Misfit 14ers

[Gandalf69]

Its that time of year again and watching reruns with the kids made me think. How many 14ers are considered "misfits"? For example, Cameron in the Lincoln/Democrat group? Can anyone think of other mountains that just don't seem to fit in their range or whatever, but of course they are there.

[Mtnman200]

Ice Mountain doesn't really feel like it belongs in the Sawatch. (And yes, I know you said "14ers.")

[cougar]

Holy Cross doesn't look like the other Sawatch 14ers, more Gore-like, especially the east face and basin, and a lot of the surrounding area.
At 13ers and lower elevations, there's more that seem to be different. Part of that can be the lack of established routes.

When there's volcanic peaks or different type of rock vs. what dominates in that area, you can get a 'misfit' for what we think of. Like most of the Front Range is solid granite, but there's different (looser) rock in spots like the Never Summers, which seem more like the Elks or San Juans. Greenhorn is another one, rotten rock. Byers Peak and that area are kind of different too. Static Peak and Lead Mtn are more solid rock peaks surrounded by choss.

Culebra and that area seems a bit different from the other Sangres, across a valley south of 160 and the main spine. Gentler peak and feel overall.
Also for San Luis, the la Garitas are pretty different from the rest of the San Juans.

Pikes Peak might be a bit different too, it sticks out far east without nearby 13ers or even 12ers surrounding it for a distance, has a lot of development.
So for its surroundings and slopes, kind of different.

[HikesInGeologicTime]

^Holy Cross is also on the other side of the Continental Divide from the rest of the Sawatch fourteeners. The Tenmile and Mosquitoes are considered to be two ranges separated by the Divide; I’ve never been able to figure out why something similar didn’t wind up happening with the Sawatch.

Longs is the only Front Range fourteener that’s a real piece of work. The rest are fairly tame outings unless you go out of your way to complicate them.

Pikes is so far removed from everything that it seems more like it should be the star of its own group. San Luis isn’t quite as isolated, but I could see a case being made for the La Garita mountains being considered an entity separate from the rest of the San Juans.

The western/550-adjacent San Juans seem like an entirely different (and, imho, nastier) beast from the eastern/149/Lake City-adjacent mountains.

The Sangres almost seem like they could be three separate ranges: the Crestones and north, the Blanca group, and then Culebra and south. But there probably is such a thing as getting too obsessive about breaking down the groupings.

[greenonion]

Bross. In any range

[zootloopz]

The north faces of the Grenadiers with their fairly solid granite feels pretty out of place in the beautiful piles of choss that are the San Juans.

[nyker]

Uncompahgre looks like it belongs a more southwestern area.

Longs also with its sheer face of the Diamond and abrupt rise as seen from viewpoints say from RMNP, make it look pretty unique to other peaks in the area.

[justiner]

Ice Mountain doesn't really feel like it belongs in the Sawatch. (And yes, I know you said "14ers.")

You’d think but many peaks in the Sawatch you find on the Continental Divide are very similar. That whole line of mountains behind Missouri and Harvard have that same crap rock. It stays that way until around Mt Yale. Same story on either side of Indy Pass from Booby Prize in the South to Oklahoma.

[blazintoes]

There is only one true misfit 14er and that is Pikes Peak. The mountain that just can't seem to fit in no matter how hard it tries and the one that everyone loves to hate.

Pikes Peak has many unique qualities that contribute to its iconic status and make it stand out among all other Colorado 14ers. And many of its qualities are misfitable. Is that a word?

Its prominence above the surrounding terrain makes it a distinctive landmark visible from miles away. Its inspiration for a song forever immortalized in "America the Beautiful". Its accessible to everyone via the immaculately paved highway or historical Cog Railway. Its role in western expansion and exploration that became a symbol of opportunity during the Colorado Gold Rush, with the phrase "Pikes Peak or Bust" . How many __________ or bust adventures have you been on? Thank Pikes Peak!

Don't forget about the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb that attracts racers and spectators from around the world or the recent marathon that gained national attention for a prize purse of $10,000 for breaking the “Impossible Record” of running up Pikes Peak. The astounding 2:01:06 time that legendary American mountain runner Matt Carpenter set in 1993 was at last broken this year but who will go sub 2 hours? This is very exciting!

Pikes Peak is a batholith with numerous faults, fractures, and joints that contributed to the overall topography of the area. Considering Zebulon Pike isn't the first to climb it and instead climbed some other peak nearby but no one knows which peak would be a fun adventure for documentation purposes. It's on the list of "things I want to do but probably never will" . The unique combination of geographical features, historical importance, and cultural references makes Pikes Peak a mountain of enduring legacy. Anyone can have fun climbing it no matter how they get there and get a world class famous donut. Mmmm!

Someday I'm going to build a zip line from the top and name it Tava as an homage to Ute warriors. How much would you pay to zip line from the top of Pikes Peak? This would make it the ultimate misfit.

[greenonion]

There is only one true misfit 14er and that is Pikes Peak. The mountain that just can't seem to fit in no matter how hard it tries and the one that everyone loves to hate.

Pikes Peak has many unique qualities that contribute to its iconic status and make it stand out among all other Colorado 14ers. And many of its qualities are misfitable. Is that a word?

Its prominence above the surrounding terrain makes it a distinctive landmark visible from miles away. Its inspiration for a song forever immortalized in "America the Beautiful". Its accessible to everyone via the immaculately paved highway or historical Cog Railway. Its role in western expansion and exploration that became a symbol of opportunity during the Colorado Gold Rush, with the phrase "Pikes Peak or Bust" . How many __________ or bust adventures have you been on? Thank Pikes Peak!

Don't forget about the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb that attracts racers and spectators from around the world or the recent marathon that gained national attention for a prize purse of $10,000 for breaking the “Impossible Record” of running up Pikes Peak. The astounding 2:01:06 time that legendary American mountain runner Matt Carpenter set in 1993 was at last broken this year but who will go sub 2 hours? This is very exciting!

Pikes Peak is a batholith with numerous faults, fractures, and joints that contributed to the overall topography of the area. Considering Zebulon Pike isn't the first to climb it and instead climbed some other peak nearby but no one knows which peak would be a fun adventure for documentation purposes. It's on the list of "things I want to do but probably never will" . The unique combination of geographical features, historical importance, and cultural references makes Pikes Peak a mountain of enduring legacy. Anyone can have fun climbing it no matter how they get there and get a world class famous donut. Mmmm!

Someday I'm going to build a zip line from the top and name it Tava as an homage to Ute warriors. How much would you pay to zip line from the top of Pikes Peak? This would make it the ultimate misfit.

Excellent and interesting synopsis!

[nyker]

Since the OP said "14er" not just CO 14er, I'd add Mt Whitney, at least as viewed from the east, which when coupled with the Needles and the East Face/Mountaineers Route looks pretty formidable relative to other peaks nearby.

[JROSKA]

Interesting perspectives here. Maybe San Luis because it’s relatively isolated from other 14ers in the San Juan’s.