THE ASCENT

I am just a guy who used to be scared to death of any mountain that required more than a simple stroll along a friendly trail to the top. As a kid, my dad led me up 16 of Colorado's easiest 14,000-foot peaks, always warning me of the dangers of the "hard ones." I listened.

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But many years later, after losing my dad to cancer in 2013, something shifted in me. I was ready to attempt a new ascent. I began to chip away, one summer weekend at a time, at the then-overwhelming list of 58 summits. I also had a busy, full-time job and young kids at home in Denver, and I knew I would need to be super efficient if I was ever going to make a dent in my emerging goal. 

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Through careful study and planning, I carved out a slow and steady path that allowed me to build up skill, stamina, and courage along the way. The result was a multi-trip itinerary of sorts that I believe might be useful to other average, busy, non-hardcore hikers like me.

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While there are countless ways to conquer the great challenge of the Colorado 14ers, I'm sharing this guide in the hopes of informing and encouraging others who may be looking up the same steep learning curve and long trail to the 58, and who could use a bit of a tailwind as they set out on their own ascent.

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You've got this!

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Luke Anderson