Legal Access for Bross

[ReachingHigher]

My 11-year-old son has set a goal of climbing 11 Ranked 14ers before he turns 12. We backpacked Mt. of the Holy Cross a few weekends ago for #8. If we could add Bross to the DeCaLiBron loop his goal would be accomplished, but I definitely want to encourage him to respect private property and legal access issues. I know people going for FKT’s have contacted the owner(s) and received permission, so I’m wondering if there’s a way I could request permission for my son and I. Thank you so much!

[justiner]

Permission is hard because of fractured ownership, so I'm not sure if (m)any FKTers have asked/gotten permission. You may be thinking of one of Andrew/Andrea's projects where the other three mountains in the group were closed and they get explicit permission from one owner, a little bit before they set up the waiver system.

Good luck to your son in his goals!

[JerJerBinks]

When is his birthday? You guys should do the Decalibron loop less Bross and then go for Long's on a different day. Long's is amazing.

[Mtnman200]

Another option would be to backpack from the Missouri Gulch trailhead. There are campsites past a dilapidated cabin at 11,300' (just below timberline). Then climb Missouri Mtn. the next day and then do Belford and Oxford the day after that.

BTW, I climbed Longs Peak the month after my 11th birthday. If I can get myself up Longs Peak as an 11-year old, your son likely can as well.

[Ryan P]

For what it's worth, because of the legal issues surrounding Bross' actual summit, the community at large considers "the legally open and marked trail just below the summit" to effectively count as a summit. If you two went up there and respected the property lines, I don't think a single person would ever discredit the accomplishment. In other words you'll get full support if you tick Bross off the checklist.

[Wentzl]

"full support"?

I don't support that.

no credit for an "almost summit". Sorry

[BillMiddlebrook]

For what it's worth, because of the legal issues surrounding Bross' actual summit, the community at large considers "the legally open and marked trail just below the summit" to effectively count as a summit. If you two went up there and respected the property lines, I don't think a single person would ever discredit the accomplishment. In other words you'll get full support if you tick Bross off the checklist.

^This

[timewarp01]

I feel obligated to point out that:

1) the unranked 14ers are just as good if not better than their ranked complements

2) South Bross (the crown jewel of Colorado mountaineering) is free and clear of any private property trespassing concerns

[CheapCigarMan]

"full support"?

I don't support that.

no credit for an "almost summit". Sorry

^This

Simply state the facts. “I wasn’t able to summit Bross because of private property constraints. But I was able to climb to 100’ of its summit.”

[Scott P]

"full support"?

I don't support that.

no credit for an "almost summit". Sorry

^This

Simply state the facts. “I wasn’t able to summit Bross because of private property constraints. But I was able to climb to 100’ of its summit.”

You can get within 30' of the summit elevation on public land.

[ScreeScrambler]

You might also consider camping at Grizzly Gulch and doing Handies one day and Sunshine/Redcloud the next.

[astranko]

"full support"?

I don't support that.

no credit for an "almost summit". Sorry

^This

Simply state the facts. “I wasn’t able to summit Bross because of private property constraints. But I was able to climb to 100’ of its summit.”

Come on dude. It's Bross, not Annapurna. It's not like anyone who did the legal-summit couldn't have made it up. Why get hand-wringy about one of the most trivial differences possible?