While I'm in the mood to procrastinate with working on my resume, allow me to type out my climbing goals for 2009.

(NOTE: This is assuming I am still living in Colorado this summer.)

I'd really like to reach the 20-mark for 14ers. I've done 14 14ers with two repeats, and so I need to do six new ones. Honestly, if I do three or four I'll be happy, but c'mon, I'm shooting for 20! :)

Mountains on my "must-do" list:

Humboldt Peak - I really want to do one in the Sangre De Cristo Range! (PHOTO BELOW: One of those mountains is Humboldt Peak, I believe. I think it's on the left.)



Mt. Princeton - Yes, this would be a repeat. But my buddy, the "Big D" and his wife, the "Lovely A" intend to do this. They're going to drive way past the radio towers to the point where the trail begins off the road. I want to go just to see if their truck can make it! :p)

The ones on my "probably-should-do" list:

Grays and Torreys Peak - From photos I've seen and anecdotes I've heard, the summits of these two are like a zoo at the top. Way to many people for my taste! Because they are relatively "easy" 14ers and it's a short drive from Denver, these are two well-climbed mountains. If you are looking for solitude, the standard route for these peaks are not for you. Anyway, if I climb these two, I would hope to do them on a Tuesday in September when Denverites are working and most tourists are gone. :p)

Mt. Shavano and Tabeguache Peak - I can knock off two in one climb. These are not as bad as Grays and Torreys, but the standard route is also known to a be "highway of people" on most summer days. Another week day would be preferable.

Mt. Massive - Why not?

Uncompaghre Peak - I can dream, can't I?

If I do all those, that would be seven new 14ers and one repeat. Hmmmmmm.

Oh, but I have more climbing goals!

Those on the "really-want-to-do" list:

Alpine Tunnel via the Hancock Ghost Town eastern side. Drive to Hancock. Walk on the old railroad grade to the caved-in Alpine Tunnel. Climb to the top of the divide  so I have a nice view of the train track and remaining railroad structures on the other side. Then walk along the divide to Mt. Poor (alt. 12,442), then down to Williams Pass. From there, it's an easy walk back to Hancock.

One U.S. state high point in the Mountain West - Wheeler Peak (alt. 13,161 feet) in New Mexico would be a nice one.

Those on the "like-to-do" list:

Bald Mountain - Banana Mountain - Syncline Hill - Drive to Boss Lake in southern Chaffee County. Take the Hunt Lake Trail to the divide and walk south on the divide to Bald Mountain (alt. 12,851 feet). Walk east on the ridge to Banana Mountain (alt. 12,323), followed by Syncline Hill (alt. 11,404). Then scamper down toward Boss Lake which isn't very far.

Fitzpatrick Peak (alt. 13,124 ft) - This one is SWW of Tincup Pass. From Tincup Pass, walk along the divide about 0.7 miles to its summit. Driving on the east side to Tincup Pass is really long and adventurous. I wouldn't mind driving to Mirror Lake or all the way to the pass from the Mirror Lake side, and then climbing. There is another hiking option via Napoleon Pass and Cumberland Pass from the west. (PHOTO BELOW: The view of Fitzpatrick Peak from Tincup Pass.)



South Elbert - Hey! This is a 14er! I don't care if it doesn't officially count as a 14er... If I climb from Highway 82 to South Elbert and come back down, then damnit, I'm counting it as a 14er! :-D

Climb Midland Hill in Buena Vista from the back (east) side. Take Chaffee County Road 376 A to the southeast-east side of Midland Hill and climb to the saddle on the summit's north side. (It's the spot where there is usually a lot of remaining snow in the spring.) I've been up there twice already; It'd be nice to go another way.

Thanks for reading! :)

-Steve....