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On May 16, 2010, with a ski descent of Capitol Peak’s east face, I completed my goal of skiing the 54 Colorado 14,000-foot mountains (aka 14ers). While the root of the project can be traced back 10 years when, as a relative novice with a ready smile, I skied my first 14er, Quandary Peak, it eventually evolved into something bigger than I ever could’ve imagined back then. And so somewhere along the way, it occurred to me: I wanted to ski them all — something no woman had ever done, and something I learned more about during my husband (and best friend and best skiing/climbing partner) Ted’s own Ski the 14ers Project, which he completed in April 2008. The journey surpassed my expectations. I experienced everything from epic, bluebird powder days to bone chilling winds and less than desirable snow conditions. I trekked around the state to trailheads and mountaintops, and sometimes re-trekked those same routes when the actual “mountain top” eluded me. I switched from tele boards to alpine touring gear and once shoveled snow where there was none on a summit in order to ski it — all the while reaffirming my love for the mountains a thousand times over. Below are some details of my 14ers project with dates, routes, partners and slideshows for each peak. -Christy If you’re having trouble viewing the slideshow through the links below, go to “christy’s page” here, or through the link at the top left of the blog header. |
| Peak/Elevation | Date | Route | Partner(s) |
|
Mount Elbert 14,433 ft. |
May 7, 2004 | Box Creek Cirque |
Ted Dirk Bockelmann |
|
Mount Massive 14,421 ft. |
May 9, 2009 | South Slopes | Ted |
|
Mount Harvard 14,420 ft. |
May 8, 2004 | South Face | Ted |
|
Blanca Peak 14,345 ft. |
May 16, 2004 | West Face | Ted |
| La Plata Peak
14,336 ft. |
May 30, 2005 | North Face | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann |
| Uncompahgre Peak
14,309 ft. |
April 17, 2004 | West Face | Ted |
| Crestone Peak
14,294 ft. |
March 1, 2008 | South Couloir | Ted |
| Mount Lincoln
14,286 ft. |
April 26, 2006 | Quartzville Creek | Lyndsay Meyer |
| Gray’s Peak
14,270 ft. |
April 29, 2001 | Northeast Face | Ted
Jill Midthun |
| Mount Antero
14,269 ft. |
May 31, 2004 | Southwest face | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann Peter Light |
| Torreys Peak
14,267 ft. |
April 29, 2001 | South Face | Ted |
| Quandary Peak
14,265 ft. |
April 24, 2000 | East Ridge | Ted |
| March 21, 2009 | South Couloir | Ted
Johannes Baldursson Dirk Bockelmann Alden Edmonds Heidar Gudjohnsson |
|
| Castle Peak
14,265 ft. |
October 15, 2006 | North Couloir | Ted |
| Mount Evans
14,264 ft. |
May 24, 2009 | Northeast Face | Ted |
| Longs’ Peak
14,255 ft. |
May 14, 2005 | North Face to Trough | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann Sean Shean |
| Mount Wilson
14,246 ft. |
May 5, 2010 | Southwest to Slate Creek | Ted |
| Mount Shavano
14,229 ft. |
May 2, 2009 | Summit to Angel snowfield | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann Philip Ring |
| Mount Princeton
14,197 ft. |
May 9, 2004 | East Face | Ted |
| Mount Belford
14,197 ft. |
April 7, 2007 | Northeast Face | Ted
Lou Dawson Louie Dawson Jordan White |
| Crestone Needle
14,197 ft. |
May 8, 2009 | Southeast Couloir | Ted
Kim Havell Karen Kingsley |
| Mount Yale
14,196 ft. |
April 18, 2009 | South Face | Ted
Lissa Ballinger Dirk Bockelmann |
| Mount Bross
14,172 ft. |
April 24, 2009 | Moose Gulch | Ted |
| Kit Carson Mountain
14,165 ft. |
April 25, 2009 | Southeast Face to O.B. Couloir | Ted |
| El Diente
14,159 ft. |
May 5, 2010 | North Face | Ted |
| South Maroon Peak
14,156 ft. |
June 3, 2008 | Southeast Face to East Face Couloir | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann |
| Mount Tabeguache
14,155 ft. |
May 20, 2007 | North Face | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann |
| Mount Oxford
14,153 ft. |
April 7, 2007 | Southwest Face | Ted
Lou Dawson Louie Dawson Jordan White |
| Mount Sneffels
14,150 ft. |
January 9, 2010 | Birthday Chutes | Ted |
| Mount Democrat
14,148 ft. |
April 27, 2006 | Southeast Snow Route | Lyndsay Meyer |
| Capitol Peak
14,130 ft. |
May 16, 2010 | East Face | Ted
Joey Giampaolo Fred Marmsater |
| Pikes’ Peak
14,110 ft. |
May 1, 2010 | Crags CG – summit – Y couloir -
summit – Crags CG |
Ted |
| Snowmass Mountain
14,092 ft. |
May 21, 2006 | West Face | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann |
| May 25, 2008 | East Face | Ted
Josh Hirshberg |
|
| Mount Eolus(S)
14,083 ft. |
May 26, 2007 | Southwest Face to East Couloir | Ted |
| Windom Peak
14,082 ft. |
May 27, 2007 | Southwest Face | Ted |
| Mount Columbia
14,071 ft. |
May 8, 2004 | West Face | Ted |
| Missouri Mountain
14,067 ft. |
June 5, 2005 | North Face | Ted |
| Humboldt Peak
14,064 ft. |
May 8, 2009 | Southeast Face | Ted
Kim Havell Karen Kingsley |
| Mount Bierstadt
14,060 ft. |
May 6, 2004 | West Ridge | Ted |
| Sunlight Peak
14,059 ft. |
May 27, 2007 | Northwest Face | Ted |
| Handies Peak
14,048 ft. |
May 17, 2008 | Northeast Couloir | Ted |
| Mount Lindsey
14,048 ft. |
May 16, 2009 | North Face | Ted |
| Culebra Peak
14,047 ft. |
March 9, 2008 | Northwest Ridge | Ted
Frank Konsella Brittany Walker Jordan White |
| Ellingwood Point
14,042 ft. |
May 16, 2004 | South Face | Ted |
| Redcloud Peak
14,037 ft. |
May 16, 2008 | West “dogleg” Couloir | Ted |
| Little Bear Peak
14,037 ft. |
March 6, 2010 | Hourglass Couloir | Ted |
| Mount Sherman
14,036 ft. |
February 21, 2009 | South Slopes | Ted |
| Pyramid Peak
14,018 ft. |
May 7, 2010 | East Face | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann Joey Giampaolo Sean Shean |
| Wilson Peak
14,017 ft. |
June 10, 2007 | Northeast Face | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann |
| Wetterhorn Peak
14,015 ft. |
May 18, 2009 | East Face | Ted |
| North Maroon Peak
14,014 ft. |
June 2, 2008 | North Face | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann |
| San Luis Peak
14,014 ft. |
January 16, 2010 | Yawner Gullies | Ted |
| Holy Cross
14,005 ft. |
February 27, 2010 | North Ridge | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann |
| Mount Huron
14,003 ft. |
May 3, 2009 | East Face | Ted
Dirk Bockelmann Philip Ring |
| Sunshine Peak
14,001 ft. |
May 16, 2008 | Northeast Face | Ted |
ConGratz Christy! An excellent accomplishment to say the least!
Words cannot describe how very proud I am of the one and only Triple-Sau-Cau! You are very blessed to have such a loving and support hubby. xoxo
I have the coolest big sister in the world. My brother-in-law ain’t bad either.
We love you and are very proud of you. To Ted your climbing partner ( in life and on the mountains) and all your friends who helped and encouraged you, your Mom and Dad say thank you.
Congratulations.
Mom and Dad
Congrats Team Sauer Mahon! So awesome to see you make your way through this project in the highest of style.
Amazing Christy!
Talented AND gorgeous.
I knew you belonged in our family !
I think this achievement is totally tremendous. Many congratulations. Ted told me you were close to skiing them all. I can’t describe what a great achievement I think this is and I hope there’s a book or at least a couple of beers.
Chris, you never cease to amaze me in your talents, drive and dedication! So so very proud and happy for you. All my love-
Thanks everyone. If you’re having trouble viewing the slide show galleries you should go to the link for “Christy’s Page” at the top left of the blog header and click through to them there.
ted
Way to go, Christy. You are one motivated chick!
Did you get a look at the Bell Cord on S. Maroon this week? Wondering what condition it’s in.
Congrats again. Very nice going.
Big congratulations Christy! glad to have been there for a couple of them. You have incredible drive and skill. Cheers to many more mountains!
Thanks so much everyone! So happy to have the project wrapped up and looking forward to thinking about something else (I think Ted is too)! We woke up this morning and first thing we did was buy tickets to Mexico. Hello sun, sand, and flip flops, here we come!
yeah sista!!! from across the country i can see that huge bright and beautiful smile…actually i see two!!! C- I think they should make a barbie after you. enjoy the glory of your spectacular mission accomplished. C and T, your partnership continues to amaze and inspire me. love and hugs…XOXO
Wasn’t there another female in the running to finish them all? Why didn’t you two just finish together? Just looking at your list, looks like you were in a hurry to beat someone else out…..
Either way, congrats. I’ve heard of a certain someone looking to ski the Centennials. He’s right around 84 peaks right now. Bar keeps on getting raised.
Christy,
I live vicarously through you. The snow, solitude and feeling of acheivement must be overwhelming. Toasting you right now! I thought 10 grand traverses or whatever it was was big time. But this is huge! And you are safe.
You stand alone. No other woman, yet. You are really something. You have earned your flip flops.
The determination to get these done is impressive. Looking back at the list, you hit some big peaks in the winter and that is very impressive. Nice work again! Good to see Christy pushing the limits and raising the bar. Noticed that you guys have climbed the Centennials. Any plans on skiing them? It’s doable, but tough. The guy I’ve heard of has most of the easy ones done, but peaks like Dallas and Lizard head seem really difficult.
Pam Rice was the other woman I had heard about. How many does she have left?
You Rock!
I know that both of you like to be under the radar somewhat but I hope you alert the media. If you don’t, someone else might.
Amazing Christy!! I am so very proud of you!! Thanks for scoring for the female gender. You do deserve a cape (and flowers).
Job well done Christy! As well, the way you and Ted are supporting each other in your lives and adventures is really a beautiful thing that has inspired me to be better in my own life. Awesome!!
Mike
[...] preposterous that sounds. Nonetheless, Christy killed it. Head over to Ted Mahon’s site for a guest post by Christy herself and accompanying photo galleries (click on the dates) and then check out the Denver [...]
Here’s the article.
…denverpost.com/extremes/ci_15106326
Wow Mike, that’s a really nice thing to say. Seriously. We’ve always acknowledged how happy we were to be able to do so much stuff together. I think you get more out of the things you do when you share it with someone.
Ted
Nice work Christy! You guys could not have done this in finer style! As Mike mentioned, inspiring on many levels. Cheers!
Congrats Christy! You’re amazing!
Many congrats! Way to keep it in Aspen. Also, just read the story in the Denver Post. A terrific achievement.
Can’t stop smiling – so amazing on so many levels. I think a lot of us will take your inspiration and apply it to goals of our own. (Probably not as lofty as this one.)
Love you guys, May
[...] click here to connect to Christy’s blog and look for our next posts coming up… exciting things are [...]
Congratulations Christy!
So much patience and dedication to actually finish this project in good keeping with the high standards. Congrats to you and Ted.
~Jarrett
Jarrett- Ted here. Thanks a lot, especially coming from a guy who knows what’s involved, and who did it all on a snowboard no less, way to lead the charge.
So I guess we skied Mount Wilson on the same day, only we were much later than you(almost 6pm), seemed like we got that one just in time, if not a little late. As we trashed our skis on rocks a bit below the summit we were both cursing those (Dav etc.) who somehow did it before us and have since required everyone to do the same. Suffice to say, we were glad when that one was done.
Congratulations, from the both of us.
Thats so cool. What a way to spend your time. Big Congrats!