Beyond the thirteeners

By Bob Martin

Several people, after climbing all of the Colorado 13ers, vowed never to work on climbing the 12ers. After hearing of Ken Nolan’s experiences, they may change their minds. Ken reported these milestones: highest 1200, 7/26/03, last peak, unnamed 12,260' on Turret Ridge; highest 1300, 9/1/03, unnamed 12,082'; all 12ers, 9/7/03, unnamed 12,003' on the South River Peak topo.

Ken had this to say after his final climb: "It is with considerable pleasure, and some sadness, that I report that on September 7, 2003, with good friend Jean Aschenbrenner along, I climbed unnamed 12,003' on the South River Peak quad. This completes my list of 1,313 official 12ers in Colorado. Most of me wishes that there were 1,000 more." Ken didn’t say why there wasn’t a celebration as well publicized as the one when Jean finished the 13ers.

With regard to the 100-peak milestones, we still have just three that have been reached beyond the 13ers: 1300 highest, Mike Garratt, 6/26/94; 1300 highest, Ken Nolan, 9/7/03; 2000 highest, Bob Martin, 8/9/01.

The feat of climbing the highest point of mountain ranges still hasn’t caught on in Colorado as it has in some other states. We have only three people to list who have completed the high points of mountain ranges in the state: Elaine Hill and Dave Hill, 7/29/02; Bob Martin, 9/29/98.

There were no new reports of persons climbing all of the mountains in a county. The list of counties completed now stands as follows: Alamosa, Bob Martin, 8/10/88; Boulder, Gerry Roach, 2/22/98; Chaffee, Bob Martin, 6/9/84; Clear Creek, Gerry Roach, 2/28/98; Gilpin, Gerry Roach, 10/23/94; Lake, Bob Martin, 8/11/89; Mineral, Bob Martin, 8/20/98; Rio Grande, Bob Martin, 10/11/01; San Juan, Bob Martin, 8/25/95; Summit, Bob Martin, 10/2/97.

Mike Garratt reported climbing all of the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park this summer. Mike and others had finished partial lists, such as all the named mountains or all mountains above 11,000 feet, in past years. But he and these two others are the only ones to report climbing all of the mountains in the park:Gerry Roach, 11/19/01; Bob Martin, 6/10/98.

Jobe Wymore and Dr. Doug Hill have completed climbing the high points of the counties of Colorado. The list of completers now stands as follows: John Mitchler, 9/14/96; Bob Martin, 6/12/97; David Olson, 10/11/97; Bob Packard, 4/11/99; Dave Covill, 9/26/99; George Vandersluis, 9/27/00; Stephen Mueller, Charlie Winger, 10/15/00; Dawn Howard, Gerry Roach, 9/29/01; Gary Swing, 9/3/02; Beckie Covill, Jennifer Roach, 11/9/02; Jobe Wymore, 7/6/03; Dr. Doug Hill, 8/20/03.

Several others are nearing completion. One stumbling block is that the high point of Bent county is temporarily closed. Hopefully, a group visit can be arranged for next year.

Please send information on climbing accomplishments that include objectives below 13,000 feet to Bob Martin, P. O. Box 2008, Buena Vista, CO 81211. Information received by September 27, 2004 will be included in the issue of Trail & Timberline.  P