Ascent to the heavens: Hundreds climb Colorado’s fourteeners to mark 150 years of statehood
Residents celebrated Colorado’s 150th birthday in high fashion Saturday, marking the moment by climbing the state’s 14,000-foot mountain peaks.
The Denver Gazette sent climbers up Mount Bierstadt near Georgetown and up Quandary Peak near Breckenridge to follow the action.
A volunteer from Colorado Fourteener Initiative (CFI) waited at the trailhead for Mount Bierstadt when a reporter started at 7:30 a.m.
Terry Madison said he had already counted around 500 climbers that had started the 3,400-foot ascent.
“CFI works with the Forest Service to build and maintain trails and we provide climber education,” Madison said.
That’s important on popular mountains like Bierstadt, which, due to their easier climb status and proximity to metro Denver, come under extra pressure, Madison said.
As if on cue, he greeted one couple heading into the trail with a doodle that was running ahead.
“Thanks for keeping your dog on the leash,” he told them.
The activity on Bierstadt was likely as intense as on other nearby, “easier” climbs, including Grays Peak off I-70 at the Baker exit before the Eisenhower Tunnel, and Mount Sherman near Fairplay.
No fourteener is easy in the sense that climbers can just show up unprepared, volunteers noted.
The least challenging climbs involve ascents of five or six hours, and descents of two or three, all in thin air, with lightning storms adding risk later in the day.
But on Saturday, weather was perfect on Bierstadt and its nearby companion peak, Mount Blue Sky.
Climbers at Bierstadt’s summit could see a large number of visitors on Mount Blue Sky, 2 miles east across a sawtooth ridge that is a challenging route for more experienced climbers.
Like Pikes Peak, Mount Blue Sky also has a road to the top, so many also drove to 14,000 feet.
The Denver Gazette spoke with dozens of climbers on Mount Bierstadt, many of whom were taking on their first fourteener. About half of the crowd, from a rough count, was aware that this was a special day for Colorado and some brought state flags and banners to the top. Many brought kids along, some as young as nine or 10.
Richard Scott from Fort Morgan ascended after celebrating his own 78th birthday in June. He had summited by 8 a.m. — after a very early start.
On top by 10 a.m. were representatives of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, which were sponsoring the day’s America 250-Colorado 150 summit initiative.
Only three of the state’s 14,000-foot peaks weren’t represented with Summit Initiative climbers, two because of wildfires affecting the San Juan Range, where many of the peaks are located.
Some climbers — like Luke and Michelle — were unaware they had picked Colorado Day for the climb.
“Wow,” Michelle said, a hundred feet below the summit. “I thought it was always this busy.”
