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June 18, 2013 |
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Backpacking Trail Information
This resource for trail information will expand over time, so check back often.
There are countless hiking trails in the United States, but three North/South
national scenic trails stand out. These three trails are commonly referred to
as the "Triple Crown": the Appalachian
Trail, (perhaps the most famous hiking trail in the world); the Pacific
Crest Trail, and the Continental
Divide Trail, which offers the most rugged long-distance hiking in the contiguous
48 states.
Additional Adventure Travel Destinations and information can be found at Frontcountry.com
Backpacking Trail Organizations:
www.pcta.org
Pacific Crest Trail Association
www.aldhawest.org
American Long Distance Hiking Association(West)
www.appalachiantrail.org
Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Watch Out for Rattlesnakes When Rock Climbing<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/9/J/-/-/Looking-Glass-Rock_Rattlesnake-9_3.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="center" /></p>
<p>If you climb at a lot of American climbing areas like <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/californiarockclimbing/fr/Joshua-Tree-National-Park-Rock-Climbing.htm">Joshua Tree National Park</a>, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/climbingphotos/ig/New-River-Gorge-Climb-Photos/">New River Gorge</a>, Cochise Stronghold, and around <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/utahrockclimbing/ss/WallStreetOverview.htm">Moab</a> then you are going to eventually run into a rattlesnake. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/staysafeclimbing/a/Watch-For-Rattlesnakes-When-Climbing.htm">Rattlesnakes</a> and copperheads, both venomous snakes, lie alongside trails, bask in the sun on talus slopes, or sit on ledges above the cliff base or on top of boulders.</p>
<p>Read a new article <strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/staysafeclimbing/a/Watch-For-Rattlesnakes-When-Climbing.htm">Watch for Rattlesnakes When Climbing</a></strong> to find out more about poisonous American snakes; how to avoid snakes when you are climbing or approaching cliffs; why you probably won't ever be bitten by a venomous snake; what the most common poisonous snakes are; tips to avoid snakebite; and the top American climbing areas where you might encounter a rattlesnake or copperhead.</p>
<p>READ <strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/staysafeclimbing/a/Watch-For-Rattlesnakes-When-Climbing.htm">Watch for Rattlesnakes When Climbing -- Avoid Snakebite: Stay Safe Rock Climbing</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Photograph: <em>A rattlesnake basks in the morning sun at Looking Glass Rock near Moab, Utah.</em> Photograph © Stewart M. Green.</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/06/18/watch-out-for-rattlesnakes-when-rock-climbing.htm">Watch Out for Rattlesnakes When Rock Climbing</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Tuesday, June 18th, 2013 at 10:26:16.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/06/18/watch-out-for-rattlesnakes-when-rock-climbing.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/06/18/watch-out-for-rattlesnakes-when-rock-climbing.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/06/18/watch-out-for-rattlesnakes-when-rock-climbing.htm&zItl=Watch Out for Rattlesnakes When Rock Climbing">Email this</a></p>
BoldLeaders Go Rock Climbing in Colorado Springs Park<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/t/I/-/-/RedRockCanyon_BoldLeaders_9478_3.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="center" /></p>
<p>At <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.frontrangeclimbing.com/">Front Range Climbing Company</a>, the climbing trips we look forward to guiding every year are the groups of young people from other parts of the world that gather in Colorado to build relationships and learn leadership skills and self awareness through the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://boldleaders.org/index.html">BoldLeaders</a> program, which is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The intent of these trips, noted on their website, "is to invent new reference points and vocabularies for how people work together, while allowing for individual perspective." The trips are funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.</p>
<p>Yesterday we took 30 teenagers from <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcnigeria.htm">Nigeria</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://geography.about.com/od/southafricamaps/a/southafrica.htm">South Africa</a>, part of the Sub-Saharan Africa Youth Leadership Program, rock climbing at <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2011/10/07/trail-work-at-red-rock-canyon-become-a-steward-at-your-local-area.htm">Red Rock Canyon Open Space</a> in Colorado Springs. None had ever climbed before and they knew nothing about rock climbing except what they had seen in books and movies. Yet by the end of our eight-hour day, almost all of them had climbed multiple routes, including one young man who cranked 15 <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/dictionaryofclimbing/a/PitchDef.htm">pitches</a> up to 5.9.</p>
<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/u/I/-/-/RedRockCanyon_BoldLeaders_9471_3.jpg" alt="hspace=" align="center" /></p>
<p>I tutored a young woman from Nigeria who was particularly interested in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/cliimbingtechniques/a/AboutBelaying.htm">belaying</a> and by the end of the day she was an expert belayer, always keeping the rope just tight enough on the climber and her <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/Belaying/a/Two-Important-Belaying-Rules.htm">brake hand</a> always on the rope. While she also climbed a bunch of routes, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/sportclimbing/a/How-To-Belay-When-You-Re-Sport-Climbing.htm">belaying</a> spoke to her and she belayed at least a dozen climbers.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, us seven climbing guides gathered with the young African leaders, their chaperones, and the program directors Brady Rhodes and Michael Donahue at the park pavilion. Each of the teenagers stood up and told what they had learned from climbing that they could bring to their lives back in their communities and countries as well as gave appreciations to others for helping them.</p>
<p>Some of the lessons learned from climbing: step beyond your limitations; it's okay to feel uncomfortable; listen well and then use that new knowledge; and climbing up is fun but lowering down requires trust. It's a great program with smart kids. After teaching climbing to them all day, they gave me hope that the future for their countries and their own aspirations are bright. Great job!</p>
<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://boldleaders.org/index.html">Find out more about BoldLeaders and their programs.</a></p>
<p>Photographs above: <em>Young women from Nigeria, participating in a BoldLeaders program, climb at Red Rock Canyon Open Space in Colorado Springs.</em> Photograph © Stewart M. Green</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/04/15/boldleaders-go-rock-climbing-in-colorado-springs-park.htm">BoldLeaders Go Rock Climbing in Colorado Springs Park</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Monday, April 15th, 2013 at 12:00:33.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/04/15/boldleaders-go-rock-climbing-in-colorado-springs-park.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/04/15/boldleaders-go-rock-climbing-in-colorado-springs-park.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/04/15/boldleaders-go-rock-climbing-in-colorado-springs-park.htm&zItl=BoldLeaders Go Rock Climbing in Colorado Springs Park">Email this</a></p>
ROCK CLIMBING UTAH: New 2nd Edition from FalconGuides<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/g/I/-/-/RockClimbUtahCover55.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="center" /></p>
<p>The 2nd edition of my book <strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3Drock%2Bclimbing%2Butah%2Bfalcon&mode=about_climbing">Rock Climbing Utah</a> </strong>was released this spring by <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3Dfalcon%2Bguides%2Bclimbing&mode=about_climbing">FalconGuides</a>, an imprint of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch_attrib.php%2Fpage_id%3D5851%2Fform_keyword%3Dglobe%252Bpequot%252Bpress%252Bclimbing%2Frd_type%3DC%2Frd%3D1&mode=about_climbing">Globe Pequot Press</a>, the leading publisher of guidebooks in the United States. The book, which originally came out in 1998, is a gorgeous new edition that covers 28 of Utah's major climbing areas, including <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/utahrockclimbing/fr/Zion-National-Park-Rock-Climbing.htm">Zion National Park</a>, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Indian Creek, and the Moab area.</p>
<p>The new fully revised and expanded <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3Drock%2Bclimbing%2Butah%2Bfalcon&mode=about_climbing">Rock Climbing Utah</a>, with 608 pages, offers first-hand information and beta for climbers, including area overviews, camping info, climbing history, route details, detailed topos and maps, gear recommendations, approach and descent info, along with listings of local climbing shops, gyms, and guide services. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3Drock%2Bclimbing%2Butah%2Bfalcon&mode=about_climbing">Rock Climbing Utah</a>, with color action photos and topos, is printed on high gloss paper with a durable sewn binding that's guaranteed not to break or fall apart.</p>
<p>Every area in the book is easy to find with GPS coordinates for parking areas and even coordinates for the base of popular routes at sport areas like <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/utahrockclimbing/fr/Maple-Canyon-Climbing.htm">Maple Canyon</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/utahrockclimbing/fr/Zion-National-Park-Rock-Climbing.htm">Wall Street</a>, so if you have phone service, finding the trailhead and route base is a snap.</p>
<p>This new edition of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3Drock%2Bclimbing%2Butah%2Bfalcon&mode=about_climbing">Rock Climbing Utah</a> took me two years of on-the-rock research to bring up to date, to make all new photographs, create new topos, fact-check every detail from junctions on access roads to GPS coordinates on desert tower summits, to add new areas and cliffs, to visit with local climbers, and then to tie into the rope to sample new routes.</p>
<p>Check out <strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3Drock%2Bclimbing%2Butah%2Bfalcon&mode=about_climbing">Rock Climbing Utah</a></strong>--there's lots of great climbing adventures between its front and back covers!</p>
<p><a href="http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch_attrib.php%2Fpage_id%3D5851%2Fform_keyword%3Dglobe%252Bpequot%252Bpress%252Bclimbing%2Frd_type%3DC%2Frd%3D1&mode=about_climbing"><strong>SHOP AND COMPARE: Buy more climbing guides from FalconGuides</strong></a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/03/19/rock-climbing-utah-new-2nd-edition-from-falconguides.htm">ROCK CLIMBING UTAH: New 2nd Edition from FalconGuides</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 at 10:59:04.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/03/19/rock-climbing-utah-new-2nd-edition-from-falconguides.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/03/19/rock-climbing-utah-new-2nd-edition-from-falconguides.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/03/19/rock-climbing-utah-new-2nd-edition-from-falconguides.htm&zItl=ROCK CLIMBING UTAH: New 2nd Edition from FalconGuides">Email this</a></p>
Climbing Black Mesa and Mt. Sunflower: US State High Points<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/B/I/-/-/BlackMesa_Trail_OK_11.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="center" /></p>
<p>This time of the year is the winter doldrums. Sometimes you just get tired of skiing, ice climbing, and plodding through snow and up icy trails. A good alternative is to get out to drier places and climb some of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/USHighPoints.htm">U.S. state high points</a> and county high points in your state.</p>
<p>A lot of my friends here in Colorado do that. They get out on a nice day and hike to the flattish summits of the county high points in eastern Colorado like Bison Butte in Weld County or they head to the Oklahoma panhandle. Out there they trek to the flat top of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/usstatehighpoints/a/Climbing-Black-Mesa-Oklahoma-High-Point.htm">Black Mesa</a>, the Oklahoma high point which lies a scant 1,299 feet east of the New Mexico border. Another choice is to drive out to western Kansas, get out of the car, and walk a few hundred feet to the roof of Kansas on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/usstatehighpoints/a/Mount-Sunflower-High-Point-Of-Kansas.htm">Mount Sunflower</a>, a humped grassy hill on a remote ranch a half-mile from Colorado.</p>
<p>If you want to notch those peaks on your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/USHighPoints.htm">state high point list</a>, check out these four new articles and make your driving plans:<br />
<strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/usstatehighpoints/a/Black-Mesa-High-Point-Of-Oklahoma.htm">Black Mesa: High Point of Oklahoma</a><br />
<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/usstatehighpoints/a/Climbing-Black-Mesa-Oklahoma-High-Point.htm">Climbing Black Mesa: Route Description</a><br />
<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/usstatehighpoints/a/Mount-Sunflower-High-Point-Of-Kansas.htm">Mount Sunflower: Kansas High Point</a><br />
<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/usstatehighpoints/a/Climbing-Mount-Sunflower-Kansas-High-Point.htm">Climbing Mount Sunflower: Route Description</a></strong></p>
<p>Photograph above: <em>Black Mesa, the Oklahoma state high point, rises above the Black Mesa Trail in Oklahoma's western panhandle.</em> Photograph © Susan Joy Paul.</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/30/climbing-black-mesa-and-mt-sunflower-us-state-high-points.htm">Climbing Black Mesa and Mt. Sunflower: US State High Points</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Wednesday, January 30th, 2013 at 11:33:22.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/30/climbing-black-mesa-and-mt-sunflower-us-state-high-points.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/30/climbing-black-mesa-and-mt-sunflower-us-state-high-points.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/30/climbing-black-mesa-and-mt-sunflower-us-state-high-points.htm&zItl=Climbing Black Mesa and Mt. Sunflower: US State High Points">Email this</a></p>
Is Bouldering a Sustainable Climbing Activity?<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/p/4/-/-/HuecoTanks_DJackson_2.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="center" /></p>
<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/bouldering/a/SpottingAndCrashPads.htm">Bouldering</a> is one of the most popular aspects of climbing for obvious reasons: bouldering is fun; there are lots of boulders; boulderfields are accessible; it doesn't require the time commitment that climbing does; and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/cliimbingtechniques/a/BoulderingGear.htm">bouldering requires minimal equipment</a>.</p>
<p>That increased popularity, however, has come with a price. The sheer numbers of climbers flocking to some <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/dictionaryofclimbing/a/BoulderingDef.htm">bouldering</a> areas have caused environmental damage and caused land managers at parks and national forests to question if bouldering is a long-term sustainable recreational activity. Some bouldering areas already have restrictions to protect areas from boulderers, whose numbers cause soil compaction; damage to plants, wildlife, and archeological sites; unsightly <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/climbinggear/a/4-Types-Of-Climbing-Chalk.htm">chalk blotches</a>; and braided social trails.</p>
<p>Read two new articles--<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/bouldering/a/Is-Bouldering-A-Sustainable-Climbing-Activity.htm">Is Bouldering a Sustainable Climbing Activity?</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/bouldering/a/8-Tips-To-Minimize-Your-Bouldering-Impact.htm">8 Tips to Minimize Your Bouldering Impact</a>--to find out how bouldering damages fragile ecosystems; what bouldering impacts create management issues; and how to lessen your impact on the environment when you go bouldering.</p>
<p>If all of us boulderers and climbers do our part to reduce our impact and footprint at bouldering areas, then it reduces the need for future restrictions on bouldering; the closure of areas; shows that bouldering can be a sustainable activity; and makes both land managers and boulderers happy.</p>
<p>Read articles about bouldering:</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/bouldering/a/Is-Bouldering-A-Sustainable-Climbing-Activity.htm">Is Bouldering a Sustainable Climbing Activity?</a></strong></div>
<div><strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/bouldering/a/8-Tips-To-Minimize-Your-Bouldering-Impact.htm">8 Tips to Minimize Your Bouldering Impact</a></strong></div>
<div><strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/cliimbingtechniques/a/BoulderingGear.htm">Basic Bouldering Equipment</a></strong></div>
<div><strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/cliimbingtechniques/a/AboutBouldering.htm">Zen and the Art of Bouldering</a></strong></p>
<p>Photograph above: <em>Dennis Jackson boulders on North Mountain at Hueco Tanks, a bouldering area with restrictions on visitation and use.</em> Photograph © Stewart M. Green</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/08/is-bouldering-a-sustainable-climbing-activity.htm">Is Bouldering a Sustainable Climbing Activity?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Tuesday, January 8th, 2013 at 10:47:25.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/08/is-bouldering-a-sustainable-climbing-activity.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/08/is-bouldering-a-sustainable-climbing-activity.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/08/is-bouldering-a-sustainable-climbing-activity.htm&zItl=Is Bouldering a Sustainable Climbing Activity?">Email this</a></p>
Two American Climbers Die on Aconcagua in South America<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/9/I/-/-/Nourse-Eric_Denali_PhcourtCandeeNourse2.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="center" /></p>
<p>Three American climbers, twin brothers Eric and Greg Nourse, both 41 years old, and David Reinhart, 42, from Oregon and Colorado, attempted to climb 22,841-foot <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/thesevensummits/a/AconcaguaFacts.htm">Aconcagua</a>, the highest mountain in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://gosouthamerica.about.com/library/blphysical.htm">South America</a> and the Western Hemisphere, this season. On Saturday, December 29, two of them--Eric and David--tragically died on the mountain.</p>
<p>The experienced mountaineers had climbed many mountains, including <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/thesevensummits/a/Denali-Highest-Mountain-In-North-America.htm">Denali</a> twice, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/thesevensummits/a/Mount-Elbrus-Russias-Highest-Mountain.htm">Mount Elbrus</a>, highest mountain in Europe, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/usstatehighpoints/a/MtRainierFacts.htm">Mount Rainier</a> as well as many other peaks. The trio went to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://gosouthamerica.about.com/b/2009/05/20/beautiful-but-dangerous-aconcagua.htm">Aconcagua</a>, one of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/7Summits.htm">Seven Summits</a>, in mid-December and by Christmas Day had reached 16,000 feet and were camping in high winds. Eric Nourse's wife Kandee at their home in Greeley, Colorado told the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/4193774-113/kandee-greg-nourse-eric">Greeley Tribune</a>, "They were happy, healthy, calling everyone to wish time a Merry Christmas. He was awesome." Reinhart, however, felt ill so the team stayed put until he recovered.</p>
<p>On Thursday, December 27, they climbed to 19,200 feet and set up a high camp on the northeast flank of Aconcagua. From here they could climb the Polish Traverse across the Polish Glacier or the harder Polish Glacier Direct. They opted for the tougher alternative.</p>
<p>The Polish Direct route ascends over 3,000 feet up the right side of the glacier, climbing steep snow and ice slopes angled from 50 to 70 degrees. Many climbers do it unroped using technical ice climbing skills by frontpointing up the ice with <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/climbinggear/a/AboutCrampons.htm">crampons</a>, using <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/climbinggear/a/Which-Ice-Axe-Do-You-Need.htm">ice axes</a> and ice tools for their hands, and stopping to place an <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/climbingequipmentwords/a/IceScrewDef.htm">ice screw</a> when they want to rest. Otherwise parties have to do it in roped teams, which is quite a bit slower. The main difficulties are passing couple rock bands near the top of the glacier. The route is not climbed too often and can be very dangerous in high winds or if a storm moves onto the mountain. Retreat down the route is extremely difficult.</p>
<p>On Friday, December 28, the team left camp at 4 a.m. to climb the Direct route to the summit. It took them all day to climb the ice wall, reaching the second band, just below the top of the face at about 22,000 feet, after dark. At that point, Dave Reinhart was ill and couldn't continue so they hunkered down. Eric Nourse then decided to climb to the summit in bright moonlight, find the easier Normal Route trail down the north face and get help. He climbed the remaining 700 feet but was unable to find the trail so he descended more directly down the steep north face.</p>
<p>In the early morning, Greg Nourse left his partner, who had <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/enviromentalissues/a/AltitudeIllness.htm">altitude sickness</a>, and went for help too. He waited at the summit for several hours for the first climber to show up. While on top, he called Reinhart's wife Char in Oregon and she was able to alert rescue personnel. taking about six hours to descend to their high camp. Eric showed 90 minutes later.</p>
<p>EMTs told the pair to quickly descend the mountain since both had <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/staysafeclimbing/a/All-About-Acute-Mountain-Sickness.htm">altitude sickness</a> and the best cure is getting down. Eric Nourse, however, wanted to rest and then carry his gear down so he crawled into his tent. He went to sleep and died. The EMTs were unable to revive him. Dave Reinhart tried to rescue himself high on the mountain, climbing 150 feet higher before dying. His body was retrieved two days.</p>
<p>Both climbers apparently died of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://copd.about.com/od/glossaryoftermspz/g/Pulmonary-Edema.htm">pulmonary edema</a> or fluid in their lungs, a common symptom of altitude sickness, which can quickly strike anyone at a high altitude. The immediate primary treatment is to descend, but neither man was able to do that.</p>
<p>My sincere condolences to Greg Nourse and the families of Eric Nourse and Dave Reinhart. Rest in peace Eric and Dave.</p>
<p>Photograph above: <i>Dave Nourse climbing Denali.</i> Photograph courtesy Candee Nourse.</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/03/two-american-climbers-die-on-aconcagua-in-south-america.htm">Two American Climbers Die on Aconcagua in South America</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Thursday, January 3rd, 2013 at 13:32:06.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/03/two-american-climbers-die-on-aconcagua-in-south-america.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/03/two-american-climbers-die-on-aconcagua-in-south-america.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2013/01/03/two-american-climbers-die-on-aconcagua-in-south-america.htm&zItl=Two American Climbers Die on Aconcagua in South America">Email this</a></p>
New WideBoyz Climbing Film Documents Hardest Off-Width Crack in World<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/v/H/-/-/WideBoyz_cover_film.jpg" alt="hspace=" align="right" /></p>
<p>The new climbing film <strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://alstrinfilms.com/wide-boyz/">WideBoyz</a></strong>, starring British off-width crack masters Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall, was just released by <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://alstrinfilms.com/">Alstrin Films</a>. The film's two stars are unassuming lads who trained for two years on off-width simulators in the cellar of the Sheffield home in England's Peak District before coming over to the United States and climbing all of America's hardest <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/CrackClimbing/a/6-Off-Width-Crack-Climbing-Tips.htm">off-width cracks</a>.</p>
<p>As the great climber Stevie Haston says in the film, "There are only a few great off-widths in the world. They're not in England or Europe--they're in America." Their finale was the first ascent of <em>Century Crack</em>, an overhanging 160-foot-long crack in a cave feature in remote Monument Basin in Canyonlands National Park.</p>
<p>The 50-minute <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://alstrinfilms.com/wide-boyz/">feature film</a> documents their ascent of <em>Century Crack</em>, dubbed the hardest off-width climb in the world at 5.14b, as well as the brutal art of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/cliimbingtechniques/a/Learn-To-Crack-Climb.htm">off-width climbing</a> which they call the "complete all-body pump." There is also extra bonus footage, including "Crack School: Pete and Tom's Guide to Crack Climbing".</p>
<p>I'll be doing a review of the film later, but here's a link to a 2:04 trailer at <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://alstrinfilms.com/">alstrinfilms.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://alstrinfilms.com/wide-boyz/">BUY WideBoyz from Alstrin Films.</a></strong></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/11/29/new-wideboyz-climbing-film-documents-hardest-off-width-crack-in-world.htm">New WideBoyz Climbing Film Documents Hardest Off-Width Crack in World</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Thursday, November 29th, 2012 at 11:18:32.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/11/29/new-wideboyz-climbing-film-documents-hardest-off-width-crack-in-world.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/11/29/new-wideboyz-climbing-film-documents-hardest-off-width-crack-in-world.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/11/29/new-wideboyz-climbing-film-documents-hardest-off-width-crack-in-world.htm&zItl=New WideBoyz Climbing Film Documents Hardest Off-Width Crack in World">Email this</a></p>
3 Great Gifts for Climbers & Hikers<h3><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu= http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3DPowerFilm%2BUSB%252BAA%2BSolar%2BCharger&mode=about_climbing">PowerFilm USB+AA Solar Charger</a></h3>
<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/E/C/-/-/USB-AA-Solar-Panel-Charger_2.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" /></p>
<p>When you're out climbing in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/utahrockclimbing/fr/Zion-National-Park-Rock-Climbing.htm">Zion National Park</a> or hiking up a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/Fourteeners1.htm">Fourteener</a> in the Colorado Rockies, the batteries on your phone, iPod, Nikon camera, and GPS unit all go dead. Portable solar chargers have gotten smaller and cheaper over the past few years, making them an essential item to pack. You just put your batteries in the charger and let the sun do the work, recharging your power supplies, including 2AA batteries and other electronics via a USB port in four hours. I carry the PowerFilm USB+AA Solar Charger, which folds up to 5.5 inches by 3.25 inches and weighs five ounces.<br />
<strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu= http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3DPowerFilm%2BUSB%252BAA%2BSolar%2BCharger&mode=about_climbing">BUY a PowerFilm USB+AA Solar Charger</a></strong></p>
<h3><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3DSpot%2BII%2BSatellite%2BGPS%2BMessenger&mode=about_climbing">Spot II Satellite GPS Messenger </a></h3>
<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/F/C/-/-/SPOT-II_2.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="right" /></p>
<p>Where in the world are you? If you don't know, then somebody will know if you're carrying a SPOT II. This lightweight SPOT has fast GPS acquisition, illuminated buttons, and an SOS function that brings rescuers to your exact location. The Check-In function transmits your location and lets your loved ones know that you're safe in the mountains. Requires a $99.99 annual subscription--a low cost for peace of mind.<br />
<strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3DSpot%2BII%2BSatellite%2BGPS%2BMessenger&mode=about_climbing">BUY a Spot II Satellite GPS Messenger</a></strong></p>
<h3><a href="http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3DKahtoola%2BMICROspikes&mode=about_climbing"><strong>Kahtoola MICROspikes</strong></a></h3>
<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/G/C/-/-/Microspikes_2.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" /></p>
<p>Sometimes you need traction on an icy trail and using your crampons is just overkill. Ask Santa for a set of Kahtoola MICROspikes and you'll be set for all your winter treks, whether it's to the supermarket or up an icy trail in the high mountains. The shoe harness is easy to attach to any hiking boot and the stainless-steel chain and spikes bit into ice and snow.<br />
<a href="http://about.pricegrabber.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabout.pricegrabber.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fform_keyword%3DKahtoola%2BMICROspikes&mode=about_climbing"><strong>BUY Kahtoola MICROspikes</strong></a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/11/25/3-great-gifts-for-climbers-hikers.htm">3 Great Gifts for Climbers & Hikers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Sunday, November 25th, 2012 at 22:00:42.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/11/25/3-great-gifts-for-climbers-hikers.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/11/25/3-great-gifts-for-climbers-hikers.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/11/25/3-great-gifts-for-climbers-hikers.htm&zItl=3 Great Gifts for Climbers & Hikers">Email this</a></p>
John Prater Ends Colorado 14er Speed Record Attempt<p><img src=
"http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/L/H/-/-/Prater_MtYale_2012_2.jpg"
alt="hspace=" align="center"></p>
<p>Last Thursday, August 30, <a href=
"http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/08/27/speed-climber-attempting-to-break-colorado-14er-record.htm">
John Prater AKA Homie</a> gave up on his goal of <a href=
"http://climbing.about.com/od/cliimbingtechniques/a/ClimbFast.htm">speed
climbing</a> 58 of <a href=
"http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/Fourteeners1.htm">Colorado's
Fourteeners</a> in a new record time.</p>
<p>After doing the big Sawatch Range traverse of Missouri, Belford,
Oxford, Harvard, and Columbia on the afternoon and night of August
29 and 30, <a href=
"http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/08/29/john-praters-colorado-14er-speed-climbing-record-update.htm">
Homie</a> limped down Columbia, his 40th Fourteener, with severe
pain in his left quadracep. Every step downhill caused intense
shooting pains down his leg, forcing Homie to walk with a straight
leg. Eric Lee, a runner and one of his climbing partners, tried
deep tissue massage but it didn't help the leg. Homie gimped his
way down to the trailhead in the dark and had Gerry Roach drive him
to a nearby friend's house where he slept for three hours.</p>
<p>The support crew drove Prater to the Denny Creek Trailhead west
of Buena Vista in the early morning for what should have been a
quick ascent of 14,196-foot Mount Yale. Andy Wellman was waiting
there to hike with Homie. They left the trailhead at 5:00 a.m.
Wellman wrote on <a href=
"http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=12757&parmpeak=Tabeguache+Peak&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Include">
14ers.com</a>, "Pretty much immediately Homie was talking about how
tired he was, and how his leg hurt." As they hiked up hill, "Homie
kept mumbling about how he should have slept more. He could hardly
talk really, he was so tired, and so didn't talk much."</p>
<p>A bit higher, Homie put on his tights and laid down beside the
trail and fell asleep. "Then with no warning," <a href=
"http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=12757&parmpeak=Tabeguache+Peak&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Include">
says Wellman</a>, "he promptly stood up and was walking again in
about 3 seconds." They continued uphill in the growing dawn light
when again Homie needed a nap. Wellman says, "I moved in front of
him and looked him in the face and realized that he was most likely
literally asleep on his feet." He laid down on a bed of pine
needles and fell asleep again. "A guy walked past during the nap
and was very amused to say the least."</p>
<p>After a half-hour nap, Homie woke up and hiked quickly to
timberline but his quad was extremely sore and painful. Wellman
says, "...at this point he was grunting and grimacing with every
uphill step, and we were moving at a typical midwestern pace of 10
steps, sit down and rest. We massaged it, we stretched it, nothing
worked. It wasn't a cramp."</p>
<p>Homie finally reached Yale's summit after a five-hour climb--the
time it takes a normal hiker to reach the top. Wellman writes, "We
were alone on the summit, gave fist bumps, and were all smiles with
not a breath of wind and warm sun beating down on us. The views
were incredible. We really hadn't been in any hurry this morning,
and we were snacking on top, when Homie looked me in the face from
about 10 feet away and said, 'I think this is the last one of these
for me.'"</p>
<p>And with that statement on top of his 41st <a href=
"http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/Fourteeners2.htm">Fourteener
summit</a> in seven days, John Prater was finished with his speed
attempt. Prater sat on the summit with Wellman and told him that
"this was his favorite summit of the journey, and that he really
hadn't had the chance to enjoy too many of them. Eventually he said
time to go, so we did."</p>
<p>After reaching the trailhead and giving the support team the
news that the journey was over, Bill Wright posted on 14ers.com at
1:45 p.m.: "It's over... Homie is done. Too much pain. Too
slow."</p>
<p>Bill later elaborated on Homie's decision to quit the attempt:
"He didn't quit because of his foot pain and it didn't go away. It
just got overshadowed by his shin pain. And he didn't quit because
of that. He quit because the sharp pain he felt, just above his
knee, whenever he bent his knee. That pain overshadowed the shin
pain. He had to come down Columbia while always keeping his left
leg straight. Remarkably, he thought it went away, but it returned
on Yale. Hopefully no permanent damage was done."</p>
<p>Great job Homie! 41 <a href=
"http://climbing.about.com/od/coloradosfourteeners/ss/Route-Description-For-Capitol-Peak-Climbing-A-Colorado-Fourteener.htm">
Fourteeners</a> in seven days. That's an amazing athetic feat. And
there is always next year to try again for the record.</p>
<p>Photograph above: <em>John Prater on top of Mount Yale, his 41st
Fourteener in a week, after making the decision to end his speed
attempt.</em> Photograph courtesy Andy Wellman.</p>
<p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/09/08/john-prater-ends-colorado-14er-speed-record-attempt.htm">John Prater Ends Colorado 14er Speed Record Attempt</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Saturday, September 8th, 2012 at 00:28:10.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/09/08/john-prater-ends-colorado-14er-speed-record-attempt.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/09/08/john-prater-ends-colorado-14er-speed-record-attempt.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/09/08/john-prater-ends-colorado-14er-speed-record-attempt.htm&zItl=John Prater Ends Colorado 14er Speed Record Attempt">Email this</a></p>
John Prater's Colorado 14er Speed Climbing Record Update<p><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/climbing/1/0/E/H/-/-/Prater_BlankTH_PhJasonHalladay_2012-08-29_3.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="center" /></p>
<p>Here's a quick update on the 14er speed record that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/08/27/speed-climber-attempting-to-break-colorado-14er-record.htm">John Prater</a> AKA Homie is attempting to set. He's climbing strong and steady still and the good news is that his foot problem as basically disappeared. As of right now, Prater has climbed 35 of his projected 58 <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/Fourteeners2.htm">Fourteener summits</a>, with lots more on the agenda today.</p>
<p>After climbing <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/coloradosfourteeners/a/PikesPeakFacts.htm">Pikes Peak</a> a couple days ago, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/08/26/ultra-climber-attempting-to-climb-58-colorado-fourteeners-in-11-days.htm">Prater</a> headed over to the Mosquito Range to the northwest, figuring that the easier peaks there would be less stressful on his aching right foot. He first climbed four <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/Fourteeners1.htm">Fourteeners</a>--<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/coloradosfourteeners/a/Climbing-Mount-Democrat.htm">Democrat</a>, Cameron (unranked), Lincoln, and Bross--in 4 hours 15 minutes, then headed north to climb Quandary on the north side of Hoosier Pass in the middle of the night. Yesterday morning, Prater went to the south part of the Mosquito Range and quickly climbed <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/MtSherman.htm">Mount Sherman</a>, Colorado's easiest Fourteener, and descended west to Leadville.</p>
<p>After fueling up in Leadville, Homie's support party drove him south on US 285 and he climbed Mount Antero. Last night he climbed Shavano and Tabeguache, the southernmost Fourteeners in the Sawatch Range, with <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://jasonhalladay.blogspot.com/">Jason Halladay</a>, a fast mountain runner from New Mexico, reached Shavano's summit at 2:55 a.m. and Tabeguache's summit at 3:41 a.m., then returning back over Shavano and descending back down to the Blank Trailhead, reaching the support vehicle about 5:35 this morning.</p>
<p>After breakfast and supplies in Buena Vista, Prater headed north on US 24, then west up Clear Creek into the heart of the Sawatch Range. Today he is doing a mega-traverse in the Sawatch Range through the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area, with plans to tag six Fourteener summits along the way--Missouri, Belford, Oxford, Harvard, Columbia, and Yale. This ambitious plan will take about 18 hours of fast hiking with lots of miles and elevation gain and loss.</p>
<p>Right now Homie's Spot locater indicates he is currently climbing the western slopes of 14,067-foot Missouri Mountain from Cloyses Lake. From there he will drop east and climb Belford and Oxford before descending into a broad basin in the upper Pine Creek drainage and climbing 14,420-foot Mount Harvard, Colorado's third highest peak.</p>
<p>Tomorrow or Friday, depending on the weather forecasts, Prater will probably do another mega-traverse in the rugged Elk Mountains southwest of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://skiing.about.com/od/skitravel/ss/Best-Ski-Resort-Towns_2.htm">Aspen</a>, climbing five big peaks, including <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/coloradosfourteeners/ss/Route-Description-For-Capitol-Peak-Climbing-A-Colorado-Fourteener.htm">Capitol Peak</a>, and trudging a lot of miles, doing lots of difficult <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/od/cliimbingtechniques/a/Basic-Rock-Scrambling.htm">rock scrambling</a>, and losing and gaining lots of elevation. It will be interesting to see how that traverse plays out because it's out there in the Elks that he will either break the speed record or lose it.</p>
<p>Photograph above: <em>Gerry and Jennifer Roach watch John Prater prepare to do a night climb of Mount Shavano during his attempt to climb 58 Colorado 14ers in record time.</em> Photograph courtesy <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://jasonhalladay.blogspot.com/">Jason Halladay</a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/08/29/john-praters-colorado-14er-speed-climbing-record-update.htm">John Prater's Colorado 14er Speed Climbing Record Update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/">About.com Climbing</a> on Wednesday, August 29th, 2012 at 11:48:27.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/08/29/john-praters-colorado-14er-speed-climbing-record-update.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/08/29/john-praters-colorado-14er-speed-climbing-record-update.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://climbing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://climbing.about.com/b/2012/08/29/john-praters-colorado-14er-speed-climbing-record-update.htm&#038;zItl=John Prater's Colorado 14er Speed Climbing Record Update">Email this</a></p>
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