On Monday, August 17th, Cereal completed both the Centennials and 14ers with a summit of Snowmass Mountain via S-Ridge. This brings to a close a nine-year journey that began in 2017, shortly after he moved to Colorado.
Cereal put in some serious work this year, including day-tripping the Wilson Group and Gladstone. In the weeks leading up to his finisher, things were looking a little dubious, with an incoming monsoon surge and half of the finisher party sidelined by injuries. Somehow, everything came together for two days of absolutely perfect weather. Mr. and Mrs. Cereal climbed Hagerman on Sunday, and on Monday, Chipmunk and I joined them for the final peak of his list.
I first met Cereal in 2019 at a 14ers.com Spring Gathering. Apparently, one meeting was enough for us to decide that a five-day backpacking trip to Chicago Basin together was a perfectly reasonable idea. There, we tackled the 14ers along with Jupiter, Pigeon and Turret. Thankfully, that went well enough that we continued to make questionable decisions together, eventually climbing 12 more 14ers and 29 13ers.
Cereal has also been there for all of my finishers, as well as Chipmunk’s, so it was especially meaningful to be there with him for the final peak of his own journey.
Cereal insists that he is done climbing now that he’s finished, but I have a feeling we’ll be standing on many more summits together.
Congratulations, Cereal!
Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
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Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
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Consecutive months with at least one 13er or 14er: 102 months.
Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
Congratulations, Cereal! It was an absolute privilege to share this one with you. It’s been so nice getting to know you and Mrs. Cereal over the years, and I’m really glad we’ve gotten to share so many adventures along the way. While your climbing resume is certainly impressive, I think your greatest mountaineering achievement may actually be getting your Subaru up to the Geneva Lake trailhead. Truly elite driving skills!
Last edited by Chipmunk on Thu Aug 20, 2026 7:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Will_E
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Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
Congrats, it’s a huge deal finishing either list, let alone both simultaneously!
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daway8
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Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
Woohoo - very cool knocking out two lists at once and on a fun route like S-Ridge! Congratulations! 
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HikerGuy
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Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
Congrats!! Happy to have been peak adjacent to your finisher
And I agree with Chipmunk, I think the greatest accomplishment in your quest might be getting the Subaru to Lead King Basin
And I agree with Chipmunk, I think the greatest accomplishment in your quest might be getting the Subaru to Lead King Basin
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desertdog
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Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
Congratulations, Cereal! Good timing on finishing both goals together!
The summit is a source of power. The long view gives one knowledge and time to prepare. The summit, by virtue of the dizzying exposure, leaves one vulnerable. A bit of confidence and a dash of humility is all we get for our work. Yet to share these moments with friends is to be human. C. Anker
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Eli Watson
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Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
Well done, Cereal! Snowmass is a stylish way to finish. It was a pleasure to share a couple snow climbs with you - one fantastic, the second a little more warm and sleep-deprived 
I'll always chuckle at waking up at a trailhead and asking, "Are we on the other side of the Divide?
"We drove over Independence Pass!"
Best of luck in whatever the future holds for you and your family!
I'll always chuckle at waking up at a trailhead and asking, "Are we on the other side of the Divide?
"We drove over Independence Pass!"
Best of luck in whatever the future holds for you and your family!
Last edited by Eli Watson on Thu Aug 20, 2026 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
People who are hardcore don't think they're hardcore. Marshall Ulrich, Fastest Known Podcast #85
Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
great job and congrats! if you enjoyed the centennials, the bicentennials are even more special, and are worth checking out
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josephnephi
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wmagnuson7
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Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
Congratulations and keep hiking! 
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greenonion
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Re: Centennial and 14er Finisher: Cereal
Congrats, Cereal! And great forum name!
