SKT
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- Barnold41
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Re: SKT
Don't plan on completing them, so does forever count?
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Re: SKT
To quote Enos Mills: "all good climbers go slowly".
- FireOnTheMountain
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- THCello37
- Posts: 2
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Re: SKT
Julian, you beat me to the punch! I was literally up late last night drafting this post—
This is something I’ve wondered about for years, having hiked my first 14er (Mt. Elbert, of course) back in 1991 during my second summer in CO when I was 23, and just this summer, 30 years later, finally exceeding my age in 14ers hiked with Culebra, the Bells, and Pyramid to reach 55. Reading Luther Longbow’s recent post inspired me to write
viewtopic.php?t=60904&p=753997#p753997
“Did the El Diente -Wilson Peak Traverse with ssides (great climbing partner) on Wednesday 9/22…My last two 14ers - 45 years since my first attempt on Crestone Peak…Thanksgiving 1976. 9 inches of snow … never even made Willow Lake… The stupidity and hubris of youth!”
I’d love to hear the stories of those like Luther Longbow who took decades to finish.
And who might hold the SKT record for CO 14ers? Perhaps someone who at 4 or 5 years old, climbed their first 14er with their mom or dad, and then finishing some 60, 70, 80 years later?
Hard to imagine this being anyone’s goal from the outset, much more likely a matter of circumstance or coincidence, but the strategy might mean saving an easier one as a finisher, and then a fair degree of gamble/risk as you get up there in age that you’ll be around, and in shape for the next climbing season! I’ve never been in a hurry to finish, definitely prefer to stretch it out and savor the experience, but with Little Bear, Mt Wilson, and El Diente remaining on my list, don’t think I’ll be waiting 20 years to try for the SKT!
This is something I’ve wondered about for years, having hiked my first 14er (Mt. Elbert, of course) back in 1991 during my second summer in CO when I was 23, and just this summer, 30 years later, finally exceeding my age in 14ers hiked with Culebra, the Bells, and Pyramid to reach 55. Reading Luther Longbow’s recent post inspired me to write
viewtopic.php?t=60904&p=753997#p753997
“Did the El Diente -Wilson Peak Traverse with ssides (great climbing partner) on Wednesday 9/22…My last two 14ers - 45 years since my first attempt on Crestone Peak…Thanksgiving 1976. 9 inches of snow … never even made Willow Lake… The stupidity and hubris of youth!”
I’d love to hear the stories of those like Luther Longbow who took decades to finish.
And who might hold the SKT record for CO 14ers? Perhaps someone who at 4 or 5 years old, climbed their first 14er with their mom or dad, and then finishing some 60, 70, 80 years later?
Hard to imagine this being anyone’s goal from the outset, much more likely a matter of circumstance or coincidence, but the strategy might mean saving an easier one as a finisher, and then a fair degree of gamble/risk as you get up there in age that you’ll be around, and in shape for the next climbing season! I’ve never been in a hurry to finish, definitely prefer to stretch it out and savor the experience, but with Little Bear, Mt Wilson, and El Diente remaining on my list, don’t think I’ll be waiting 20 years to try for the SKT!
- JulianSmith
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- Wentzl
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Re: SKT
Not exactly on topic, for those who like things slow, I thought some of you might enjoy this:
https://universes.art/en/specials/john- ... alberstadt
https://universes.art/en/specials/john- ... alberstadt
Shorter of Breath and One Day Closer . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXKgl8turY
"Social Justice" = Injustice
Progressives are Oxy-morons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXKgl8turY
"Social Justice" = Injustice
Progressives are Oxy-morons
Re: SKT
I won't call it my goal - but if I do finish (and that might be doubtful), I will easily beat the 49 year time. I did my first 14er in 1975 and at the rate I'm going, it will take me at least another 5 years to finish. 50+ years easily. That, of course, assumes I will stay healthy for the next 5 years and who knows?
But I am pretty spooked about Little Bear.....
But I am pretty spooked about Little Bear.....
I take the mountain climber's approach to housekeeping - don't look down
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Re: SKT
I’m a little like Jay. I did PP in 1975 and didn’t do anything more until I came back in 2017. I wanted to finish this year but C19, fires and permits pretty much shot that down. I am no longer really motivated to finish but I sure would like too see a boxing match between Laura and JQD at the Fall get together. My money is on Laura… she’s a badass
- disentangled
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Re: SKT
that's funny. mine was a 6 hour RT drive. luckily one of the closer THs. lolJulianSmith wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:18 pmWins the Internet for today! This was me exactly, a couple of weeks ago, when I drove up to Hoosier Pass and never got out of the car because the smoke was so bad...
- greenonion
- Posts: 1902
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Re: SKT
+ a big one hereJay521 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 5:30 pm I won't call it my goal - but if I do finish (and that might be doubtful), I will easily beat the 49 year time. I did my first 14er in 1975 and at the rate I'm going, it will take me at least another 5 years to finish. 50+ years easily. That, of course, assumes I will stay healthy for the next 5 years and who knows?
But I am pretty spooked about Little Bear.....
- greenonion
- Posts: 1902
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Re: SKT
greenonion wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 10:16 pm+1+++Jay521 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 5:30 pm I won't call it my goal - but if I do finish (and that might be doubtful), I will easily beat the 49 year time. I did my first 14er in 1975 and at the rate I'm going, it will take me at least another 5 years to finish. 50+ years easily. That, of course, assumes I will stay healthy for the next 5 years and who knows?
But I am pretty spooked about Little Bear.....
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- Posts: 163
- Joined: 7/28/2004
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Re: SKT
I started in '84 taking about 3 weeks to climb Whitney, starting in Yosemite. Began climbing CO moutains a few years later. I really thought I could motivate myself to climb them all. Moving to Eagle county made it easier on the commute. Still somewhere along the way it hit me that driving endless hours for a daytrip was too damn boring. Maybe I'll be re-created as an eagle or a hawk and then I can just wing my way to the tops. Probably ain't finishing in this lifetime.