I got serious into hiking when discovered the thrill of reaching treeline, then the saddle or ridge line, eventually being able to see beyond the next mountain range, and lastly the finality of the summit. I was hooked. The lists are just something that brings me back to each of those take-my-breath-away moments.
Then the lists introduced me to some great adventure partners (yep, includes you, Brian) and that feeds my soul even more so.
The adventures turned into mountaineering, canyoneering, couloirs and ice walls, climbing and pretty much anything that gets me closer to those rare moments when everything around you is silent and natural.
The lists are now just an excuse to keep getting after it. Strongly suggest multiple lists that provide plenty of options and most definitely no chance of ever completing all of them!!
Hiking the 14ers as a checklist v.s love of the mountains
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Re: Hiking the 14ers as a checklist v.s love of the mountains
montavonm wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 6:44 pm Hi all, honestly not exactly sure what I'm trying to ask. I'm from the midwest, and daydream about moving to Colorado all the time, mainly influenced by the 14ers, outdoor/mountain lifestyle, and opportunity for a different lifestyle than my current (mountains/running/rock climbing/etc).
I went through a rough patch of life this summer and unfortunately canceled my Colorado vacation last minute. I had some self reflection time and found myself wondering if I even actually enjoy the mountains, or am just chasing the checklist of 58 for whatever reason that I think will bring satisfaction (I tend to do this type of thing - marathons/ultras, 100 mile bike rides, etc).
Surely someone on here has been through the same thing, or at least type of thinking at some point. I really want to drop everything in life and head to the mountains for awhile, but I'm internally conflicted how I would feel after obsessing over knocking out all 58 and climbing every highly rated peak on mountain project as fast as possible.
I ask in a manner of as much respect for the mountains and nature as possible - not to belittle climbing all 58 or other goals whatsoever. I realize this is a lifetime goal that should/can be taken over time, but have trouble staying in the moment and feel like I'm just chasing the next shiny dopamine hit. Someone please drop some wisdom on me.
TL;DR
Anyone went balls to the walls chasing all 58 peaks or other objectives in life and then felt sad/conflicted when it was over?
There is something about the chase, especially for the objective-minded folks among us...but with that said, I didn't feel sad when I finished, but did feel the need to find another suitable/worthy objective as planning and climbing the 14ers took a lot of time and thought and it left me with some sort of void, not a negative one, just 'something'. Living in NY, it took me seven years and pretty much all my vacation days, a lot of flights, driving, a LOT of rewards points, free/award motel nights, frequent flier miles, free rental car days etc. and hours upon hours poring over maps to make the most efficient trips to get it done and that was before the '"work from home" thing and before smartphones were ubiquitous.
In hindsight, I am glad I did it when I did, as that was probably the only time in my life I'd be able to get them done. It was the right time.
If you have the time, motivation, means and fitness I'd say follow your current drive and get it done while you can (recruit help and partners where needed). Everyone has some sort of rough patch at some point, hitting the mountains is not a bad way to find your focus again.
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Re: Hiking the 14ers as a checklist v.s love of the mountains
It's been a while since I've posted, but I'll bite. I only vividly remember a few bits and pieces my actual finisher climb, but I remember distinctly the moment when I sat down in the car at the trailhead to drive back to Denver. It really set in at that moment that it was over. I don't know what I expected to feel - proud of the achievement, I suppose? But I remember being moved almost to tears by how grateful I felt; for the opportunity to spend time with my wife, family, and friends; for the beauty of mountains and different parts of the state I got to visit; for the journey.
I didn't set out to climb them all, though I am certainly a goal-oriented person - that's probably what drove me later in the 'list.' But when it was over, and now, almost 11 years later, that gratefulness is what sticks with me.
I didn't set out to climb them all, though I am certainly a goal-oriented person - that's probably what drove me later in the 'list.' But when it was over, and now, almost 11 years later, that gratefulness is what sticks with me.
You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know. - Rene Daumal