Hardest Standard 14er Route in a Day?

[thebeave7]

I am considering doing both Snowmass and Capitol in a day in August so very interested in the comments. Now if done from Pierre lakes BOTH can be done in a day.

I've done them as a loop from the Snowmass creek th up via moon lake then down the main Snowmass trail. Nice long day out, made easier if you trail run. The routes on Snowmass are interesting, not too hard (class 3-4) but def interesting.

Eric

[twhalm]

You can thumb through the back of Roach's 14ers book and check out his Roach Points to get his answer to this question.

[OldTrad]

I've done a lot of long routes of 14ers in a day, 100% it's the Chicago Basin group from purgatory. At 42mi and 13k vert it's a long hard day even if you're running, throw in a little scramble half way for funsies. Next for me would be Little Bear-Blanca from the bottom of the jeep road with no 4wd, just cause I really hate that jeep road.

Eric

+1
I was hoping you would chime in on this.

[Gandalf69]

I've done Capitol 7 times,(I think) 2 camping in the valley, the other 5 as a whole day. I did camp at the lake once, but didn't summit that trip. It is a super long day, but once ur off k2 you can be a walking dead zombie all the way back. By far the "longest" route I've ever done was Ellingwood ridge on La Plata. The virtual Shera said when he was climbing it the ridge was a "engeriser bunny, it just keeps going and going." That about sums it up.

[nmjameswilson]

I am considering doing both Snowmass and Capitol in a day in August so very interested in the comments. Now if done from Pierre lakes BOTH can be done in a day.

I tried this last September via the Moon Lake approach to Capitol and then across Pierre Lakes basin to Snowmass. Ended up about 1000ft short of Snowmass before heading down to Snowmass Lake to sleep. Never been so exhausted from a 14er hike. A super tough day for sure!

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... m=tripmine

Thanks for the trip report ... that really helps to see more photos. Pretty awesome to attempt that in one day!
Do you think you can walk the hard rock to the sides of Heckert Pass?
I am thinking about doing one a day from Pierre Lakes Basin myself. I think that will help not getting too tired and still saves a day over the standards.

[nmjameswilson]

I tried this last September via the Moon Lake approach to Capitol and then across Pierre Lakes basin to Snowmass. Ended up about 1000ft short of Snowmass before heading down to Snowmass Lake to sleep. Never been so exhausted from a 14er hike. A super tough day for sure!

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... m=tripmine

Thanks for the trip report ... that really helps to see more photos. Pretty awesome to attempt that in one day!
Do you think you can walk the hard rock to the sides of Heckert Pass?
I am thinking about doing one a day from Pierre Lakes Basin myself. I think that will help not getting too tired and still saves a day over the standards.

I've done them as a loop from the Snowmass creek th up via moon lake then down the main Snowmass trail. Nice long day out, made easier if you trail run. The routes on Snowmass are interesting, not too hard (class 3-4) but def interesting.

Eric

Thanks for confirming Class 3/4.

[thebeave7]

I've done them as a loop from the Snowmass creek th up via moon lake then down the main Snowmass trail. Nice long day out, made easier if you trail run. The routes on Snowmass are interesting, not too hard (class 3-4) but def interesting.

Eric

Thanks for confirming Class 3/4.

Note I didn't say you couldn't find 5th class rock, cause it's definitely out there if your navigation is off. I've done both Heckert Pass and crossing the low point of Satan's Ridge to the West side of Snowmass. Crossing the ridge to West Snowmass is definitely faster and shorter, but there are miles of heinous talus and a sporting 4th class choss climb. Heckert is much longer, but technically easier.

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... m=tripmine
http://ericjlee.com/Blogs/?p=1733

Eric

[nmjameswilson]

Note I didn't say you couldn't find 5th class rock, cause it's definitely out there if your navigation is off. I've done both Heckert Pass and crossing the low point of Satan's Ridge to the West side of Snowmass. Crossing the ridge to West Snowmass is definitely faster and shorter, but there are miles of heinous talus and a sporting 4th class choss climb. Heckert is much longer, but technically easier.

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... m=tripmine
http://ericjlee.com/Blogs/?p=1733

Eric

Oh I understand for sure I can find class 5 if I get off route but it is good to know it can be avoided and you don't HAVE to go a 5 route. Thanks for the links those are helpful.

[saxlover]

South Maroon by itself is not fun. The 2800ft of suck, sucks up and down!

[timewarp01]

Seconding the calls for any of the Chicago Basin peaks in a day. Climbing up toward Twin Lakes is brutal when all you can think about is the 20 miles you still have to go to get down.