The non-standard14er Podcast

Joining the podcast is a guy who has climbed the 14ers and every single 13,000-foot peak in Colorado: Alex Henes. We talk about his recent trip to Denali, what it is like to ski classic 14er ski lines like the Cross Couloir and the Bell Cord, and backpacking trips that involved multiple nights in a tent and multiple passes. Alex has a full description of all the 13ers on his website as well as many other awesome outdoor adventures: www.merelyafleshwound.com. 

What's it like crossing the snow-covered Narrows section on Longs Peak in crampons? David (daway8 on 14ers.com) joins the podcast to talk about climbing Longs Peak in both the winter and the summer. We chat about the Loft route vs. the Keyhole. We also hear some advice for those who may be intimidated by Longs. You can find David's detailed trip report here: Longs Peak Trip Report 01/04/2024 | 14ers.com

Joining the Non-Standard 14er Podcast in this episode is Darin Radatz, Field Operations Manager of the Colorado Trail Foundation to chat about trail adopters, trail crews, re-routing hiking trails, and the challenges of maintaining trail in designated wilderness areas. We even got to learn about using dynamite to clear avalanche debris fields. If you're looking to get involved as a volunteer to do some trail building, listen in!  

Why will the 14ers Democrat, Lincoln, Cameron, Bross, and Lindsey be restricted this summer because of a liability issue? Why was there a bill in the state legislature to modify the Colorado Recreational Use Statute? How did Covid and parking restrictions on popular 14ers changed the hiker use numbers?  Brian Sargeant re-joined the podcast to talk all about it. 

The most remote 14ers in Colorado are up for discussion in this crowded episode of the Non-Standard 14er Podcast: Eolus, N. Eolus, Sunlight and Windom.  We talk about non-standard routes into the Chicago Basin, animals at your camp sites, and tips for riding the train.  We also talk about a rite of passage of the 14er journey: the leap of faith on Sunlight.  This is part 1 of our discussion.

David Witte, 14er finisher and author of the book "World War II at Camp Hale," rejoins the Non-Standard 14er Podcast to chat about the site's latest designation as a National Monument.  We get to learn about the 10th Mountain Division, why they chose the Leadville area, and how they utilized the 14ers in the Sawatch Range for training. 

Short-Rope Stiffler got the trail name “Nugget” while hiking the 486-mile Colorado Trail over 5 weeks this summer. Wangler, another CT hiker whom Stiffler met on the trail, joins the podcast along with the Exiled Michigander.  We talk a lot about the camaraderie of fellow hikers, what it’s like to hike for 35 days straight, trail names, motivation, gear and the prettiest sections of the trail. If you’ve ever contemplated hiking the Colorado Trail, hearing our magical and transformational experiences will hopefully tip you into the “yes let’s try the CT” camp.

What's Wetterhorn like in winter?  What's the winter route on Holy Cross?  Will_E is back on the podcast to talk about hiking the 14ers in calendar winter.  He is two 14ers shy of completing them all as snowflakes---and most of them he's done solo. 

Will_E joins the Non-Standard 14er podcast to talk about his recent solo Winter ascents of the Chicago Basin 14ers---Eolus, N. Eolus, Sunlight and Windom.  We talk about the summer routes vs winter routes, avalanche danger, the Purgatory approach, winter camping, and climbing to the summit block of Sunlight in crampons. 

Snowmass Mountain was the topic of discussion in the latest episode of the Non-Standard 14er Podcast.  Recent 14er Finisher and longtime listener NatDog joins JacerJack, TayJack, Short-Rope and AWOL Pat to talk about his experience on the S-Ridge and the Geneva Lake Side.  We compare the standard route from Snowmass Lake to the S-Ridge in an attempt to influence TayJack’s decision on the best way to tackle Snowmass.