Hello, and a quick Q&A!

Hi! I'm Luke. I'm that guy in your group of hiking friends who's always eagerly volunteering for the job of planning the logistics of the next day trip or backpacking adventure in the mountains. So, after years of doing this for my own trips, I couldn't resist trying to do it for you, too.

Let's start off the blog with a bit more background about this project. By design, there isn't much more to know about The Ascent beyond the page itself, but let me try to knock out some possible questions that may come up as you read it:

Q: Luke, did you climb the 14ers in the exact order of The Ascent?

A: Nope! That would have required a magical degree of prescience. While The Ascent's Stages 3, 4, and 5 largely mirror my own particular journey through the more serious Class 3 and 4 adventures, my path through the Stage 1 and 2 peaks was just as random and winding as anyone else's might be. It was precisely because of this swerving back and forth through levels of skill, stamina, and courage that I was able to look back afterward and lay out the ideal order for the person who is on the front end of the whole endeavor. In other words, if I had it to do all over again, this is exactly the sequence I would have undertaken.

Q: Wait, Luke, just for the record, you've climbed all 58, haven't you?

A: Yes, I have! I actually created this list when my list stood at only 55, but just a few months later, I was able to take care of business. In August 2020, in an epic week of crisscrossing the state, I was able to knock out the two showstoppers that comprise Stage 6, Capitol Peak and Little Bear Peak, and then I finished the job on the easy but breathtaking Uncompahgre Peak, which I had been saving for very last for years. It did not disappoint. Despite the ideal order of The Ascent, I'd highly recommend picking an intermediate-level one that you believe will have special significance for you, and saving it for last. It'll take the edge off of the final outing of your journey, and prevent any dangerous choices borne out of "summit fever." But anyway, I digress... the answer is yes, I'm a Finisher, and you will be too.

Q: How quickly do you recommend I tackle the list?

A: That is 100% up to you! I do not take any position on the pace at which you attempt these. Again, I'm assuming you're as busy as I am, and that you aren't going to blast through all 58 in one spectacular summer for the ages. With a couple of upcoming repeats, I will have completed the cycle of all 58 in an 8-year period, which I think is a pretty healthy, normal timeframe, even for someone as obsessed with the 14ers as I am. My typical summer includes 7 or 8 new ones, and 3 or 4 repeats to introduce my kids or friends to some of the more accessible ones and get them hooked. Probably my proudest 14er statistic is that I've led more than 50 people (ages 5 to 65) up their very first 14er. That's what it's all about!

Q: Was anyone else involved in assembling this project?

A: I shared early drafts with several friends in my mountaineering circles, all of whom had climbed at least 40 of the 58 (including two 58-finishers), just to give it a bit of a focus group. Their feedback was incredibly helpful and led to some re-orderings, wording tweaks, and other touch-ups.

Q: I am totally new to this scene and I have no idea what "Gerry Roach's guidebook" is. Can you link me to it?

A: Why, yes I can! You can find the Bible of 14er planning, officially titled Colorado's Fourteeners: From Hikes to Climbs, 3rd Edition by Gerry Roach here, or at many outdoorsy stores near you. This book is indispensable. I literally wore out my first copy -- the binding simply gave up -- and I had to get a second one. Make sure to read the opening and closing sections in full as well. It's a powerful resource. (I am not a paid promoter of the book; I'm just a huge fan.) But you must pair it with 14ers.com, where you'll find trip reports, peak conditions, and photo guides of your routes. The book and the site are the definitive 1-2 punch of planning resources, once you've decided which mountain to climb next (which is where The Ascent comes in!).

I hope this background Q&A is helpful. I've kept this site simple and focused purely on sharing the guide with everyone who might benefit from it, so I don't expect to be updating it very often (unless, well, a new 14er rises from a fault line?). That said, I look forward to a robust dialogue with folks who want to engage with me via the "Share Your Stories..." section or via replies to this or future posts. Bring on the discussion!

See you on the trail,

Luke