Peak Bagger: One who climbs mountains for the challenge of reaching (bagging) as many summits as possible... In my case, all peaks in the Continental U.S. that are 14,000 feet or higher (known as the Fourteeners).

Technically-Challenged: One without the knowledge, skills or desire to use technical climbing gear.

   I am a technically-challenged mountain climber. I have no desire to learn how to use all those cables and pulleys... I personally don't WANT to spend my whole day hanging my butt off the side of a 3000 foot wall. I do respect and admire you climbers that do, but it's just not my thing. To me it's far more challenging to find a way to the top without all that mechanical stuff. Just human against earth, flesh against stone... to use my human brain rather than a bunch of metal gadgets to conquer that big beast! In each peak, I see a different puzzle and the challenge of solving it.

   Many of the Continental Fourteeners can be climbed with not much more than a good pair of hiking shoes and a couple granola bars, but the harder ones will require some serious rock climbing and puzzle solving! I'll start with the easier ones first, learn as I go, climb as many as possible and take lots of pictures along the way. And I'll archive and display them here on the web site for all to enjoy! I have much to learn, that's for sure. In the mean time, here's a few of the basic Peak Baggin' lessons that I've learned so far...

Get in shape. The mountain will kick your butt and laugh at you if you're not in shape to climb. Never trash the mountains or the wilderness... take only pictures and leave only boot-prints. Don't take unnecessary risks. The mountain will still be there when you are better prepared. Two things you should never mess with: Mother Nature and Gravity. They will always win. Respect the wildlife. Never shoot an animal with anything but a camera.. unless it attacks you! Never succumb to 'Summit Fever'. No matter how close you are, don't risk your life for it. Don't be disappointed by the failures. If Peak Baggin' was easy, nobody would be interested.

* Click here for my Peak Baggin' Packing List *
Trip #	Peak name	Location	Elevation	Date	Summit?
1	Longs Peak	Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado	14,255 ft.	9-27-01	YES
2	White Mountain Peak	Inyo/White Mountains, California	14,246 ft.	7-21-02	YES
3	White Mountain Peak	Inyo/White Mountains, California	14,246 ft.	8-15-02	YES
4	Mount Whitney	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,496 ft.	9-11-02	YES
5	Mount Langley	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,042 ft.	10-4-02	NO
6	Mount Langley	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,042 ft.	7-24-03	NO
7	Mount Muir	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,015 ft.	8-10-03	YES
8	Mount Whitney	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,496 ft.	8-10-03	YES
9	Torreys Peak	Arapaho National Forest, Colorado	14,267 ft.	8-20-03	YES
10	Grays Peak	Arapaho National Forest, Colorado	14,270 ft.	8-20-03	YES
11	Mount Bierstadt	Arapaho National Forest, Colorado	14,060 ft.	8-25-03	YES
12	Mount Evans	Arapaho National Forest, Colorado	14,264 ft.	8-25-03	NO
13	Mount Langley	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,042 ft.	9-11-03	YES
14	Middle Palisade	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,040 ft.	9-30-03	NO
15	Half Dome	Yosemite National Park, California	8,842 ft.	7-22-04	YES
16	Mount Russell	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,086 ft.	8-04-04	NO
17	Mount Sill	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,162 ft.	8-19-04	NO
18	Mount Russell	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,086 ft.	9-06-04	NO
19	Mt. Carillon	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	13,552 ft.	9-13-04	YES
20	Lone Pine Peak	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	12,944 ft.	9-30-04	NO
21	Mount Russell	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,086 ft.	8-22-05	NO
22	Mount Democrat	Pike National Forest, Colorado	14,148 ft.	9-19-05	YES
23	Mount Cameron	Pike National Forest, Colorado	14,238 ft.	9-19-05	YES
24	Mount Lincoln	Pike National Forest, Colorado	14,286 ft.	9-19-05	YES
25	Mount Bross	Pike National Forest, Colorado	14,172 ft.	9-19-05	YES
26	Mount Russell	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,086 ft.	10-2-05	NO
27	White Mountain Peak	Inyo/White Mountains, California	14,246 ft.	7-23-06	NO
28	Mount Russell	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,086 ft.	8-01-06	NO
29	Middle Palisade	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,040 ft.	8-27-06	NO
30	Mount Russell	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	14,086 ft.	9-12-06	YES
31	Lone Pine Peak	Southern Sierra Nevada, California	12,944 ft.	9-26-06	YES

Are you a 'technically-challenged' climber?  Your comments and ideas are most welcome! E-mail me at  randyisbell@gmail.com

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