An introduction and a cautionary tale

[climbingcue]

Happy to read your pop was able to make it out safely. I know I have made mistakes over the years, I am just lucky that were on easier mountains. Now I bring a bunch of extra gear for that just in case. I have a Spot Gen 3 which I had to use for a partner in June of this year. It was a happy out come, but a very long day.

Bill

[HikesInGeologicTime]

That was a pucker-inducing read! I'm glad your father made it out; I have a Stared Into the Abyss on a Fourteener story of my own (Longs Peak rather than Princeton for me), so I can commiserate. I love that he went back and re-did it properly - I did the same with Longs over a year after my near-death experience.

Welcome back to Colorado climbing!

[madbuck]

One of the most unusual and interesting things I've read here in awhile, so thanks for taking the time to write that.
Mountain mistakes, blah blah blah.....What I really enjoyed is the dynamics of the whole thing, that you're able to see some real mistakes that your Dad made, but he came out of it, and you're able to bust him a bit for it, LOL. Most importantly, you listened to and recalled many details, embellishments, and possible outright lies(!) that your Dad has told over about this story over the years, and related it with good humour!

It sounds like you guys have a good relationship to each other, and the mountains. As a Dad myself, albeit far from having teenagers yet, I would be incredibly fulfilled if one of my kids wrote something like that, and then were hooked and inspired by the mountains themselves. Keep at it!

[Mattm3535]

One of the most unusual and interesting things I've read here in awhile, so thanks for taking the time to write that.
Mountain mistakes, blah blah blah.....What I really enjoyed is the dynamics of the whole thing, that you're able to see some real mistakes that your Dad made, but he came out of it, and you're able to bust him a bit for it, LOL. Most importantly, you listened to and recalled many details, embellishments, and possible outright lies(!) that your Dad has told over about this story over the years, and related it with good humour!

It sounds like you guys have a good relationship to each other, and the mountains. As a Dad myself, albeit far from having teenagers yet, I would be incredibly fulfilled if one of my kids wrote something like that, and then were hooked and inspired by the mountains themselves. Keep at it!

Oh I am sure that many of his experiences were exaggerated due to the simple human psychology of being mad at himself and coming to terms with the fact that he done f'd up. And I'd definitely say that judging by his appearance when he found him walking up the road, he most definitely had a rough go of it. I do have to laugh though by the fact that right after he realized he screwed up, he still had to take pictures of Mt. Antero because "I wasn't going to get that exact view ever again." Oh, and he made sure to take out all of the tapes from the camcorder case and camcorder he had to abandon. Had enough wits about him to take care of that lol.

Thank you for your kind words...I've been wanting to write this up for awhile and after I got back from Colorado this summer and saw ol' Princeton in all of her glory, I knew the time had come. Glad you enjoyed reading!

Regards,

Matt

[Broken Knee]

Oh I am sure that many of his experiences were exaggerated due to the simple human psychology of being mad at himself and coming to terms with the fact that he done f'd up.

Well, at least he wasn't warned in advance. The closest I can relate to your dad's story was when I was warned not to descend Chaos Canyon (RMNP) and then did it anyway.

[Mattm3535]

Oh I am sure that many of his experiences were exaggerated due to the simple human psychology of being mad at himself and coming to terms with the fact that he done f'd up.

Well, at least he wasn't warned in advance. The closest I can relate to your dad's story was when I was warned not to descend Chaos Canyon (RMNP) and then did it anyway.

I did something similar on castle...ascended the northeast ridge no problem, the world's tiniest storm blew up out of nowhere...made the rash decision to descend straight down the northwest slope beneath the northwest ridge because it looked "faster," despite being explicitly told that it was trash rock and scree by more than one person. It was freaking miserable. My shins took a ruthless beating. Of course I didn't get lost and wasn't in any extreme danger, but still: just stay on route matt, you dummy.

[DeTour]

From one reluctant Illinois resident to another, congratulations on your plans to resume climbing, and kudos to how you're going about it. If you're anywhere near the western Chicabo 'burbs and feel like talking mountains, let me know. I appreciate a good story. Based on the one you've written, I get the sense you do too.

[Wish I lived in CO]

Good read. Thx.

You're plenty young to do the 14ers, even if it is from out of state. I started at 39 y.o. and did about 40 or so from living in MI, and 16 more now from AZ in the last 5 years. If it is a priority to you, it can done from out of state. Good luck, enjoy the journey!

[Will_E]

That’s a crazy story! Glad it ended well.

[Mattm3535]

If you're anywhere near the western Chicabo 'burbs and feel like talking mountains, let me know. I appreciate a good story.

Northwest suburbs myself. McHenry County baby! We should get together sometime and scale the mighty Charles Mound. I'll head out first and stash the oxygen bottles and put up the fixed lines!

Regards,

Matt

[CORed]

That reminds me of the time a friend and I attempted to climb up the south side of Princeton, with thoughts of maybe summiting. We actually never made it to timberline. We were both in our 20's, maybe a year or two out of college, and had done a bit of hiking and peak bagging. We had no information; we were just winging it. I think we were one or two drainages east of Grouse Canyon. We also had my dog with us. We ended up in some very steep loose talus with microwave or somewhat bigger boulders, and we accidentally sent a few rolling down the slope. Fortunately, there was nobody below us. We eventually turned back when my dog refused to go any further. I think the dog had more sense than either of the two humans that day.

[Hershel]

I love this story and share, and that you are eager to stay humble. I think it's the most important attribute in terms of success on these peaks. I'm interested in one thing unrelated to your story though:

'my goal is to finish climbing the remaining 14ers. Not because I want to, but because I have to'

Why do you say you have to?