On Top of the World

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It is no secret that Colorado is full of mountains. Specifically, Colorado is home to some of the largest peaks in the United States with 53 ranked peaks and 5 unranked peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation. Mt. Elbert, for instance, is the second highest mountain (Mt. Whitney in California being the first) in the contiguous U.S. (fourteenth in all fifty states), and the highest in the Rocky Mountains. This means that twelve peaks soar 14,470 feet or above in Alaska (a mission for another time).

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Many set out to conquer nature and summit these massive peaks (some die trying). Mountaineering and outdoorsmanship is an adventurous endeavor, and one well worth it. Some criticize it as “frivolous,” “selfish,” “irresponsible,” and “dangerous.” One writer states, “You make a mistake playing golf and you end up going home a little disappointed. You make a mistake climbing and it could be your life.” Story after story we hear of accidents and sheer ignorance of people who hike these great lands and lose to Darwinism. As of this writing, we have seen five deaths on Colorado fourteeners in 2017. As another writer concludes, “so roll the dice..maybe you can beat the mountain, many do, some don’t….”

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There is nothing like getting out of the house, and away from the television and computer, away from politics and violence. There is so much out there to explore! What are you doing to make your life worth living? These climbs are nothing in comparison to some, but every one of them is a step towards something.

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Take only pictures, leave only footprints.

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