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Fourteener Father: a memoir of life above 14,000 ft.
When does a hobby become an obsession?
Colorado has 58 mountains that tower above the landscape. 58 mountains that, when combined together, hold a certain amount of prestige amongst the natives. 58 mountains that have summits above 14,000 feet. These mountains are collectively known as the “fourteeners.” As beautiful as Colorado is, its mountains have a certain addicting quality that keeps us coming back for more.
This is a story of a father and son who managed to climb them all . . . together.
Colorado has 58 mountains that tower above the landscape. 58 mountains that, when combined together, hold a certain amount of prestige amongst the natives. 58 mountains that have summits above 14,000 feet. These mountains are collectively known as the “fourteeners.” As beautiful as Colorado is, its mountains have a certain addicting quality that keeps us coming back for more.
This is a story of a father and son who managed to climb them all . . . together.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2018
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin M. Weilert
21 books28 followers14er Climber
Rocket Scientist
Published Novelist
Movie Connoisseur
Stock Photographer
Benjamin M. Weilert is an award-winning multi-genre writer from Colorado who writes whatever stories pop into his head. He is on a mission to write something in every single genre…eventually.
Currently, he has written a Young Adult science fantasy trilogy (The Fluxion Trilogy), a memoir about climbing Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks with his father (Fourteener Father), a guidebook to movies (Cinema Connections), two children’s picture books (This is Not a Drill and Bountiful Bunnies), a hard science fiction survival story (Buried Colony), an ice cream cookbook (Stop Screaming!), and many other short stories that have been published in anthologies—as well as his The Ascent of the Writer collection.
Rocket Scientist
Published Novelist
Movie Connoisseur
Stock Photographer
Benjamin M. Weilert is an award-winning multi-genre writer from Colorado who writes whatever stories pop into his head. He is on a mission to write something in every single genre…eventually.
Currently, he has written a Young Adult science fantasy trilogy (The Fluxion Trilogy), a memoir about climbing Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks with his father (Fourteener Father), a guidebook to movies (Cinema Connections), two children’s picture books (This is Not a Drill and Bountiful Bunnies), a hard science fiction survival story (Buried Colony), an ice cream cookbook (Stop Screaming!), and many other short stories that have been published in anthologies—as well as his The Ascent of the Writer collection.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 12, 2019
In our milieu of shattered relationships and broken families, instant everything and quick fixes, it’s heartening to read about a relationship developed and a goal accomplished over a long period of time. This is not a journal about summiting all 58 fourteeners in ten days, though that has been done. And it’s not a memoir about a relationship developed quickly in an intensity of trenches, though those also exist. It’s the story of two people doing something together, achieving an objective that evolved as the connection and camaraderie between them grew.
They happened to be father and son. Perhaps the book should have been entitled 'The Fourteener Father and Son,'since it’s certainly the son’s story as much as the father’s. I believe it was because Ben wanted it to be a testimony to Andy that he titled it that way (see the book's credits).
The Fourteener Father could also be read as a running commentary on Colorado culture - or even Western culture - from the 1990’s to the present day. It’s a paean to scouting and conservation and common sense. It’s filled with Easter eggs dropped by a discriminating bunny as well as tidbits of popular culture you’ll only pick up on if you were there. (Have you watched an old edition of Laugh-in lately? Then you know what I mean.)
If you were to distill the philosophical bits from the book, you’d get only a very slim volume. But set into the context of a relationship and a conquest, they are filled out more than could be done in a major tome.
Besides which, Ben makes you think. You ask yourself, what have I done with my life? Is it worthwhile? How am I doing in my relationships...like with my parents, spouse, kids, siblings, significant other? With God? Am I planning the paths of my life? Am I allowing myself the time and effort to see and appreciate beauty?
The Fourteener Father makes you want to zip up the nearest mountain. Or then, again, maybe not - when you realize the planning, effort, and yes, danger involved. But that is an encouragement to apply the same rigor to other things you’re doing. It’s not a book that lets you relax and get off the hook. And while I’ll admit it was a bit slow at the beginning, it wasn’t long before I looked forward to completing whatever obligation I was currently undertaking in order to get back to it. It was, that is, engaging.
Reading it, you may learn more about Colorado’s fifty-eight mountains that are at least 14,000 feet above sea level than you ever wanted to know. But, at the same time, you may catch the motivation to climb whatever mountains are currently challenging you.
They happened to be father and son. Perhaps the book should have been entitled 'The Fourteener Father and Son,'since it’s certainly the son’s story as much as the father’s. I believe it was because Ben wanted it to be a testimony to Andy that he titled it that way (see the book's credits).
The Fourteener Father could also be read as a running commentary on Colorado culture - or even Western culture - from the 1990’s to the present day. It’s a paean to scouting and conservation and common sense. It’s filled with Easter eggs dropped by a discriminating bunny as well as tidbits of popular culture you’ll only pick up on if you were there. (Have you watched an old edition of Laugh-in lately? Then you know what I mean.)
If you were to distill the philosophical bits from the book, you’d get only a very slim volume. But set into the context of a relationship and a conquest, they are filled out more than could be done in a major tome.
Besides which, Ben makes you think. You ask yourself, what have I done with my life? Is it worthwhile? How am I doing in my relationships...like with my parents, spouse, kids, siblings, significant other? With God? Am I planning the paths of my life? Am I allowing myself the time and effort to see and appreciate beauty?
The Fourteener Father makes you want to zip up the nearest mountain. Or then, again, maybe not - when you realize the planning, effort, and yes, danger involved. But that is an encouragement to apply the same rigor to other things you’re doing. It’s not a book that lets you relax and get off the hook. And while I’ll admit it was a bit slow at the beginning, it wasn’t long before I looked forward to completing whatever obligation I was currently undertaking in order to get back to it. It was, that is, engaging.
Reading it, you may learn more about Colorado’s fifty-eight mountains that are at least 14,000 feet above sea level than you ever wanted to know. But, at the same time, you may catch the motivation to climb whatever mountains are currently challenging you.
September 6, 2020
Part of me wants to now climb all the fourteeners, but most of me knows that it's a lot of work, dedication, and training that cannot be developed in a day. Live vicariously through a father and son over the years as they climb all the 14,000+ ft. mountains in Colorado. It's a nice description of what it's like, dealing with thunderstorms, snow, gear malfunctions, bold marmots, and other hikers. I live in Colorado and enjoyed his tales of some of the peaks I'd known about. I would have liked to have a map, as I only knew vague areas and I'm a native. Someone who wasn't familiar with Colorado would have a harder time understanding how far apart these mountains are, and where they are in the state.
I was also expecting more from Andy's perspective (the father). Not that he was absent or anything, but most of the book just chronicled Ben's memories as they climbed. Having a glimpse into his father's thoughts would have been a nice touch. Some of the pictures seemed placed a bit oddly, and they came before their description in the narrative. Also, I know it's not meant to be a how-to book, but a glossary and some more expanded information about the logistics of gear and hiking/mountain climbing would be nice for us couch potatoes. And I would have liked to see the mileage hiked at each mountain. Some were mentioned in the narrative, but I don't think all of them were. Having the links to resources in the back was a nice touch, though.
Overall, it's a great book about bonds. Having such an incredible shared experience brings people closer together, and it made me appreciate all the things I've done with my parents. Also it made me want to go hiking more, but if Ben's not in shape, then let's not discuss my shape.
I was also expecting more from Andy's perspective (the father). Not that he was absent or anything, but most of the book just chronicled Ben's memories as they climbed. Having a glimpse into his father's thoughts would have been a nice touch. Some of the pictures seemed placed a bit oddly, and they came before their description in the narrative. Also, I know it's not meant to be a how-to book, but a glossary and some more expanded information about the logistics of gear and hiking/mountain climbing would be nice for us couch potatoes. And I would have liked to see the mileage hiked at each mountain. Some were mentioned in the narrative, but I don't think all of them were. Having the links to resources in the back was a nice touch, though.
Overall, it's a great book about bonds. Having such an incredible shared experience brings people closer together, and it made me appreciate all the things I've done with my parents. Also it made me want to go hiking more, but if Ben's not in shape, then let's not discuss my shape.
December 28, 2020
This was a fun way to get a taste of what hiking the fourteeners would be like. I love the descriptions of the climbs and the surrounding areas.
After a while I felt like it was redundant with the idea that you have to wake up before the sun, deal with crazy weather, and need a decent vehicle to get to some of the places. But, Ben throws in some fun side stories like his dating life, inside family jokes, and some words of wisdom.
I would love to see more from his dads perspective and hear more of the conversations that happened along the hikes. It is an easy and relaxing read. It made me reevaluate my relationship with my dad and wonder why we stopped our passion (not hiking). Thank you for reminding us that it is important to live our lives with our father, while they are with us. There are many more memories to make.
After a while I felt like it was redundant with the idea that you have to wake up before the sun, deal with crazy weather, and need a decent vehicle to get to some of the places. But, Ben throws in some fun side stories like his dating life, inside family jokes, and some words of wisdom.
I would love to see more from his dads perspective and hear more of the conversations that happened along the hikes. It is an easy and relaxing read. It made me reevaluate my relationship with my dad and wonder why we stopped our passion (not hiking). Thank you for reminding us that it is important to live our lives with our father, while they are with us. There are many more memories to make.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews