Much of the information I have about the history of the record was taken from "Colorado's Fourteeners", 1st and 2nd editions, by Gerry Roach. The Self Powered Record I believe that one group may have used human powered transport to climb all the fourteeners. However, I have tried to find information about it and haven't found any evidence of such an attempt. If you know anything specific about it, then please let me know and I will update my website. I currently believe that no speed record has been established for a self powered attempt. Starting on June 24th, my plan is complete the 54 publicly accessible fourteeners in 20 to 30 days. I am not too happy about being forced to skip Culebra Peak, which has been closed to the general public since 1999. If you want more information about why I am skipping it, please click here. I think the self-powered fourteener record will evolve into the most respected speed record on the fourteeners. I hope that my attempt will inspire others to go for it. There will be no arbitrary rules, no advantages to those with the best four-wheel drive vehicles. No sleeping while being driven at a high speed from one mountain to another. I can't imagine a better way to experience some of the best parts of Colorado. Unlike the last time I climbed the fourteeners, this time I will be seeing everything in between. And the kicker is that it really shouldn't take much longer than the standard fourteener record (now just under 11 days). I think it could easily(well, maybe easily isn't the best word) be done in under 20 days, and if I can't do it I am sure someone else will. The Fourteener Speed Record The History of the speed record begins in 1960, when Cleve McCarty climbed 52 (then only 52 were recognized) fourteeners in 52 days. That record stood for 14 years. Then, in 1974 Quade and Tyle Smith climbed the 54 fourteeners in 33 days. The Smiths continued to California and Washington and climbed the 68 fourteeners in the continental United States in 48 days. They set the 3,000 foot standard that states you should ascend at least 3,000 feet en-route to the first fourteener of the climb, after that, traverses are allowed. You should also descend 3,000 feet on the way down. Their record didn't last for long, because in 1976 Steve Boyer climbed them all in 22 days. Five years later in 1981, Dick Walker finally beat the 20-day barrier and climbed them all in 18 days, 15 hours, and 40 minutes. He took over 3 days off the record, and the new record would stand for 9 years. In 1990, Quade and Tyle Smith were at it again. With their detailed knowledge of the fourteeners, they were able to climb 54 fourteeners in only 16 days, 21 hours, and 35 minutes. They were careful to adhere to the 3,000 foot rule. In 1992, runners started getting involved. Ultramarathoner Adrian Crane ran on the trails and knocked the record down to 15 days, 17 hours, and 19 minutes. Adrian was also careful to follow the 3,000 foot rule. In 1993, Jeff Wagoner summited 55 Colorado fourteeners in 14 days, 3 hours. He decided not to follow the 3,000 foot rule. Nevertheless, his record would stand as the fastest anyone had ever climbed all of the fourteeners for four years. In 1995, a pair of mountain runners, Rick Trujillo of Ouray, and Ricky Denesik of Telluride, took on the task. Both had very impressive resumes. Trujillo was a five time winner of the Pikes Peak Marathon. The two Ricks ("Rick Squared") were careful to observe the 3000 foot rule and finished in 15 days, 9 hours, and 55 minutes. They gained 156,130 feet and traveled over 337 miles. In August of 1997, Rick Squared tried it again, this time with considerably more experience and careful route planning. Rick Trujillo was forced to drop out of the attempt, but Denesik went on to set a new record of 14 days, 16 minutes. Without the occurrence of an ill-timed storm on his last peak, Denesik could have been the first person to break the 14 day barrier. That record (14 days, 16 minutes) stood until September 1999, when Andrew Hamilton (that's me) shaved off 1 hour and 28 minutes. I was not a runner like previous record holders, and had to climb about 15 of them in darkness in order to set a new time of 13 Days, 22 hours, 48 minutes. I suffered terrible weather and a horrible logistical plan. If you want to read about that attempt, here is a link to my website for the 1999 attempt. In the early summer of 2000, Denesik went on to reclaim the record by knocking more than a day off the record, taking it down to 12 Days, 15 Hours, 35 Minutes. Click here to see Ricky's website for his attempt. About the same time in 2000, Danelle Ballengee made an attempt on the fourteeners and became the fastest woman to ever climb the fourteeners. Her time was 14 days, 14 hours, 49 minutes. Besides being one of the fastest people to ever accomplish this feat, even more amazing was that only one week later she was on a plane to Borneo to compete in the Eco-Challenge. Some thought Denesik's 12 day record would stand for a long, long time. However, just a little more than a month after he set the new mark, Teddy Kaiser from Breckenridge went for the record. He scouted and planned his attempt for four years, then executed a nearly flawless plan. He demolished all previous records and set a new record of 10 days, 20 hours, 26 minutes. This record could stand for a long time. However, I believe that it is still possible for the record to go under 10 days. I am interested to see what happens in the years to come.

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