Colorado's Fourteeners: From Hikes to Climbs

by Gerry Roach

Since 1992, Colorado's Fourteeners has sold more than 40,000 copies, a testament to its accuracy and completeness. Now in its second edition, this climbing and hiking guide to Colorado's 14,000–foot peaks has been updated to include 250 routes. Besides the often–climbed standard routes, the guide describes many alternative and technical routes, with each route rated by grade, class, and snow steepness. Easy–to–read, full–color topographic maps and photographic overlays, cross–referenced to the route descriptions, make this the best book on the market for Colorado natives and visitors alike.

1999 "Colorado Book Award" Finalist

Genres: Reference, Outdoors, Nonfiction, Travel, Mountaineering, Guidebook, Climbing

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1992

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This year I became a Colorado Centennial Peak Finisher! In this journey, I also resummited most of the 14ers as they are typically attached or in the same area as the Centennials. I tried to resummit from a different route, so this book definitely came in handy to route plan. I can definitely say I’ve read this from cover to cover many times over in pair with Roach’s 13ers book for coverage on all peaks and how to link together. This is an essential guidebook for any hiker wanting to route plan the 14er Peaks. A few things I’ve learned from Roach:
1) If he says it’s going to be a slog, it’s going to be a major slog.
2) If he says the route is faint...twenty years later it is almost nonexistent.
3) Add a couple of extra miles onto his estimated mileage. 😆
4) His Roach points on are point! Learn how to use them early on in your journey to estimate your time.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've lived in Colorado all my life and two years ago, I started my experience with Colorado 14ers. I may not be the most avid climber, but I do plan on climbing these amazing mountains for many years to come. After my second mountain, I realized that I was going to need a way to keep track and better plan my future climbs and, being that I worked at a bookstore, I had a pretty good opportunity to look through many books on the subject. I found this book to be by far the best guide of its type. It gives all the information that a climber will need to climb every last fourteener and does so in a way that is enjoyable and easy to understand without giving away any of the thrills and experiences of the climb itself. I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to climb even just one of these amazing mountains.

[Cynthia]

TONS of information in here.
I found the driving directions to be worded a bit wacky - but hey, getting lost ain't always bad.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guidebook known for its accuracy and comprehensiveness, Colorado’s Fourteeners includes GPS coordinates, topographic maps, route details, and descriptions reflecting alterations to trail access. Besides the often-climbed standard routes, the guide describes many alternative and technical routes. A great resource book.

[Jodell]

Got this for my son in law who climbs fourteener's every chance he gets. He wants to get my grandbaby to hike with him. I hope it happens but for now grandbaby only gets walks around the botanical gardens, and parks.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quintessential guide to 14'er bagging. My guide in the summer of 2001.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a trusted companion on my journey to complete the 14ers.

[elsalmon L · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In pursuit of your goals never forget your Lunch."

[Rob McFarren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like to hike mountains, and want to hike the 14,000 foot mountains (fourteeners) in Colorado, this is the must-have book. This edition is probably a bit old now, but still the benchmark book to learning the routes, difficulties, directions to trailheads, and the payoff of each mountain's routes, from hikes to climbs.

[Stephanie Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the best 14ers guide available. It definitely opens up 14ers even to relatively mediocre hikers such as myself. There are a couple problems with the book, though: (a) the maps are a bit difficult to read, and (b) Just because a route to the summit is marked, that doesn't mean it's a real trail. When Gerry says "a bit of rough terrain," expect to be bushwacking for hours.

[Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geeze, I don't know how many hours I've spent reading this book OR dreaming about the mountains described within it. Definately a must-have for anyone hiking in Colorado.

A newer edition is needed. Some trails have changed since it was last published.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great reference book. I probably picked it up more than a dozen times over the summer to read about the most common routes and alternative routes. This will always have a place on my bookshelf.

[Laura Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is undeniably helpful to avid hikers. As a beginner however I'm not sure that this is the book I ought to have started with. I'm hoping to work up to some of these trails but there are many that I'm aware I will never conquer.

[Gabriel Ruzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was indispensable when planning on climb up Mt. of the Holy Cross in 2004. Packed with info. If you want to walk/hike/climb a fourteener in Colorado, this has EVERYTHING you need to know.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of info.

[Kirstie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had great luck with getting what this said I would. I also bought map packet which has proven helpful too.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great technical help and climbing companion while in Colorado!

[William Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must have for the Colorado peak-bagger.

[Julie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this regularity, and think it is a great, must-have guide for anyone who plans to climb Colorado's 14ers.

[Eric Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible amounts of info on all of Colorado's fourteeners. A must have for anyone planning to climb one or more. Now, which one to start with?

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are planning on peak bagging 14ers, this is the book for you.