N-America

Pyramid Peak

Lyngve — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 06:31:02 -0500

Pyramid Peak (4273m) is often regarded as the most beautiful of the 14’ers in Colorado. It is not as famous as its two neighbors, Maroon Bells, but the foreshortened view of the North Face is neck-binding and unlike anything else in Colorado. I personally “discovered” the peak in 2001, but had to wait 4 long years for the opportunity to climb it.

North Maroon Peak

Lyngve — Sat, 17 Sep 2005 06:33:51 -0500

North Maroon Peak (4271m) is nestled in the heart of the Elk Range, 16 kilometres west of Aspen in Colorado. North Maroon and its slightly higher companion South Maroon form the spectacular Maroon Bells, often referred to as the "Deadly Bells". 4 years after my successful but near-disastrous climb of South Maroon, I returned to these peaks with mixed feelings.

Huron Peak

Lyngve — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 06:25:13 -0500

Huron is a shapely, shy peak hidden in the heart of the Sawatch Range about halfway between Buena Vista and Independence Pass in Colorado. Huron Peak just barely rises above 14000 feet but compensates by being the Sawatch fourteener that is farthest away from a paved road.

Harvard and Columbia

Lyngve — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 06:10:14 -0500

Mount Harvard, together with its companion Mount Columbia, forms a large, high massif 18 kilometres northwest of Buena Vista. Harvard is Colorado’s third highest peak (4395m) and therefore frequently climbed. Due to a terrible snowstorm I wisely decided to postpone my climb, hoping the weather would improve the next day. And it did...

San Luis Peak

Lyngve — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 05:57:52 -0500

San Luis Peak (4271m) is perhaps the least climbed of Colorado’s fourteeners. The shy peak is far from everywhere and offers little technical excitement. But it is precisely San Luis’ reclusive nature that makes the peak well worth climbing, and I very much enjoyed to spend a beautiful day in solitude.

Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Peak

Lyngve — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 06:37:57 -0500

These dramatic peaks guard the San Juan’ northern edge about 15 kilometres west of Lake City in Colorado. Uncompahgre’s great height (4361m) and Wetterhorn’s classic shape make them siren sentinels. The day before I had been admiring those beautiful peaks from a distance, and I was really looking forward to an excellent outing.

Redcloud and Sunshine Peak

Lyngve — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 06:34:16 -0500

I did Handies Peak before lunch, and decided to continue with Redcloud (4278m) and Sunshine Peak (4268m) in the sunny afternoon. People often do the two latter peaks in a day, but it’s quite unusual to do all three peaks in one day, as this requires more than 2100 metres gain of elevation in one day. During the long day I also added one more peak on my list, Sundog (4094m).

Handies Peak

Lyngve — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 06:22:59 -0500

Handies Peak (4282m) is one of the easiest 14’ers in Colorado, but far from boring. The view from Handies’ summit is famous and spectacular and I could see mountains as far as the eye could see. Unquestionably one of my most memorable moments in the Colorado wilderness.

Wilson and El Diente

Lyngve — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 06:09:17 -0500

Wilson Peak (4272m), Mount Wilson (4342m) and El Diente (4316m) are some of Colorado’s most difficult fourteeners. My approach to these peaks were ill-fated from the first moment, and the problems included closed trailheads, morning thunderstorms, food shortage and insufficient climbing equipment.

Eolus, Sunlight and Windom

Lyngve — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 06:23:25 -0500

Mount Eolus (4292m), Sunlight Peak (4285m) and Windom Peak (4292m) are the most remote of Colorado’s fourteeners. These wild, rugged peaks lie buried in the heart of the Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juans. No matter how you approach these peaks, it will be a major undertaking.