How many finishers...really?

[dr_j]

Ah that last bit of Sunlight. I was in a small group of four persons, and we all did that last summit block. I'd say it was more of an issue getting down than up. I didn't hop the blocks, but carefully made my way up the left side and then butt scooted to the top, same way back down.

But yeah, kind of scary, at least for me.

As for the finisher list, the CMC list is certainly not everybody. There's also the ABC/ABL list, the 53/54 from years back, and so on. It's definitely in the thousands nowadays, the vast majority who are/were CO residents (90 %?). I'm one of the relatively few out-of-state people to finish them.

[Istoodupthere]

How to video for sunlight

I’ve heard many talk about the scary jump on sunlight. This video makes it look so easy. Maybe because he’s possibly tall? Is it the hop down onto the 2nd boulder below the summit that is supposed to be tough?

I’ve also heard many people say that they only touched the summit with their hand so how many people have truly submitted all 58?

[climbingcue]

I’ve heard many talk about the scary jump on sunlight. This video makes it look so easy. Maybe because he’s possibly tall? Is it the hop down onto the 2nd boulder below the summit that is supposed to be tough?

I’ve also heard many people say that they only touched the summit with their hand so how many people have truly submitted all 58?

I am 6’2” that definitely makes it easier.

[lauradaughtry]

One way to estimate finishers is to look at how many Culebra hikers summited, and we have a good guess on that as the ranch would have records of payment to hike. If roughly... 90% of the hikers top Culebra, that's your answer to approx. how many people have completed the 14ers (or take another 10% from that total).

This is an interesting thought--though I will chime in and say Culebra was my boyfriend's first 14er and I don't see him finishing them all. He and I started dating after I was 48 summits in, and Culebra was the easiest of of the 10 I had left. (El Diente was his second, which was um... quite the up in ante from Culebra and probably why he says he is not going to finish them all. I'm lucky he's still dating me.) I wonder how many other people climb Culebra with significant others or pals who have already made quite a dent in their journey!

[seannunn]

One way to estimate finishers is to look at how many Culebra hikers summited, and we have a good guess on that as the ranch would have records of payment to hike. If roughly... 90% of the hikers top Culebra, that's your answer to approx. how many people have completed the 14ers (or take another 10% from that total).

This is an interesting thought--though I will chime in and say Culebra was my boyfriend's first 14er and I don't see him finishing them all. He and I started dating after I was 48 summits in, and Culebra was the easiest of of the 10 I had left. (El Diente was his second, which was um... quite the up in ante from Culebra and probably why he says he is not going to finish them all. I'm lucky he's still dating me.) I wonder how many other people climb Culebra with significant others or pals who have already made quite a dent in their journey!

+1, kind of.
My daughter did Culebra together several years ago, because we were in the area and we figured we might as well before the price went up again.
I still have 10 to go. My daughter still has 29 and has gotten married and transitioned to a new phase of life, so I doubt she will finish the 14ers.

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

[rijaca]

Between 4500-5000. Approximately double the CMC list. I know of five hiking partners that have finished the list that have never reported to the CMC.

I'm not on the CMC list of 14er finishers (completed 1990) yet I have a fourteener finisher certificate from them that I received when I reported that I completed the Centennials (2018).

I don't think using Culebra would be very accurate. Do you think the Cielo Vista Ranch has records from the Taylor Ranch days? I don't remember much more than calling the number listed in the Borneman and Lampert guidebook when we got to San Luis to gain access and paid $25 cash when we showed up at the ranch (including Red Mountain). No paperwork.

[Mtnman200]

I don't think using Culebra would be very accurate. Do you think the Cielo Vista Ranch has records from the Taylor Ranch days? I don't remember much more than calling the number listed in the Borneman and Lampert guidebook when we got to San Luis to gain access and paid $25 cash when we showed up at the ranch (including Red Mountain). No paperwork.

Agreed. Also, the current owners of Cielo Vista Ranch probably don’t have records from before they purchased CVR in August 2017.

[terrysrunning]

I looked at all my friends and people that I know who have finished, and I found that 12 of them were on the list, and 13 were not. I am on the list, so we could call it 13/13. Far from definitive, but a big enough number to be relevant I think. I think my results are confounded by the fact that all of those people are active on social media and therefore more likely to know about the CMC list, so I would say a little under half of actual finishers actually register with the CMC.
Noteworthy names that are NOT on the CMC list unless there's something I'm missing are Andrew Hamilton, Andrea Sansone, and John and Alyson Kirk. One would assume they are aware of the list and just didn't care, which is likely the case with plenty of finishers.
So I'd agree with the previous poster that (I think; I'm not going back up and reading) said around 4500 (CMC list says 2199).

[Veory]

How to video for sunlight

I’ve heard many talk about the scary jump on sunlight. This video makes it look so easy. Maybe because he’s possibly tall? Is it the hop down onto the 2nd boulder below the summit that is supposed to be tough?

I’ve also heard many people say that they only touched the summit with their hand so how many people have truly submitted all 58?

If you wear sticky shoes, I think it feels more like third class. I just kinda walked back down, no need to jump. Also I think touching the top counts, usually from who I've talked to they (and I) abide by the rule that if any part of your body touches the summit it counts. I'll often tag the summit cairn with my hand, but I always look for the actual highest one.

[dr_j]

So while we're discussing the Sunlight summit block, how many have been on top of that little jutting rock on Snowmass?

[daway8]

I’ve heard many talk about the scary jump on sunlight. This video makes it look so easy. Maybe because he’s possibly tall? Is it the hop down onto the 2nd boulder below the summit that is supposed to be tough?

Yes, it's the hop down onto the second boulder that's a little tricky (that's what my profile picture is - me making that leap). If you stick the landing, all is well - otherwise you'd pitch forward and roll down quite a long ways.

I'm also 6'2" and that gap is just big enough that it's just a little too far to comfortably step across when going down. So it's easier, in my opinion, to just do that little leap. I wouldn't say it's hard - you just kinda need a little nerve to do it...

[madmattd]

So while we're discussing the Sunlight summit block, how many have been on top of that little jutting rock on Snowmass?

I definitely followed Veory's "if any part of your body touches the summit it counts" for that one - touched it with a hand, moved on.