THE FOURTEENERS AND BEYOND

the fourteener les

“My fondest memories are that I started hiking the 14ers with my son when he was 4 years old. We hiked them all together and nished when he was 18. When we started I used to talk him all the way up and bribe him with food. On our last ones, he was telling me how to breath and coaxing me along. I learned more about my son and his life as we talked on those long hikes.”

—Juli Frey

“ e aspect of climbing all of these peaks that is number one in mind is all of the adventurous people I have met along the trail. I climbed quite a few of the 14ers with the Club and once again it’s like-minded people doing what they love. It’s a good feeling to know I’m one of them.”—Jim Finley “My rst Catholic Mass on top of a 14er, Redcloud Peak.” —Father John Nepil “ e 14er journey took me to places in this state I didn’t even know existed. Chasing this goal is the equivalent of chasing storms. I drove for hours into the night, from trailhead to trailhead, sleeping out of the back of my car and days on end without a hot meal or shower. Many of the later trips required backpacking, which added a whole new element to my de nition of mountaineering. Now instead of grabbing everything out of my trunk and throwing it in a daypack, I needed to handle the logistics of planning a trip into the eld for 2 or 3 days using a backpack. My top memories include the snow climb of Snowmass Mountain. is was my rst climb that required crampons and an ice axe. It was also the most physically and mentally demanding climb I have ever had to do. We encountered rain, snow, lightning, thunder, hail, wind, and even a little bit of sunlight. I still tell the story of this trip.”—

Jake S. Phillips

“Grilling hot dogs on the summit of Elbert for my nisher.”—Eric M. Holle “My fondest memory is probably of my late friend Steve Gladbach. He led a Pikes Peak CMC trip up Mount Elbert on New Year’s Day, 1995. at summer he had summited Denali, so he was quite accustomed to extreme temperatures in a hostile alpine environment. However, that morning it was 10 degrees below zero and we could not persuade him to get out of his car to start the climb. Fortunately, we nally succeeded and had the most wonderful time on the summit, amidst the calm and balmy 9 degrees.”—Denise Snow “My rst 14er was Windom, sometime in the late 1980s, on a backpacking trip from the East. . . . At the time I had no idea how many 14ers there were or that I’d ever climb them all, so I didn’t record the date. I wasn’t seriously bitten by the 14er bug until 2006. To help make the record o cial, I climbed Windom again on September 8, 2012, during a trip to the other Chicago Basin 14ers. Many thanks to the excellent volunteers of the Pikes Peak Group who run their courses. My comfort and con dence on the nal snow climb were certainly helped by taking their Avalanche Awareness and Winter Mountaineering courses.”—John Golob “We have had a great time climbing with our friends at CMC over the years and have climbed some of the 14ers twice, along with many other worthy peaks. is past summer was quite a push for us to nish, starting out with Little Bear as a snow climb in late May, then South Maroon, North Maroon, Pyramid, El Diente, and nally Pikes Peak, which we saved for last. It was great to have a nice bathroom and reception complete with champagne and snacks and lots of friends at the top!”—Julie and

Hilary Smith

“I climbed my rst 14er, Longs Peak, when I was attending CSU in the summer of 1969, about the same time Neil Armstrong took “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” My climbing partners and I went up the cables, and came back down through the Keyhole. I did not realize at the time that climbing all the Colorado 14ers would one day become a personal goal. . . . One year I climbed only 3 14ers. Another year I climbed 17. . . . I nished all 54 by climbing Capitol Peak only a few months before my 60th birthday! Climbing peaks has become an important part of my life, a means and a reason to keep myself physically t, active, and mentally healthy.” —John Redmond “ e knife edge on Capitol Peak in 2012 was exhilarating. I made the summit solo that day and believe I was the only one on the Northeast Ridge trail to summit that entire day.” —Greg Peoples “Our rst 14er was Quandary Peak on August 8, 2009. We met and got married in Telluride, so the Wilson Peak nisher was a perfect conclusion to a ve-year journey.”—

Christopher and Noelle Whitestone

Scott Farish, with some close friends and family dressed as superheroes, atop Mount Sneffels, on August 31, 2013.

The Fourteeners list

Those who reported completion of Colorado’s fourteeners in 2013

NO. NAME FIRST PEAK DATE

1336. Amy K. Goins 1382. Eric M. Holle 1401. Steve Parson Mount Shavano Longs Peak Mount Elbert

1402. John Redmond 1424. J. Bri Jones 1425. John J. Smrcka Longs Peak Mount Sherman Mount Shavano

1433. Jill McCarthy 1442. Linda Wohlgemuth 1443. Don McKenna 1444. John Slaughter 1458. Steve Cummins 1463. Lynn Hall

Mount Bierstadt Longs Peak Grays Peak Longs Peak Grays Peak Grays Peak 1464. Desiree Brickell Wubben Pikes Peak 1465. David Wubben 1470. Aaron Johnson 1471. Luke Stephenson 1472. Daniel McCool Grays Peak Quandary Peak Pikes Peak Mount Elbert

1473. Chad Ovel 1474. Ma Payne 1485. Michael Tsuji 1486. Randy Stau er 1516. Bruce Leiman Longs Peak Mount Sherman Mount Bierstadt Quandary Peak Pikes Peak

1517. Susan Pellegrini 1521. Jason Weingast 1522. John Golob 1523. Ma Kamper 1524. Gary Jenkins 1525. Ed Simmons 1526. Jason Andrew Sayre 1527. Beth Dwyer 1528. omas Dimler Grays Peak Mount Sne els Windom Peak Quandary Peak Mount Elbert Mount Harvard Mount Bierstadt Mount Evans Mount Evans

1529. Kenneth Gurvin Mount Democrat

1530. Greg Peoples 1531. Brenda Lin eld Torreys Peak Grays Peak

1532. Roger Lin eld Mount Elbert

1533. Jim Finley

Longs Peak 1534. James Winchester Schermerhorn Longs Peak 1535. John Nepil Mount Elbert

1536. Nathan T. Hughes 1537. Sarah R. Schmeer La Plata Peak Mount Sherman

1538. Glen R. Cipriani 1539. Kit Frey 1540. Juli Frey 1541. Preston Dennis Windom Peak Mount Sherman Mount Sherman Pikes Peak September 1994 August 2002 September 2001 1969 June 2008 June 2005 July 2003 August 1982 June 1981 August 1998 1997 August 2008 July 1978 July 1981 June 2008 July 2010 June 2008 July 1989 June 1985 September 2002 May 2006 July 1972 August 2000 June 2000 August 1985 April 2009 August 1996 July 1994 July 2011 August 1995 September 2002 September 1991 July 2004 September 2002 November 1981 August 1976 August 2009 July 1996 May 2006 July 1992 July 1996 June 1999 June 1999 November 2010

1542. Jane Reuteler 1543. David Schmid Mount Antero Mount Shavano 1998 1996

1544. Stephen Mark Megison, Jr. Mount Princeton 1545 . Jill Webster Mount Shavano

1546. Vicki Meier Pikes Peak

1547. Amy K. Gray-Smith 1548. David Mack Quandary Peak Mount Sherman

1549. Randy Mack Mount Sherman August 2003 July 2008 September 1999 August 2012 August 2009 August 2009

FINAL PEAK DATE

North Maroon Peak Mount Elbert North Maroon Peak Capitol Peak Mount Evans Snowmass Mountain Li le Bear Peak Capitol Peak Capitol Peak Culebra Peak Culebra Peak Blanca Peak Culebra Peak Culebra Peak July 2009 July 2010 August 2010 August 2010 September 2010 September 2010 July 2011 August 2011 August 2011 August 2011 February 2012 June 2012 June 2012 June 2012

Pyramid Peak Crestone Needle Capitol Peak Mount Sne els Pyramid Peak Snowmass Mountain Snowmass Mountain Mount Sne els Wilson Peak Culebra Peak Li le Bear Peak July 2012 July 2012 July 2012 July 2012 July 2012 August 2012 August 2012 September 2012 September 2012 January 2013 April 2013

Snowmass Mountain Pikes Peak Li le Bear Peak Capitol Peak Mount Sne els Snowmass Mountain Mount Evans North Maroon Peak Snowmass Mountain Snowmass Mountain May 2013 July 2013 July 2013 July 2013 July 2013 July 2013 July 2013 July 2013 July 2013 July 2013

Snowmass Mountain Pikes Peak August 2013 August 2013

Missouri Mountain

August 2013 Mount of the Holy Cross August 2013 Mount Sne els August 2013

Culebra Peak August 2013

El Diente Peak El Diente Peak August 2013 August 2013

Snowmass Mountain Culebra Peak Culebra Peak Longs Peak Windom Peak Capitol Peak Crestone Needle Mount Wilson Mount Wilson August 2013 August 2013 August 2013 August 2013 August 2013 August 2013 August 2013 August 2013 August 2013

NO. NAME FIRST PEAK DATE

1550. Emily Hendrick 1551. Michael Pelton 1552. Sco Farish 1553. Richard W. Taylor 1554. Denise Snow 1555. Jake S. Phillips 1556. David W. Mulder 1557. Daniel J. Kesterson 1558. Crystal Marty 1559. Dave Covill Mount Sherman Longs Peak San Luis Peak Quandary Peak Mount Bross Mount Bierstadt Mount Lincoln Longs Peak Mount Evans Mount Elbert

1560. Timothy K. Jordan 1561. Julie Smith Mount Bierstadt Grays Peak

1562. Hilary Smith

Grays Peak 1563. Christopher Whitestone Quandary Peak 1564. Noelle Whitestone 1565. Paul S. Arell Quandary Peak Mount Princeton

1566. Chris Wilson 1567. Justin Koback 1568. Marcia McCarroll Longs Peak Mount Princeton Mount Bierstadt

1569. Robin Henry 1570 . Nicholas Gianoutsos Quandary Peak Mount Bierstadt

1571. Junaid Dawud 1572. Luke DeMuth Culebra Peak Culebra Peak

1573. Ma hew B. Hall Grays Peak August 2011 July 1988 September 1980 August 2005 July 1990 September 2009 May 2011 September 2009 July 2007 June 1981 1994 1995 1971 August 2009 August 2009 August 1973 September 1976 July 2011 September 2005 June 2013 September 2007 July 2013 July 2013 August 2011

FINAL PEAK

Pyramid Peak Mount Wilson Mount Sne els Mount Elbert Windom Peak Mount Eolus Blanca Peak Capitol Peak North Maroon Peak Pikes Peak Wilson Peak Pikes Peak Pikes Peak Wilson Peak Wilson Peak Snowmass Mountain Wilson Peak North Maroon Peak Mount Democrat Pikes Peak Mount Democrat Longs Peak Longs Peak Handies Peak

DATE

August 2013 August 2013 August 2013 August 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 October 2013

For recognition in next year’s issue, send the registration form (visit h p://www.cmc.org/Portals/0/GoverningDocs/Fourteener_Completion_Form%20_2012.pdf) by October 15 to the Colorado Mountain Club at 710 10th St., #200, Golden, CO, 80401; or you may send an e-mail to editor@cmc.org. For Beyond the Fourteeners/ irteeners recognition, please include the date and name of the last peak.

John Redmond atop Capitol Peak, August 21, 2010.

Christopher and Noelle Whitestone after completing the Fourteeners on Wilson Peak, September 8, 2013.

John Golob, after a snow-climb up little black bear, on april 26, 2013, to complete the fourteeners. Denise Snow (rear), with Cathy McKeen, climbing the Cross Couloir on Mount of the Holy Cross.

Jake Phillips on the summit of Snowmass Mountain. The twenty-fifth person to finish the Thirteeners, Kathee Thomure is pictured here with Gary Spruytte on the summit of Dallas Peak.

Beyond the Fourteeners By Chris Ruppert and Dave Goldwater 100 Highest Peaks

NO. Name

88 120 204 205 206 207 208 Dave Cooper Ginni Greer Derek Wolfe Beth Dwyer Marianne Curtis John Kirk Eric M Holle

209 210 211 212 213 214 Sue Persone Doris Spencer Kent Willoughby Stephen Droke Roger Lin eld Debbie Welle-Powell

Final Peak

Hagerman Peak Capitol Peak Huerfano Peak 13828 Jupiter Mountain Jagged Mountain Jupiter Mountain Jagged Mountain Jagged Mountain Jagged Mountain Jagged Mountain Teake le Mountain Mount Oklahoma Rio Grande Pyramid

200 Highest Peaks

74 Derek Wolfe

75 John Kirk Clark Peak Mount Oso

300 Highest Peaks

39 Derek Wolfe

40 41 John Kirk Duane Nelson

400 Highest Peaks

28 29 30 31 Carrie Cooney Tim Cooney Derek Wolfe John Kirk

500 Highest Peaks

26 27 28 29 Carrie Cooney Tim Cooney Derek Wolfe John Kirk Gold Dust Peak Mount Oso Greylock Mountain

Precarious Peak Precarious Peak Gold Dust Peak Mount Oso

Belleview Mountain Belleview Mountain Benne Peak Mount Oso

600 Highest Peaks

25 Kathee omure

26 27 28 29 Carrie Cooney Tim Cooney Derek Wolfe John Kirk Unnamed 13164 Boreas Mountain Boreas Mountain Benne Peak Mount Oso

All Thirteeners

25 Kathee omure

26 27 28 29 Carrie Cooney Tim Cooney Derek Wolfe John Kirk Unnamed 13164 Boreas Mountain Boreas Mountain Benne Peak Mount Oso

Date

8/3/1996 6/30/2001 7/1/2013 7/7/2013 7/17/2013 7/28/2013 8/11/2013 8/20/2013 8/29/2013 8/29/2013 9/7/2013 9/19/2013 9/29/2013

8/18/2013 8/31/2013

8/20/2013 8/31/2013 9/18/2013

7/11/2013 7/11/2013 8/20/2013 8/31/2013

7/13/2013 7/13/2013 8/24/2013 8/31/2013

7/16/2013 8/3/2013 8/3/2013 8/24/2013 8/31/2013

7/16/2013 8/3/2013 8/3/2013 8/24/2013 8/31/2013

BEYOND THE THIRTEENERS By Teresa Gergen 900 Highest Peaks

7. Dan Bereck Chair Mountain 9/1/13

End of the Trail

Walt Ruthenburg ▶ 1942–2013

By Kathleen Brennan Walter J. Ruthenburg III, 71, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was killed Sunday, August 4, in a tragic accident in Colorado. He was traveling from his Colorado family to his families in Illinois and Ohio. A horse ran onto Interstate 76. Walt was one of two fatalities.

Walt was born in New York City on April, 1942, and grew up in the New York/New Jersey area. He graduated with a chemical engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree from Kent State University. He retired from Goodyear a er 35+ years of service.

Walt was an Eagle Scout, an avid outdoorsman, and his lifelong passion was cycling. Walt would routinely cycle more than 6,000 miles in a year. In 2013 he had just completed 3,100 miles for the year. Walt received a special recognition from Goodyear for riding his bicycle to work for 1,500 consecutive work days. He completed cycling tours in all of the 48 contiguous states. He was a founding member of Team R.O.M.E.O. (Retired Old Men Eating Out) bike group in Akron. Walt celebrated his 50th high school reunion by bicycling from Akron to his high school in River Edge, New Jersey.

In recent years, Walt spent much time in Colorado. Here, he became an accomplished downhill and cross-country skier by following his soul mate, Kathleen Brennan. In turn, he introduced her to the joys and pain of bicycling tandem. Cycling trips included Yellowstone, Quebec, the Rhein, and the Lewis and Clark Trail. Hiking adventures were to the High Points of Costa Rica, Scotland, Ireland, and 24 states, plus 3 14ers. He joined the CMC in 2006 and was on the CMC’s rst Hike and Ra the Grand Canyon trip.

Walt is survived by his companion of 14 years, Kathleen Brennan, of Denver; daughter, Katie (Chris) Hinrichs, of Mundelein, Illinois; son, David (Terra) Ruthenburg of Wadsworth, Ohio; three grandsons; and a brother.

Walt’s Colorado family will miss him: mom, Joan Brennan, of Denver, brother, Mark (Myna) Brennan, and nieces, Laura and Julia Brennan, all of Centennial, and Brennans in Texas and Ohio.

As Walt directed, “the ashes are to be sca ered at some scenic site where I have enjoyed bicycling, hiking, or skiing.”

Walt and Kathleen volunteered for Colorado 14ers Initiative and for the National Park Service at Lake Powell. Contributions in Walt’s honor can be made to Colorado 14ers Initiative: c @c .org

Mary Sullivan Hopper ▶1930–2013

By Kathleen (Kay) Hubbard Mary joined the CMC in 1966 a er coming to Denver from Boston. She was energetic, outgoing, and wanted to explore the wonders of the mountains. A er Basic Mountaineering School, Mary was o each weekend on a new hiking adventure. She was encouraging and supportive to others and soon began leading hikes, backpacks, and camping trips.

She hiked in Norway on a CMC sponsored trip and her backpack was always the largest and heaviest. In winter she enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing and leading Club trips to Crested Bu e, Aspen, and Aspen Highlands. Mary planned and put on the monthly Denver Group Travel Programs, which were held in the Club Auditorium for many years.

On one of those adventures Mary met a young fellow named Fred Hopper who matched her energy and love of the outdoors. A er several years of sharing their love of adventure, they were married in October 1978. ey traveled extensively with the CMC on canoe and ra trips, hiked through the Grand Canyon and canyons of Utah, biked down the Oregon and Maine coasts and in foreign countries, including the Black Forest and Bodensee of Germany to name a few. When they retired, Mary and Fred le the Denver Area and se led rst in Steamboat wSprings and later on the Western Slope. Mary joined the Grand Junction Group and continued to hike and ski until recently. ose of us who knew her and joined on these excursions have many wondrous memories to cherish and will remember her bright smile and twinkling Irish eyes.

Walt Ruthenburg on CMC’s inaugural Raft and Hike the Grand Canyon Outing in 2007. Courtesy Kathleen Brennan.

Mary Hopper. Courtesy Kathleen Hubbard

Stanley Boucher ▶ 1927–2013

A life member of the CMC, Stanley Boucher had a strong a ection for the mountains, which led to his involvement with the Boulder Group. He o en led hikes, climbs, and cross-country ski trips with the group, served a term as the group’s president, and presented the annual safety lecture to the group’s mountaineering school. He also wrote an unpublished mountaineering book while he was in his 20s.

Born on October 19, 1927, in Colorado Springs, to Paul and Edythe Boucher, Stanley a ended Colorado Springs High School and Colorado College, majoring in English and history and graduating in 1949. A er serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he received a master’s in Social Work from UC–Berkeley in 1957. He would go on to work as a psychiatric social worker for the Mental Health Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health, the Colorado Department of Institutions, and then as director of Mental Health Continuing Education for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

Stanley is survived by his wife, Virginia; his son, Eric; and his younger brother, Gary. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Julie, and his son-in-law, Clive Baillie, who died in a mountaineering accident on Mount Toll in 1996.

CMC Adventure Travel

For your bene t and enjoyment, the following trips have been reviewed and approved by the Adventure Travel Commi ee and are o cially sanctioned by the Colorado Mountain Club.

Visit www.cmc.org/AdventureTravel for more detailed itineraries and registration forms.

Pico de Orizaba (18,475’) and Izta (17,350’) January 11–19, 2014 Second trip: TBD February/March CMC Members: $1,000 It’s nally here; the rst CMC trip in several years to the highest mountains in Mexico. Orizaba, third-highest peak in North America and a country highpoint, is a straightforward climb on snow in good conditions. Izta has less snow climbing involved. e rst trip is led by Dave Covill; the second by Roger Wendell. Expand your climbing experience on peaks far above the 14,000’ level, with a climb of a 17er and 18er. ere will be moderate snow travel and some moderate angle icy sections on Orizaba. Interact with locals in Mexico; there may be time to visit cathedrals and museums in Puebla, two hours away. e Mexican volcanoes are a logical next step for Colorado climbers wishing to test themselves for higher altitude or moderate alpine snow conditions. We will climb Izta as a warm up to Orizaba, unless nearby Popo is smoking excessively and travel there is prohibited, in which case we will climb La Malinche, 14,640’. We’ll stay at the Canchola House B&B, which caters to American style travelers, with small bedrooms, meals cooked for us, and other amenities. For a trip application packet, contact the trip leader at: dave_covill@eogresources. com Phone calls are OK, at 303-517-0355. Roger can be reached at: Rogerwendell@ rogerwendell.com

Yellowstone in Winter January 29–February 3, 2014 SOLD OUT! Steaming geysers, bison, elk, and other wildlife are all part of the experience of Yellowstone National Park in winter. Skiers, snowshoers, and photographers will enjoy the convenient trails leading directly from the lodge to geysers and waterfalls. e trip includes round-trip bus and snow coach transportation between Denver and Yellowstone, a one-night stay in Jackson, three full days and four nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge or cabins, happy hours, and several meals (four breakfasts, one lunch, and three bu et dinners), and all entrance fees and gratuities. Trip leaders are Rick and Deana Pratt. To get on wait list, call 303887-3717 or E-mail rpratt905@gmail.com.

New Zealand Great Walks February 15–March 2, 2014 SOLD OUT! Join the CMC for an unforgettable adventure to hike two of the famous Great Walks in New Zealand—the Milford and Routeburn Tracks. is trip features 7 days of moderate hut-to-hut backpacking in Fiordland National Park on the South Island of New Zealand. ese scenic walks are considered some of the nest tracks in the world. Layover days in Queensland (between tracks) and in Auckland (at the end of the trip) will allow participants to explore additional cultural activities on their own. To get on wait list, contact Patrick McKinley, Phone: 303-973-7387, E-mail: patrickmckinley@hotmail.com

Best of the Grand Canyon—Colorado River Raft and Hike, 2014 April 26–May 8, 2014 CMC members: $4,265 is unique trip to the Grand Canyon offers participants the opportunity to experience this World Heritage Site on a motorized raft for 188 miles through the best of the canyon, departing from the historic Lee’s Ferry and ending with a helicopter ride from Whitmore Wash and a plane ight back to the start. It is especially ideal for those who would like to hike in areas that can be reached only from the river, and those who have always wanted to experience the canyon but who do not wish to make the 7-mile, 4500’-trek in and out. Our out tter, Hatch River Expeditions, has been guiding river trips through the canyon for over 70 years. We will have 4 guides and 20 participants on two 35’ S-rig boats running 30 hp 4stroke outboard engines (fuel e cient and quiet). Each boat holds 18, so for this trip we will have plenty of room. An average motorized raft trip through the Grand Canyon is for 7 days with short daily hikes. Hatch is adding 5 days to the trip with over 100 possible hikes, depending on the group’s interest and the weather. ey o er us daily-guided hikes at di erent hiking levels, or one may choose to rest in camp. ere are several opportunities for point-to-point hikes where we may hike from one drainage to the next and the raft will pick us up later in the day. Register with Leaders: 303-871-0379, blakerosemary@cs.com.

Wolverine Canyon-Escalante Llama Trek May 5–9, 2014 CMC members: $2,080 is trip will be in the beautiful desert canyons outside of Boulder, Utah. We will have a base camp using llamas to carry all of the cooking and camping gear. e guides will prepare all of our meals. e trip will begin in Boulder, Utah, where we will have an orientation of loading llamas and then drive about 1 hour to our trailhead. is hike begins in an open canyon in the Chinle formation. e colorful mudstone has purple tones contrasting with the red rock towers above and the Utah sky. As the hike progresses, the canyon walls constrict, and by 4 miles in we are using our bodies to negotiate the slot canyon. e slots and narrows continue for about 2 miles before the

canyon opens again at its con uence with Horse Canyon. At camp, Horse Canyon is a bit wider with large cottonwood trees and a small spring-fed stream. e llamas and all the gear will be waiting when we arrive. On days 2–4, we will have options depending on the weather and hiking abilities of the group. We can hike out of Horse Canyon overland above the river canyon and drop into the next canyon over, then hike along the Escalante River returning to the mouth of Horse Canyon and back to camp. is is a roughly 6-to-7 mile loop with some steep climbs, river crossings, and bush whacking. We can also hike up to a bench above camp on an old sheep trail. Vast slick rock terrain follows the canyon below offering amazing views and a profusion of wild owers. is hike is about 4 to 6 miles long. If we want a more relaxing day, we can hike to the river and side canyon, about 4 to 6 miles. On day 5 we will pack up the gear and load the llamas, then hike out Wolverine Canyon through great narrows just wide enough for the llamas. e canyon begins to open up after the rst 4 miles, and the total hike to the trailhead is 7.5 miles. Contact trip leader Carol Kurt at kurtskarma@aol. com or 970-925-6648

The Way to Santiago (Walking the Camino de Santiago) May 10–24, 2014 CMC members: $855 e Camino de Santiago is an ancient pilgrimage route that follows many tracks throughout Europe to arrive at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of the apostle St. James are said to be buried. Our Camino adventure starts from the small town of Ponferrada, Spain, 11 days’ walk from Santiago on the Camino Frances (French Route). We will walk across a variety of terrains—from vineyards to elds and forests—and on a variety of road/trail surfaces. From Ponferrada there is an optional tour of a Roman gold mine. Our rst day’s walk warms us up for the following two days—when we’ll climb two lovely mountains—and then it’s smooth sailing through the beautiful rolling hills of Galicia to arrive at Santiago de Compostela. Along the way we’ll have opportunities to meet and talk with people from all over the world. Our accommodation will be a mix of small private albergues (shared, co-ed dorms generally with bunk beds) or small family-owned pensions with single or double private rooms. We will have our backpacks transported each day to our accommodation.Contact trip leader Kris Ashton at kris@aimhigh.net. No phone calls please.

Iceland 2014: Landmannalauger to Skogar July 7–18, 2014 CMC members: $2,968 Welcome to the land of the early Vikings, also known as the land of ice and re! is Iceland trip is your opportunity to step into a totally di erent world of breathtaking, sometimes surreal-looking scenery; cultural diversity; Icelandic peoples, language, and settlement history; and at times, a sense of contented remoteness from the rest of the civilized world! Join us for 7 days hiking hut-to-hut with our experienced Icelandic mountain guide through multi-colored hills and gullies containing hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools; the black deserts of Maelifellssandur; a magni cent canyon cut 600 feet down; arctic birch forests; a climb up and through a high pass dividing two glaciers. Descend the last day along the Skogaa River, enjoying the gorges and 29 waterfalls along the way to the seacoast town of Skogar. Also explore Iceland’s crown city, Reykjavik, and its surrounding attractions. It’s your once-in-a-lifetime trip! is 7-day trek requires that you be in good physical condition for hiking 6–10 miles/ day with 1,000–3,000’ elevation gain/loss. Denver Group B hiking level or equivalent ability is required. e rst 2 and last 2 nights in Reykjavik will be spent in a guesthouse close to the town center and within short walking distance of the Bus Terminal. Contact trip leader Peter Hunkar at email Peter629@comcast.net or by phone at 303323-5775.

v

Wind Rivers Wyoming Llama Trek August 4–10, 2014 CMC members: $2,300 is trip is a classic Wind River Range trip and covers a large portion of the northern Popo Agie Wilderness, with glacial cirques and many high alpine lakes with plentiful trout shing. Participants will carry day packs and the llamas will carry all of the camp gear. Our guides will do all of the cooking. e trip begins at the North Fork Trailhead. Starting at approximately 9,300 feet elevation, we will hike down to the North Fork of the Popo Agie River and follow the river to an open, meandering high alpine meadow just below tree-line (7 miles hiking distance). On days 2 and 3 we will hike to the Cirque of the Towers area in Lizard Head meadows, gaining about 600 feet elevation and camping at approximately 10,100 feet. Here we will lay over for 2 nights. On the layover day we may split the group, if we choose, to take various day hikes at di erent levels of di culty. Participants may enjoy the Cirque of Towers scrambling up Jack Ass Pass or Texas Pass, or simply shing the headwaters of the North Fork out of Lonesome Lake, enjoying some of the best views of the Wind River Range. On day 4 we will hike up Lizard Head Trail and merge with Bears Ears Trail, climbing a steep 6 miles and traversing past Cathedral Peak at 11,800 feet with grand views. en we will descend and merge with Moss Lake Trail, a distance of 4 miles, to Ranger Park at the con uence of Little Wind River at 10,200 feet, for a total day’s hiking distance of approximately 10 miles. On days 5 and 6 we will day-hike to Washakie and/or South Fork Lakes, viewing spectacular cirque walls and experiencing the remote solitude. Day 7 has us hiking back up to Bears Ears and descending to Adams Pass to Bears Ears trailhead, a distance of 12 miles. Contact trip leader Carol Kurt at kurtskarma@ aol.com or 970-925-6648

Trek the Haute Route in Switzerland August 8–24, 2014 CMC members: $2,409 Hike the famous Swiss Haute Route and witness one of the greatest collections of 4,000-meter peaks in all of the Swiss Alps, visit some of the area’s most spectacular valleys, wander through tiny villages and hamlets, skirt hanging glaciers, traverse lonely passes and ll your days with wonder. Hiking is ingrained in the Swiss culture and you will trek for 11 days from Champex, near the French border, to the Matterhorn region without carrying a tent, sleeping bag, or stove because all nights will

be spent in Swiss Alpine Club huts, private mountain refuges or small hotels, mainly in remote locations, and most with hot showers. Participants should have excellent physical conditioning, experience hiking in an alpine environment, and the ability to hike 11 consecutive days with an average of 2,400 feet of vertical gain per day and one day of 5,366 feet. Participants should also be comfortable with a certain amount of exposed hiking using chains, rungs, or ladders as aids. Contact trip leader Denise Snow at denisedansnow@q. com or phone 719-687-9576.

Mount Ararat, Turkey, 16,854’/Mount Musala, Bulgaria, 9,596’ August 15–26, 2014 CMC members: $2,420 is is the rst CMC trip to Turkey in many years and our rst ever CMC trip to beautiful Bulgaria. e trip will o er a combination of hiking, cultural experiences, and a limited amount of technical mountaineering. e outing will o er the opportunity to climb the highest peak in both Turkey (Ararat) and Bulgaria (Musala), which is also the highest peak in the Balkans. e educational value of the trip is immense, with numerous historic sites from pre-Roman times; through the empires of Byzantium, Bulgaria, the Ottomans; to modern times. Mount Ararat is comparable to a “D” hike. e top of Ararat is a snow climb requiring ice axe, crampons, roped travel skills; however, trekkers can skip the peak and enjoy the views from the high camp hut while the climbers do the summit. Musala is a di cult Class “B.” Note: the Denver Group hiker classi cation system does not apply to this trip. Prospective participants will be asked to provide a hiking resume. Ararat summit climbers must have ice axe, crampons, and roped travel skills. All participants must have excellent physical conditioning with screening by the trip leader. Required attendance at pre-trip meeting in March. Attendance at a majority of training hikes and climbs beginning in April (exception may be made for out-of-state participants at the discretion of the trip leader). Note: Leader must forward copies of participant passports in early June to the Turkish out tter in order to secure Ararat climbing permits. Contact trip leader Steve Bonowski at climbersteveb@gmail.com. small elegant hotels in Bolzano, Lake Garda, and Monterosso, Italy. T

Tour of Mont Blanc August 31– September 15, 2014

SOLD OUT!

e TMB is one of the classic world hikes with the perfect mix of awe-inspiring mountain views and vibrant in uence of three distinct European cultures. Our journey begins in Milan, Italy, but the trek starts and ends in Courmayeur, Italy, and circumnavigates Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe at over 15,770 feet. We will cross the Alps in Italy, Switzerland, and France enjoying the views, interactions with locals, and hearty foods. e trek covers approximately 105 miles over 11 days plus a rest day in Chamonix, France. On most days, we carry only a day pack with our luggage transported from hotel to hotel. For our three nights in mountain huts, we will carry only slightly more weight, because the huts provide food and bedding. Excellent physical conditioning is required. To get on wait list, contact trip leader Cynthia Saer at cyncsaer@gmail.com.

Best Hikes of Italy September 14–26, 2014 CMC members: $3,950 Explore three distinctly di erent areas of Italy as we hike in the Italian Dolomites, trek in the hills above Lake Garda, and experience the trails connecting the Cinque Terre, ve beautiful villages on the Italian Riviera. Starting in Milan, Italy, we transfer to Balzano to tour the (Reinhold) Messner Museum, followed by three days of hiking in the towering Dolomites. Next, we transfer to beautiful Riva del Garda on Lake Garda. In addition to two day hikes, there will be opportunities for recreation, including beautiful beaches, boat rides, formal gardens, and more. One evening we will enjoy an Italian cooking class. We will transfer by train to Cinque Terre and stay at a charming 4-star inn. We will hike the trails that connect these villages. On our return to Milan, we will visit Leonardo da Vinci’s e Last Supper. roughout the trip, we will enjoy the delights of Italian cuisine in charming restaurants and pubs. Hiking level will be B and C level over 6–7 days. e trip includes 12 nights’ accommodation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park October 18–26, 2014 CMC members: $800–$1,000 Please join us for another epic adventure in the Southern Appalachians! Experience one of the most biodiverse regions in the United States and discover its incredible beauty. Your trip leader has lived and hiked in these mountains for over a decade and will take you to some of the coolest places in the park at one of the prettiest times of the year: Mid-October is prime fall foliage season in the Southern Appalachians. e planned itinerary is to spend six or seven days exploring Great Smoky Mountains Park, including touring, a lot of hiking, and an optional bicycle tour around Cades Cove one morning. We will do day hikes throughout the western half of the park (some hikes will be on the Appalachian Trail) and will take the weather into consideration to try to pick a good destination every day. If possible, we will spend our last night at Charit Creek Lodge in Big South Fork National Recreation Area near the Kentucky border. Charit Creek is a historic and very rustic hike-in lodge with one-room log cabins that sleep 12, a solar-powered bathhouse, and a historic dining room for dinner and breakfast (included). From the lodge, we will do an afternoon loop hike to the impressive twin arches (6 miles, 450 feet). Our base in the Smokies is a cabin in Townsend, Tennessee, just yards from the national park boundary. Our cabin has ve bedrooms and three bathrooms, a screened-in porch overlooking the creek, a deck with a hot tub, a wood stove, a full kitchen, washer and dryer, etc. While at the cabin, we will be responsible for preparing ALL our meals— breakfast, sack lunches and dinners—unless we decide to go out to eat. e trip fee includes funds for the group meals. Every participant will be required to actively participate in meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning up. Your trip cost includes all ground transportation in Tennessee, all overnight stays, as well as group meals at the cabin and Charit Creek Lodge. Any meals we choose to eat out are on your own. If interested, contact Chris Dohmen at cattanooga@gmail.com