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I've finally got some spare time so I'm going to write this trip up. I'd been wanting to finish the 14ers since I'd climbed Bierstadt ten years ago with my dad and brother but as my friends and I got more and more into technical climbing I found myself with less and less time to hike the remaining 14ers. I would be moving to the Bay Area in mid August for a job so if I was going to finish the list any time soon I knew it would have to be this summer. By early August I had climbed all but Snowmass. I had made it to within 50' of the summit last summer but was turned back by a flight for life rescue for a fallen climber. As the calendar turned to less than a week before I had to move I finally got out with TJ and Doug.
We hiked in during a light rain and reached camp below the lake at around ten. The next day we awoke at 6 and started the hike. It was surprising to see the namesake snowfield devoid of snow. As we gained elevation it became clear that the weather would hold and that I would be finishing today. The anticipation built until I passed my previous high point and gained the summit block. It was a strange feeling, a ten year journey that I had thought about for countless hours was finally over. A nice group of people on the summit lent us their sign and we got a good finishing shot.
After enjoying the top we hiked to the lake and fished with a pole I made from a willow branch and a safety pin. TJ was actually really successful and caught his limit of brookies!
We hiked out the next day and I was able to enjoy the fact that two days before leaving our wonderful state for an undetermined amount of time I was able to accomplish this goal.
Though I haven't been a very active member of this community I have done a fair amount of reading of trip reports and was able to climb Culebra as a part of a group that Kiefer organized. I wanted to say thanks to all of you for making this site and community what it is, I appreciate it! Also thanks to my dad for starting me on this journey and thanks to Mary, Doug and TJ who were my main partners through it all. I know this wasn't the most informative report in terms of conditions or directions but I thought it would be a nice way to officially wrap up this chapter of my life. Thanks to all of you and I hope to see you on the trails or at the craigs!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Congratulations on finishing your list. I finished mine this past Saturday on Snowmass as well via the S Ridge. In my opinion, it was the perfect climb to end on. A challenging climb and beautiful scenery. So we have three things in common. It took me ten years to complete the 14ers, we finished the journey on Snowmass, and I no longer get to live in CO. Best of luck with the next chapter of your life.
Congratulations on your last 14er 9/12/2012 11:10pm
Great Job on your last 14er Snowmass. I have one more 14er too and it is Snowmass I will do it next year in July sometime. Did Little Bear last week and I have a fracture on my foot falling just before the lake. It sucked having to hike down Como road. Again congrats on your finish. [b][i]
You made a fishing pole out of a willow branch... 9/14/2012 5:08pm
...and a safety pin? I can't believe you actually caught fish that way.
Nice job finishing! Glad you got to do it before moving.
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