Post by Peter Bakwin on Nov 7, 2009 9:51:59 GMT -5
Sean O'Rourke took the record for all 15 down to 2d14h3m, Aug. 1-3, 2012.
Andrea Sansone has the women's FKT (accompanied) of 7d11h22m, July 26 - August 2, 2017.
Sam Skrocke enchained all 15 CA 14ers on foot and bike in 9d20h41m, July 29 - August 7, 2014.
California has 15 peaks over 14,000 feet, the so-called "14ers". Previously, efforts to bag all the peaks were hampered by the fact that the second highest, Mount Williamson, was closed much of the year (July 16 - December 14) to protect Bighorn Sheep. Climbing Williamson, which is close to Tyndall, adds a few hours. Some record-seekers (Florine, McBride) chose to respect the closure, and climb only the 14 "legal" 14ers, while others (McBroom, Swartz) have ignored the rule, tagging all 15 peaks. However, the closure has recently been lifted.
An additional difficulty for those aspiring to bag all the California 14ers is the technical nature of the five peaks known as the Palisades. Because of this, all successful records have been done by people capable of comfortably free-soloing mid-5th class rock in a very remote, high alpine setting. The CA 14ers are not the domain of pure ultrarunners!
Climbing the CA 14ers has largely not been complicated by the somewhat arbitary "rules" set for the Colorado 14ers. All the CA 14ers have clear trail heads well lower than the summits, and most are long approaches.
In August 1998, Hans Florine, Russ McBride and Tony Ralph kicked off California 14ers mania by climbing all 14 "legal" peaks in 9d10h50m, car-to-car. Their report is here.
In August 2001, Josh Swartz crushed the earlier record, climbing all 15 peaks in a 5d23h41m, car-to-car. Josh's trip was solo and self-supported, particularly fine style. This appears to be the FKT for a self-supported trip.
A year later, in August 2002, ultrarunner and adventure racer Jack McBroom lowered the mark for all 15 peaks to 4d11h19m. Jack had support during the effort, including with driving between the peaks, which is especially helpul on the long drive to Shasta.
McBride made a failed attempt on the 14ers in August 2003 (Florine was supposed to participate in this trip, but became sick just prior and had to postpone). On his own trip, a month later (September 2003), Hans Florine bagged 14 14ers in 3d12h11m. Many more details of these trips are linked to Hans' site.
These records stood for quite a while, until Sean O'Rourke climbed all 15 peaks in just 2d14h3m on August 1-3, 2012, as reported below. By this time, Williamson was legal year-round. O'Rourke had driving support during his trip, and slept during the car shuttles between peaks. His splits and a link to his trip report are below.
Speed attempts on the CA 14ers by a women have been rare, and so far have been accompanied by men. In July 2006 Jacqueline Florine climbed the 14 then-legal 14ers in 9d12h17m. In late July 2012 Maggie Crawford attempted the FKT, but was stopped by giardia. Recently, Andrea Sansone who climbed all 15 CA 14ers in 7d11h22m, July 26 - August 2, 2017. Sansone was accompanied by Andrew Hamilton, who holds the FKT for the CO 14ers. The trip was tracked on 14ers.com.
Professional climbers Alex Honnold and Cedar Wright enchained all 15 CA 14ers on foot and bike in about 22 days, June 19 - July 10, 2013. A brief write-up is here. epictv.com has a series of (8) videos on the trip. The pair of top rock climbers did many of the peaks by free soloing hard technical routes, but appeared to have more trouble with the biking sections. Sam Skrocke recently crushed this time, doing the self-powered CA 14ers in just 9d20h41m (self-supported), July 29 - August 7, 2014, as reported below.
"This is type 4 fun, where it's just stupid." - Cedar Wright
Andrea Sansone has the women's FKT (accompanied) of 7d11h22m, July 26 - August 2, 2017.
Sam Skrocke enchained all 15 CA 14ers on foot and bike in 9d20h41m, July 29 - August 7, 2014.
California has 15 peaks over 14,000 feet, the so-called "14ers". Previously, efforts to bag all the peaks were hampered by the fact that the second highest, Mount Williamson, was closed much of the year (July 16 - December 14) to protect Bighorn Sheep. Climbing Williamson, which is close to Tyndall, adds a few hours. Some record-seekers (Florine, McBride) chose to respect the closure, and climb only the 14 "legal" 14ers, while others (McBroom, Swartz) have ignored the rule, tagging all 15 peaks. However, the closure has recently been lifted.
An additional difficulty for those aspiring to bag all the California 14ers is the technical nature of the five peaks known as the Palisades. Because of this, all successful records have been done by people capable of comfortably free-soloing mid-5th class rock in a very remote, high alpine setting. The CA 14ers are not the domain of pure ultrarunners!
Climbing the CA 14ers has largely not been complicated by the somewhat arbitary "rules" set for the Colorado 14ers. All the CA 14ers have clear trail heads well lower than the summits, and most are long approaches.
In August 1998, Hans Florine, Russ McBride and Tony Ralph kicked off California 14ers mania by climbing all 14 "legal" peaks in 9d10h50m, car-to-car. Their report is here.
In August 2001, Josh Swartz crushed the earlier record, climbing all 15 peaks in a 5d23h41m, car-to-car. Josh's trip was solo and self-supported, particularly fine style. This appears to be the FKT for a self-supported trip.
A year later, in August 2002, ultrarunner and adventure racer Jack McBroom lowered the mark for all 15 peaks to 4d11h19m. Jack had support during the effort, including with driving between the peaks, which is especially helpul on the long drive to Shasta.
McBride made a failed attempt on the 14ers in August 2003 (Florine was supposed to participate in this trip, but became sick just prior and had to postpone). On his own trip, a month later (September 2003), Hans Florine bagged 14 14ers in 3d12h11m. Many more details of these trips are linked to Hans' site.
These records stood for quite a while, until Sean O'Rourke climbed all 15 peaks in just 2d14h3m on August 1-3, 2012, as reported below. By this time, Williamson was legal year-round. O'Rourke had driving support during his trip, and slept during the car shuttles between peaks. His splits and a link to his trip report are below.
Speed attempts on the CA 14ers by a women have been rare, and so far have been accompanied by men. In July 2006 Jacqueline Florine climbed the 14 then-legal 14ers in 9d12h17m. In late July 2012 Maggie Crawford attempted the FKT, but was stopped by giardia. Recently, Andrea Sansone who climbed all 15 CA 14ers in 7d11h22m, July 26 - August 2, 2017. Sansone was accompanied by Andrew Hamilton, who holds the FKT for the CO 14ers. The trip was tracked on 14ers.com.
Professional climbers Alex Honnold and Cedar Wright enchained all 15 CA 14ers on foot and bike in about 22 days, June 19 - July 10, 2013. A brief write-up is here. epictv.com has a series of (8) videos on the trip. The pair of top rock climbers did many of the peaks by free soloing hard technical routes, but appeared to have more trouble with the biking sections. Sam Skrocke recently crushed this time, doing the self-powered CA 14ers in just 9d20h41m (self-supported), July 29 - August 7, 2014, as reported below.
"This is type 4 fun, where it's just stupid." - Cedar Wright
But for real, this is one of the coolest challenges I've heard of accomplished. Amazingly strong work Sam. 