New All-Time 14er Grid Slot Leader - One Legend Surpassing Another

[bmcqueen]

Today with a little February zip up Missouri, Belford and Oxford, John Balciar took over the all-time 14er grid slot lead, with a whopping 560 different months climbed on the 58 14ers. Before talking about John and his efforts there, it is important to acknowledge the LEGEND that he just passed - the Great Ken Nolan.

When I first started repeating 14ers in the late-90's, someone told me about this thing called "The Grid" and this guy, Ken Nolan, that had done more "Grid Slots" than anyone else. What is The Grid? It's climbing the same peak in all the different months, or days, or seasons of the year. My understanding is Ken brought this concept to Colorado from the northeast where it was first a thing. And boy did Ken bring it! If you take the 58 14ers times the 12 months of the year, that gives you 696 Grid Slots. Ken is currently at 558, more than 80% of the way done. Ken may be slowing down on the 14er Grid, but he is FAR from slowing down. Glancing at Ken's List of John's stats, he racked up 463 total summits during 2021 alone! Ken seems to be more focused on the lower elevation peaks at present, clearly working on some daily grid efforts to climb his favorites in every day of the year.

Melissa and I had the privilege of meeting Ken in December 2018 at the Climbers' Gathering. What a treat to meet a man so accomplished in the hills and just nice as can be. Congratulations Ken for holding the 14er Grid all-time record for as long as I've known about it!

Ken Nolan.JPG

On to John Balciar. Most of you are familiar with John, aka ScreeSurfer, who was the first we know of to finish off the Seasonal Grid on the 14ers in March of 2020. The week after I met Ken in December 2018, John and I were walking the road from Ashcroft to go do Castle and Conundrum on the first full day of winter. I was telling John about having met Ken, and we talked some about The Grid. I think that's the first time John told me he was seriously considering trying to finish it. My response of course was, "if anyone can complete the whole thing, it's you!". By the end of the day, walking back out on the road to Ashcroft, John was singing a slightly different tune. The thought of doing all of the tough peaks in winter multiple times from far away approaches didn't sound as great any longer.

But alas the cycle of mountaineering that we all love kicked in. John quickly forgot about that day's pain and suffering and started planning his next adventure. He just kept plugging along at his open peaks each month. Since all the winter finishers have done North Massive for a 59th peak, and since 708 just sounds cooler than 696, John will keep plugging away towards 708. It will be fun to follow along and see if The 14er Monthly Grid can actually be completed. February and April are his lowest monthly totals with 28 and 22, respectively. Only June and July are 100% done. Yes, there are still many to go, but as John told me the other day after doing his January jaunt up Capitol...."140 more doesn't sound like that big of a number anymore."

Congrats John on taking on the top spot on this list, and again, huge shout out to Ken Nolan for holding that spot for the past 2-4 decades!

Balciar Dec Pyramid.jpg

P.S. I should also give a shout-out to the current bronze medal, John "Homie" Prater, who is another legend on this site. Homie recently went over 400 14er Grid Slots himself and is still getting out on the high peaks plenty himself.

[Will_E]

That guy is my hero!

[osprey]

I issued a speeding ticket to ScreeSurfer a few years ago on a winter La Plata climb. He started a few hours after we did and was back to the TH before we summited.
He has yet to pay his fine.

[bangerth]

Like in every venture of life you think you are (reasonably) good at, there are people who are just so so way better. I'm in awe of the commitment that John, Ken, and John (and also Brad himself) bring to the cause. I made it to 31 14er and 13er summits in 2021, on 18 days in the mountains, and think that is pretty ok. But that hardly shows up as a blip on their radars. Well done!

[John Prater]

John's progress on The Grid has been impressive, for sure, so I knew this day was coming. Doubt he'll be slowing down any.

And I wouldn't be surprised if Brad is passing me up before too long in monthly grid slots. He's definitely been gaining on me. I think he is well ahead of me on seasonal grid slots.

Here's an interview off Internet Archive that Ken Nolan did with Dougald MacDonald for the Colorado Mountain Journal in 2009. As Ken mentions, it was the White Mountains 4000 Footer Grid that prompted my 14erWorld post in 2008 about the 14er Grid.

[blazintoes]

Do gridders get the same questions as all other types of mountain climbers? Why? Why do you do this John? Somewhere between the long approach and the summit is the answer to the mystery of why we climb. Mountains have a way of healing that words can not describe. Even if I think gridders are looney, experiencing the climb itself even in repetitious fashion with every moment of revelation, heartbreak, and fatigue; that has to be the goal. Perhaps you never climb the same mountain twice, not even in memory.

[daway8]

Wow, that's just mind blowing to even think about...

[disentangled]

Do gridders get the same questions as all other types of mountain climbers? Why? Why do you do this John? Somewhere between the long approach and the summit is the answer to the mystery of why we climb. Mountains have a way of healing that words can not describe. Even if I think gridders are looney, experiencing the climb itself even in repetitious fashion with every moment of revelation, heartbreak, and fatigue; that has to be the goal. Perhaps you never climb the same mountain twice, not even in memory.

From John Keats (1817): "I mean Negative Capability, that is, when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason."

[globreal]

Congratulations John! What you, Ken, John, and Brad are doing is impressive and insane! You guys spend more time in the pain cave than the rest of us spend out of it.

[Skimo95]

Congratulations, indeed a mind boggling achievement by one of the best.

[cougar]

putin cog.jpg

[summitbound]

I can not think of anyone more deserving than John to be recognized for this. He has quietly gone about pursing his passion for the outdoors with little to no fan fair. I bet most people had no idea he was this far into the grid.

The very concept of tackling the 14er grid is truly mind boggling. Most of us "normal humans" are satisfied with finishing the 14er list one time. Imagine not only finishing it 12 times, but doing all 58 (59) in Dec, Jan, Feb, & March. It takes a very skilled climber to even think of tackling this.

John is a good sport about us nicknaming him Cyborg, but it does really fit, as the things he accomplishes are simply not human sometimes! you might take a look at his accomplishments under his profile to get a better understanding of this:
Accomplishments: Colorado Frozen 14er Finisher, Colorado 14er Seasonal Grid Finisher, Denali, Continental 14ers, Colorado Bicentennials, Front Range Monthly Grid, Tenmile/Mosquito Monthly Grid, Glacier Gorge Traverse, Mummy Range Traverse, Presidential Range Traverse(NH), Seven complete rounds of the CO 14ers.

I recall when John brought the grid idea up to me, my response was IDENTICAL to Brads. "If anyone can do it, its you". This is a big milestone along the way to finishing the entire grid. I know you are not there yet, but its only a matter of time. Enjoy this milestone, you earned it!!

I will be forever appreciative of the support John gave me when I was on my quest to finish all the 14ers. I never would have tackled any of my winter summits, without the confidence of having him along. He is just an overall GREAT guy.

A HUGE congrats John, you are an inspiration to all of us!

A few pics

Maroon.jpg

Columbia.jpg

Cap.jpg