List "14ers, The Hard Way" By wren
Notes: This is not an original idea, but it's more difficult than the list already existing on SummitPost and includes some routes that the original creator missed.
- If there is no reasonable route above class 2, the peak should be climbed in winter, i.e. Cameron. There seem to be possibilities of steep or moderate snow climbs for most of these, however.
- When faced with a choice between two routes with the same YDS rating, the one that requires more stamina and/or more sustained difficulty wins, i.e. Emperor Couloir vs. Kelso, with Emperor being a very long steep snow climb while Kelso has only a few sections of modest class 3.
- If there are multiple 5th class routes available, technical difficulty is not the only factor in choosing the route - rock quality, length, and general quality of climbing are taken into account, i.e. Gash wins over Ormes Buttress for Blanca since Gash is a 3-star classic and Ormes is a scary, runout choss-fest. Furthermore, rock difficulty is limited to 5.10a to make completion more accessible.
ROUTE LINKS
Mt. Elbert: https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=elbe4&type=14ers
Mt. Massive: https://www.summitpost.org/tour-de-massive/157810
Mt. Harvard: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=20287
Blanca Peak: https://www.merelyafleshwound.com/mountaineering/sangre-range/blanca/
La Plata Peak: https://www.summitpost.org/ellingwood-ridge/161794
Uncompahgre Peak: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=11522
Crestone Peak: https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105750595/crestone-peak-north-pillar
Mt. Lincoln: https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=linc2&peak=Mt.+Lincoln
Grays Peak: https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=gray6
Mt. Antero: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=10173
Torreys Peak: https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=torr10&peak=Grays+Peak+and+Torreys+Peak
Castle Peak: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=3587 (Castle's west ridge should be ASCENDED from Castleabra's saddle or Castleabra itself)
Quandary Peak: https://www.summitpost.org/inwood-arete/158656
Mt. Evans: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=14997
Longs Peak: https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105748496/casual-route
Mount Wilson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMHD_RBt64Y
Mt. Cameron: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=7717
Mt. Shavano: https://www.summitpost.org/southeast-ridge-via-espirit-point/158242
Mt. Princeton: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=3363
Mt. Belford: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=9584