, 2017
    Mt Wilson stands with the other half-dozen fourteeners that are the most challenging climbs. We chose the Kilpacker approach – grueling boulder-hopping but there’s a rewarding scramble to summit and with less exposure than the traverse-ridge from El Diente.
  • Windom Peak – 4 Tries and a Fantastic Summit!
    On: Aug 30, 2017
    August 26, 2017 Windom Peak is one of the really fun Class 3 peaks in the Chicago Basin of the San Juan Range, accessed by the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge train and a long backpack to the basin. The summit is the most unusual of all Colorado’s 14ers and the views everywhere are exquisite. This one was a personal challenge of persistence for me as the San Juans get the first dibs on bad weather both from the west and the monsoons from the south.
  • Humboldt Peak – West Ridge – Sighting the Eclipse from a 14er!
    On: Aug 24, 2017
    Humboldt Peak is a moderate 14er in the Sangre de Cristo Range that features a beautiful setting framed by the Crestones all the way to summit. We had the added attraction of climbing it on August 21, 2017 during the solar eclipse that hit 90% where we were.
  • San Luis Peak – via Creede and the South Ridge
    On: Jul 13, 2017
    A shocking (literally hair-raising) story. We found this approach was the best. Even summiting at 10am we got hit by multiple electrical storm cells that arose with no warning and discharged into us right at summit! We ran and got sufficiently down before the discharges took the form of full lightning bolts.
  • El Diente – Climbing a hard Fourteener
    On: Sep 14, 2016
    El Diente – A Hard Mountain in the San Juan Range El Diente is not often climbed and indeed it has its challenges. We liked the south ridge approach from the Kilpacker trailhead. From that direction the view of El Diente is impressive and the Kilpacker Basin is a feast for the eyes.
  • Wilson Peak – Southwest Ridge Second Try – Success!
    On: Aug 18, 2016
    Wilson Peak is prominent in the Telluride area. We had to make two attempts, once from the Rock of Ages trailhead and once camping at Navajo Lake. This is a fun, challenging Class 3 mountain. Wilson Peak - First Try
  • Wilson Peak – Southwest Ridge – First Try
    On: Jul 29, 2016
    Wilson Peak is prominent in the Telluride area. We had to make two attempts, once from the Rock of Ages trailhead and once camping at Navajo Lake. This is a fun, challenging Class 3 mountain.
  • K2 and Capitol Peak (“The King”)
    On: Jul 15, 2016
    Capitol Peak is undoubtedly the standard bearer of all the fourteeners in Colorado. It features a very long boulder hike/climb to a sub-summit called K2 at 13,688’ followed by a knife-edge ridge crawl to the Capitol summit cap. The final push is a 550’ Class 4 climb to summit.
  • Mt. Elbert – My First Fourteener and Again in 2016
    On: Jun 29, 2016
    Mt. Elbert at 14,440’ is the tallest in the State of Colorado, but one of the easiest to walk up. It is usually many hikers’ first tall peak. I first climbed it in 2002, loved it, but didn’t do a second 14er until 2009. Then in 2016 as prep for harder mountains I did it again.
  • Little Bear Peak – Bad Boy of the Colorado Fourteeners
    On: Sep 15, 2015
    This is a pure climbing story because this mountain is a skilled-climbers’ mountain that most recognize as one of the two most difficult of all 57 Colorado fourteeners.
  • Crestone Needle – A Hard Fourteener
    On: Aug 30, 2015
    Crestone Needle is generally recognized as being in the top 5 in climbing difficulty of all the Colorado 14ers. It is characterized by sustained Class 3 rock climbing (for hours) although on rock that is unusually climber-friendly.
  • Emme Levy Crandall January 31, 2001 to August 27, 2015
    On: Aug 28, 2015
    A Tribute to Emme, Our Australian Terrier, and Her Amazing Life Click the button below to view the story.
  • Crestone Peak … and a Self Rescue!
    On: Aug 24, 2015
    “Crestone Peak, or “The Peak” as known among many climbers, is one of the “double-black diamond” 14ers for climbers. It and its companion fourteener, Crestone Needle were the last of all the fourteeners to be scaled back in the 1920’s. This remote and rugged mountain was once thought impossible to climb.”
  • Blanca Peak – Sacred Mountain of the Navajo
    On: Jul 29, 2015
    with a 130-year old Eagle trap at summit …and close encounters with hungry bears.
  • Tabegauche Peak – A Bit More Than We Bargained for – and a Great Wine at Summit
    On: Jun 23, 2015
    We went at this mountain from the closed Jennings Creek trailhead, avoiding the erosion causing the closure. Early-season climbing into snow – and finally discovering the “right way” to summit. Celebrating with Walter Hansel Pinot Noir at the Peak.
  • North Maroon Peak – Going Technical
    On: Sep 27, 2014
    Climbing North Maroon with Andy Mishmash changes a dangerous climb into pure joy. This peak is notorious for casualties but with care watching for loose rock and someone experienced in route finding, North Maroon becomes one of the most beautiful fourteener climbs. The views on the way up and from summit are stunning
  • Mt. Eolus and N. Eolus – exposed rock climbing
    On: Sep 02, 2014
    Mt. Eolus is a more challenging 14er in the San Juan Range accessible only by the 130 year old Denver & Rio Grande narrow-gauge train and then backpacking to the Chicago Basin. This mountain features a narrow, exposed “Catwalk” and some good Class 3 rock climbing.
  • Ellingwood Pt. via South Zapata Creek (non-standard route)
    On: Aug 24, 2014
    To avoid the busy and rough Lake Como Road and the crowds at Lake Como camp-sites we followed an alternate route from South Zapata Lake. The route to summit was long, rocky, loose and cold on the shady side of the peak. We did get to see Big Horn Sheep for my 1st sighting.
  • Snowmass Mountain
    On: Aug 11, 2014
    A challenging mountain summited with son Brett Crandall in a nearly 19 hour day from dark to dark.
  • Handies Peak in the San Juans – Southwest Slope from American Basin
    On: Jun 29, 2014
    Starting in Lake City, a Colorado classic western town in the San Juan Range; Hiking, climbing from the American Basin, a caldera left over from the volcanic activity millions of years ago making for a picturesque and very snowy day.
  • Mt. Princeton, a 14er in the Collegiates
    On: Jun 04, 2014
    As a birthday climb with balloons!
  • Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point: A Long Day
    On: Aug 18, 2013
    These were two great mountains in the Sangre de Cristos. This was a 15 hour day including backpacking out to the trailhead. At the Kit Carson summit, the Crestones (Peak and Needle) hovered behind us as if to say: “Try me, we get even more difficult”
  • Mt. Massive – Southwest Slopes
    On: Aug 04, 2013
    Mount Massive is the third highest peak in the lower 48 states framing Leadville, CO which is the highest city in the United States. Massive is a huge mountain with five summits over 14,000’ We climbed it from the North Halfmoon Creek trailhead. We saw the rare white Marmot all grown up from the juvenile we saw on an earlier climb.
  • Mt. Belford (14,197’) and Mt. Oxford (14,153’) Climbed Under Full Moon
    On: Jul 22, 2013
    Mt. Belford and Mt. Oxford are two fourteeners in the Sawatch Range that includes the Collegiates near Buena Vista. We decided to climb these two peaks under the light of the first full moon of summer, called the “Super Moon” since it is when the moon is closest to earth and hence appears at its largest.
  • Castle and Conundrum Peaks – Adventure on Rock and Snow
    On: Jul 16, 2013
    A solo attempt in 2009 redone in 2013 to nab both peaks. Castle and Conundrum are fourteeners visible from home. Unique among most mountain routes, snow fields are present well into the summer on the descent from this pair affording uphill trekking with crampons and fun downhill glissading with ice ax arrests.
  • Mt. Harvard and Mt. Columbia
    On: Jul 09, 2013
    Two fourteeners near Buena Vista in the Collegiates subset of the Sawatch Range. Mt. Harvard is a delight especially from campsite near tree line, but Columbia was as loose, steep and ugly as any fourteener.
  • Quandary Peak – East Ridge: Rocky’s First Fourteener
    On: Jun 28, 2013
    Quandary Peak is one of the most popular mountains to hike, a Class One “walk-up.” Rocky the Australian Terrier summited for the first time. He’s the grandson of “the fourteener dog” Emme who, after 17 summits has passed the age of 12.
  • Maroon Peak – the main peak of the Maroon Bells
    On: Oct 11, 2012
    The Maroon Bells near Aspen are generally recognized as the most photographed peaks in North America, especially during Fall colors. Climbing them is an adventure – a mix of pleasures – Class 3 rock climbing, dealing with a notoriously loose mountian, a very long approach slope and narrow ledges.
  • Pyramid Peak – a Dream Climb
    On: Sep 16, 2012
    Pyramid Peak near Aspen, one of the most challenging fourteeners with its narrow ledges, Leap of Faith, Class 4 Green Wall and the impressive Amphitheater; climbed during fall aspen colors with climbing expert Andy Mishmash.
  • Mt. Shavano – East Slopes
    On: Sep 08, 2012
    Mt. Shavano with its Angel of Shavano gully is the flagship fourteener associated with the town of Salida: the “angel” can be seen with arms raised insdie the yellow circle. Also in this article are pragmatic mountain weather forecasting notes mainly using cloud formations.
  • Longs Peak – Camping at 12,700′ – Keyhole Route
    On: Aug 22, 2012
    Longs Peak is one of the most aggressive Class 3 mountains featuring named pitches starting at the "keyhole." The "ledges", "the trough," "the narrows," and "homestretch."
  • Mount of the Holy Cross – A Colorado Iconic Mountain – North Ridge
    On: Aug 17, 2012
    A famous Colorado fourteener for its snow-gully Cross and proclaimed Holy Cross National Monument by Herbert Hoover, it is the subject of the poem “The Cross of Snow” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • Sunlight Peak – a Beauty in the San Juans
    On: Aug 08, 2012
    Sunlight Peak is great rock climbing fun and in the most beautiful Range in Colorado. It is accessed from Chicago Basin which is accessed by a 7 mile backpack after riding an historic narrow-gauge train ride and jumping off between Durango and Silverton.
  • Culebra Peak from San Luis, Colorado’s Oldest Town
    On: Jul 01, 2012
    Culebra Peak is the only privately-owned fourteener. It is accessed from San Luis, only 8 miles from the New Mexico border. The town, formed in 1851, has the striking "Chapel of All Saints and a world-famous shrine called Stations of the Cross.
  • Little Bear Peak in a Snowstorm – and a Real Bear
    On: Sep 10, 2011
    Little Bear Peak – standard route judged to be the most difficult standard route of all Colorado fourteeners, and I learned why. Accessible up the worst road in Colorado. We ran into a bear raid and a snowstorm to boot – a multiple adventure.
  • Missouri Mountain – West Ridge
    On: Aug 28, 2011
    A fourteener in the Collegiates that is a modest step up from a “walk-up.
  • Mt. Lindsey: Full Moon Campout and a Class 3, Loose Gully Climb
    On: Aug 16, 2011
    Mt. Lindsey is one of the new Class of climbs we're doing – loose, steep gullies and playing roulette with the weather.
  • Mt. Antero – West Slopes via Baldwin Gulch
    On: Aug 08, 2011
    Mt. Antero in the Collegiates, the highest mineral-laden terroir in the country.
  • Three Fourteener Summits in One Long Day
    On: Jul 30, 2011
    Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks, both fourteeners in the San Juan Range, can be done together, but the only way down is to climb Redcloud again on the return. A long day, 12 miles and 4,800' elevation gain. Emme, the amazing Australian Terrier, did all three summits, 9 ½ hours effort and she's 10 ½ years old.
  • Wetterhorn Peak: A Class 3 Adventure with Andy Mishmash
    On: Jul 23, 2011
    Wetterhorn notches up in difficulty the fourteener adventures. This climb was done with the leadership of Andy Mishmash, a friend and highly accomplished Class 5++ ice and rock climber.
  • Mt. Bierstadt, Mt. Evans and the Sawtooth Traverse
    On: Jul 05, 2011
    Mt. Evans is the closest and one of the most visible peaks to Denverites. It has a paved road to within 130’ of the summit, the highest in North America. However the climbing approach to the Mt. Evans summit takes the more circuitous and challenging route that summits Mt. Bierstadt first, then traverses a ridge called the Sawtooth all the way to the Sawtooth.
  • Grays and Torreys – Emme lost and found
    On: Sep 01, 2010
    Grays Peak is the highest U.S. peak on the Continental Divide. High winds almost blew us off Torreys!
  • Mt Sherman 14,036’ – Southwest Ridge from Fourmile Creek
    On: Aug 30, 2010
    A nice 14er, not too aggressive. Now we’ve done all the South Park 14ers!
  • Mt. Sneffels 14,150’ (from Yankee Boy Basin) – A Cool Fourteener
    On: Aug 20, 2009
    Starting in Ouray, a Colorado classic western town in the San Juan Range; Hiking, climbing one of the most picturesque of Colorado’s peaks over 14,000’ altitude.
  • La Plata Peak – Northwest Ridge
    On: Aug 01, 2009
    La Plata is a bigger climb - 4500’ of vertical, 10 miles roundtrip, rocky underfoot and can have some snow on the route. It is close to Aspen but without the loose rock of the Elk Range.
  • Uncompahgre Peak – First Sample of the Beautiful San Juans
    On: Aug 16, 2008
    Uncompahgre Peak from the Nellie Creek trailhead is not difficult, but a great day’s outing with sheer beauty all around. The San Juans sport some of the most beautiful mountain scenery of all the ranges in Colorado, although no single mountain would rival the Maroon Bells for volume of photo count.
  • Four Fourteeners in One Day
    On: Aug 13, 2008
    An Aspen Times article announced that Emme, our Australian Terrier, was going to attempt four of the state’s peaks over 14,000’ as a fundraiser for the Animal Aspen Shelter and the Canine Health Foundation. She succeeded.summiting Mt. Democrat, Mt. Cameron, Mt. Lincoln & Mt. Bross all in one day.
  • Yale Mountain 14,196’ In the “Collegiates”
    On: Sep 12, 2007
    Yale Mountain is one of the Collegiates in the Sawatch Range accessed from Buena Vista just over Independence Pass from Aspen. I was joined by our Australian Terrier Emme and son Brett, his dog Amos. Emme, at 20 lbs and short terrier legs – was to go on to hike/climb 17 fourteeners, raising funds for the Aspen Animal Shelter.
  • Huron Peak with Brett – North Ridge from Clear Creek
    On: Aug 31, 2006
    Huron Peak is a nice, easy Class 2 hike starting just above the partially restored ghost town of Winfield and through a pretty meadow with great wildflowers.