As of last weekend, I have gained the summit of all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers on my own power. These complex mountains have some gray areas (and Torrey's areas) for different people, but I use a general definition, with rare exception. A “fourteener” is a peak above 14,000 feet with over 300 feet of prominence. For me, these substantial journeys included technical climbs, exposed scrambles, mountain biking, snow-climbing, downhill skiing, skinning, snowshoeing, glissading, trail running, and, of course, lots and lots of hiking. Having covered so many miles, both horizontally and vertically, one question remains unanswered - am I a mountaineer yet? This introduces a broader conundrum; What makes a mountaineer? Well, I went to Appalachian State University, in Western North Carolina. Here, anyone willing to fork out money for tuition became a “mountaineer.” The biggest mountain around is under 7,000 feet. It also features a summit road. I’m apparently also a ram, thanks to my having attended grad school at Colorado State, so, not sure what to make of that. Baaah! All kidding aside, I’ve been stewing over what qualifies one as a mountaineer. To me, it sounds like a very respectable title. Mountaineers are physically fit, mentally strong, and often exceptionally skilled. They’re intensely driven and many are borderline obsessed. It seems fair to say these characteristics are favorable in most circles. I’ve only begun to learn of these principles, but it’s taken a lot of effort to get here. (After all, I did study at Mount Harvard, Columbia Point, etc….) There are a number of challenges (and one "challenger") I have overcome. For example, there was a time when I might have been scared to hike into an unfamiliar forest alone, in the dark, at 1am. After trying this many times, I learned that a little bear spray goes a long way for peace-of-mind. I should also mention that I’ve never ever regretted (or heard of anyone regretting) a summit sunrise. Only recently did I become comfortable with hundreds (or thousands) of feet of exposure, committing traverses, and the occasional ropeless class 5 climbing maneuver. The four great Colorado traverses taught me that to work toward to and forward to these test-pieces. No fear necessary. There was a time that I was too scared to talk to beautiful women! Oops...I’m still working on that one. Nevermind. Anyway, this summer, I realized a disconnect in my identity. Often I felt guilt and shame about my growing hobby. It all felt pretty selfish. After all, clearly, my summiting a mountain does not serve to directly benefit others. Sure, folks would occasionally tell me that they were “inspired” by my stories and pictures, but this could not justify the massive demands of frequent mountaineering. For most of the summer, this quandary felt like extra weight in my pack, but I didn’t have anything else going on, so I kept climbing. Only very recently did I recognize that the virtues of mountaineering can benefit the alpinist regardless of where he finds himself. Whether in a couloir, powder skiing, or in the classroom, powerpointing, these lessons of mountaineering will be with me. Speaking of valuable learning, look below the gallery for some of my favorite teachers. Mountaineering ought to serve as training for life. Just as running, for many, serves primarily to benefit other areas of life, so too should mountaineering serve primarily to benefit one’s ability to lead and serve his communities. This chance to "sharpen the saw" revitalizes my mind, body, heart, and spirit. Like any hobby, mountaineering offers great enjoyment (sometimes “type 2 fun”) as a means to another end. Like any hobby, mountaineering can sometimes feel like an end in and of itself. However, like any hobby, mountaineering’s role in identity must remain secondary to a greater value system. Threading this needle is not always straightforward, and I’ve got plenty of soul-searching to do when it comes to values, but there is one that I know: the value of service. To take a page out of Stephen Covey - I always imagine my own funeral as a litmus test for commitments. Folks might say: “Wow, Paul sure did climb a lot of big mountains and take pretty pictures.” Is this enough? While I’m here, routefinding my own human-powered legacy, I choose to pour into people. I’ll take every chance along the way to climb with family, friends, and students up and over their own mountains. If I stay in shape, I can help carry others' burdens when necessary. If I'm loyal, I can trust them to do the same. And if it’s familiar terrain, I might can even guide. As to whether I can claim the title of “mountaineer,” I’m not so sure. For now, let's just call it “training.” Thanks to Landon, who taught me what it means to “red-line”. I can sense your STOKE from here bro, even though you’re across the Pacific. Can’t wait to climb again soon! Thanks to Davis, who taught me about risk-management. I never knew I needed someone 5+ years younger than me to talk me out of questionable decisions until it happened... like... multiple times. If Which-Which ever continues their 14er promo, I hope we can climb together again! Ha! Thanks to Wade, who taught me about confidence and identity. There’s a reason I call you before technical missions. And that’s not just about mountaineering.
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