The first record of someone climbing all of Colorado’s then-known 14,000-foot peaks dates to 1923, when Carl Blaurock and William Ervin accomplished the feat. As one of the charter members of the Colorado Mountain Club, Blaurock and the club became intimately tied to the exploration, mapping and even the naming of Colorado’s mountains since 1912. The legacy continues to this day, most recently demonstrated by the Colorado Mountain Club Press’ newly released second edition guide book, “The Colorado 14ers” ($11.95). Organized by mountain range, the pack-sized guide is a primer for climbing Colorado’s tallest peaks, listing the most popular routes alongside full-page images by some of the CMC’s best photographers and sidebars on a variety of subjects germane to reaching the summits. When you get there, a handy new “tick list” in the back of the book will help you log the adventure. Although the concise route descriptions aren’t designed as a substitute for detailed maps and guides, “The Colorado 14ers” will get you to the trailhead with a solid understanding of what to expect on the climb and help you get off on the right foot.
