Interested in a 14ers blitzkrieg in July - any interested parties?

[JLuthanen]

All - newer to CO 14ers, but definitely not newer to climbing / mountaineering. I've had a bucket list item on my wall to knock off the CO 14ers for awhile, and I got my first taste last summer with Grays and Torreys. I have been climbing since 2009, and want to dedicate 2-3 weeks this summer to pack in as many 14ers as possible. Here is a small list of peaks I've signed climbing logs for: https://www.summitpost.org/users/jluthanen/99536

Couple questions ...

1) Coming from WA state via truck, and given historic snowpack / conditions, what would be the best way to maximize the number of peaks I can climb in that time frame?
> Obviously link ups like the Decalibron are going to help check boxes, but I knew there was historically some red tape for access there. And

2) Would anyone be interested in joining for any of these climbs?
> I am at the point of putting in PTO and generally was thinking early July to mid July, and with current snowpack that doesn't seem unreasonable.

I know how to suffer efficiently in the mountains, can wake up balls early to beat the crowds and summer storms, will be able to hike midweek, have a capable high clearance 4x4 vehicle, and am not out to set any speed records - though I would love to pack as much into my short window of time as possible. Open to zero days and fly fishing as time and as my body allows / necessitates, but spending the next 12 weeks kicking my ass into shape with the Bellingham Mountaineers to condition myself with 30#+ pack weight over mileage and decent elevation profiles. I generally handle elevation well once acclimated, and will likely be parking lot camping my way through your great state around that timeframe. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[cardgenius]

What range/part of the state are you looking to romp through?

[pvnisher]

What are your goals?
Pure numbers? Or hitting the best ones?
If the latter, then your checkbox list will suffer, but if I was doing it, I'd go for quality over quantity.
Walking up many similar peaks isn't as much fun when it's all back to back.

[Jorts]

If you're fit and ambitious like it sounds, this seems realistic:

San Juans - 4 days
Sangres - 3 to 4 days assuming you're not doing Culebra
Sawatch - 5 days
Elks - 3 days
Mosquito-Tenmile - 2 days
Front Range - 2 or 3 days (since you've already done GT)

That's 3 weeks without totally pushing the pace but without any rest days either. Easy days like Castle and Conundrum would be rest days.

[JLuthanen]

Appreciate the responses! As it were, goal IS quantity over quality - there are some rad 14ers and 13ers for that matter with fun technical aspects and variants, but my goal is to hit 58 x 14ers in time (if possible considering red tape). I would love to get one or two a day while I am local, and walkups are just fine. Whereas that may be a little less spicy, walkups also allow a more steady & enjoyable pace vs stressing over logistics.

Honestly, I was just starting to get an idea on mapping out what peaks interlink closest to each other and going from there. If truly car camping and bopping from TH to TH, the best way to maximize this is to use less gas and not drive all over, just what's nearby.

@Jorts - would you be able to detail the peaks your rough outline would include? I think visiting that many ranges alone in that timeline would awesome.

[JLuthanen]

For a successful Blitzkrieg in the Colorado Rockies -

avoid any Army 10th Mountain Division encampments.

They don't like surprise attacks

[Dave B]

1) Coming from WA state via truck, and given historic snowpack / conditions, what would be the best way to maximize the number of peaks I can climb in that time frame?
> Obviously link ups like the Decalibron are going to help check boxes, but I knew there was historically some red tape for access there. And

The what now?

Snowpack's right about average this year, although anything can change in Mar/Apr.

[dwoodward13]

my goal is to hit 58 x 14ers in time (if possible considering red tape).

Unfortunately the Culebra slots for the summer are already sold out unless you can get out here in early June. You can get on a waitlist if you email the ranch I believe.

Bells/Pyramid parking reservations for July go on sale 4/2. Camping permits for Bells/Pyramid/Capitol/Snowmass for July have been on sale for a couple weeks and may be pretty well all gone by now.

I would take a look at some of the 14er FKT attempts for logistical inspiration. Obviously they take some extreme lines to link peaks together that likely won't be up your alley, but you can get an idea of what to group together from them. Overall though you should get a pretty good idea of groupings of peaks just from looking at the map on this site with 14ers toggle turned on.

[SchralpTheGnar]

1) Coming from WA state via truck, and given historic snowpack / conditions, what would be the best way to maximize the number of peaks I can climb in that time frame?
> Obviously link ups like the Decalibron are going to help check boxes, but I knew there was historically some red tape for access there. And

The what now?

Snowpack's right about average this year, although anything can change in Mar/Apr.

I think he meant historical.

[pvnisher]

It seems like the perennial question of "what is the best route and order to hit the summit in the least time" should have a fairly well defined answer by this point.
Right?

I don't actually know the route and order. I'm just saying those are fairly straightforward parameters and it's odd there isn't like a set "standard" answer for that.

Not for setting records, not bike powered, not self supported, just the standard "I have a car and 3 weeks, what should my route be?"

[Jorts]

@Jorts - would you be able to detail the peaks your rough outline would include? I think visiting that many ranges alone in that timeline would awesome.

I attempted to do them all in two weeks a few years back but abandoned the effort when the monsoon hit. Managed to get through the SJs in 3 days, the Sangres in 3 days, Pikes and a handful of the Sawatch before calling it quits. This outline might be more aggressive than you want but you could modify it to suit your pace and purposes.

Red outline is THs that are less than 3000ft from summits.
Red shading is 4th cl+
Yellow shading 3rd.
Green is 2nd or less

I was using a few nonstandard routes so some of these are easier than I shaded. Driving time, vertical and mileage are left columns for the days I mapped out for each.

Screen Shot 2024-03-07 at 6.31.26 PM.png (154.75 KiB) Viewed 13337 times

[Jorts]

It seems like the perennial question of "what is the best route and order to hit the summit in the least time" should have a fairly well defined answer by this point.
Right?

I don't actually know the route and order. I'm just saying those are fairly straightforward parameters and it's odd there isn't like a set "standard" answer for that.

Not for setting records, not bike powered, not self supported, just the standard "I have a car and 3 weeks, what should my route be?"

Kind of. Depends on what you're driving, scrambling and routefinding ability for linking nonstandard routes, fitness, etc.