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ASPEN, COLORADO (January 22, 2007) Professional freeskier Chris Davenport accomplished the seemingly impossible on Friday, shattering one of Colorado’s (and the world’s) longest standing records by becoming the first skier ever to climb and then ski from the exact summit (except Wetterhorn Peak which is a rock spire) of Colorado’s 54, rugged 14,000 foot peaks – in less than one year. Only one other ski-mountaineer has laid tracks from each of these 54 peaks, the legendary Lou Dawson, who took twelve years to complete the task.
“I am relieved and overwhelmed to have worked so hard on this goal over the last year and to have actually pulled it off. Mother Nature deserves the most thanks, as these peaks would never be skiable without the ample snow and good weather that we had,” said Davenport after completing the arduous task. “And Lou Dawson, the first person to climb and ski all of the fourteeners, was a huge inspiration for me on this project.”
Aspen/Snowmass-based Davenport kicked off what he dubbed the “Ski the 14ers” project on January 22, 2006 when he summited Mount Lincoln at 12:15pm in temperatures reaching -20 degrees Fahrenheit factoring in the wind chill. Nearly one year and 53 additional peaks later, Davenport fulfilled his dream and set a new world record by summiting Longs Peak on January 19, 2007.
“Longs Peak is a big, tough mountain known for its ferocious winds. I tried to ski it on the 17th and was almost blown off the mountain by 80 mile an hour winds. I was persistent and came back 48 hours later to try it again, and this time Longs gave herself over to me and my team, and for that I’m grateful,” said Davenport after completing the final peak. “When I began this project the end seemed very distant and maybe impossible. I have learned so much about the mountains and myself along the way, and am more inspired by the mountains than I have ever been.”
Davenport’s work in ski films and his success in big mountain contests rank him among the best alpine athletes on skis today. He has also made a career out of leading first descents in mountain ranges around the world. The uniquely-qualified explorer drew upon his backcountry savvy to assess avalanche danger and impending weather conditions before making any of the ascents. Descending just one of these mountains presented incredible risk: a single misstep or miscalculation about the snowpack could lead to injury or death. But like so many, he couldn’t resist the allure of these wild peaks. As a husband and father of two, Davenport didn’t take these dangers lightly.
The “Ski The 14ers” project has been documented in several interesting ways. On www.skithe14ers.com, viewers can find photos, maps, routes, and updates from each ski
descent during the project. Skithe14ers.com will remain a resource for anyone who wants information on skiing 14ers. It even has a first-of-its-kind ski descent registry, where skiers can log their ski descents for others to see and refer to. In addition, Davenport will be authoring a “coffee table” style book on the project with contributions from various professional photographers who’ve accompanied him on the mountains. To date, nobody has documented these peaks from a skier’s perspective. Davenport hopes to inspire others with the imagery and writing in the book. The third creative element of this project is a 16mm documentary film directed and produced by award-winning cinematographer Ben Galland. The film is scheduled to be released later this year.
Colorado’s 14ers are some of the highest, most remote corners of the Lower 48. Hiking these peaks in summer has become a national passion as hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts flock to Colorado searching for what can only be found way above tree line. By skiing these peaks in a single year, Davenport has heightened awareness about these natural treasures. Each 14er is a high-alpine refuge, and Davenport hopes that his journey into these backcountry ski sanctuaries will inspire a new generation of snow-sport mountaineers.
For the “Ski The 14ers” project, Davenport was supported by and used Red Bull Energy Drink, Salomon skis, boots and apparel, Smith Eyewear, Black Diamond gloves, poles, shovels and avalung backpacks, Clif Bar energy bars, Smith helmets and eyewear, Suunto watches, and Backcountry Access tracker DTS avalanche transceivers.
Davenport’s 14ers Schedule
Date Mountain Elevation
January 22, 2006 Mount Lincoln 14,286’
January 24, 2006 Quandry Peak 14,265’
February 4, 2006 Mount Massive 14,421’
February 10, 2006 Grays Peak 14,270’
February 11, 2006 Maroon Peak 14,156’
February 27, 2006 Torreys Peak 14,267’
February 28, 2006 Mount Elbert 14,433’
March 2, 2006 Huron Peak 14,003’
March 5, 2006 Mount Sneffels 14,150’
March 14, 2006 Mount Sherman 14,036’
March 23, 2006 Mount Belford 14,197’
March 23, 2006 Mount Oxford 14,153’
March 24, 2006 Missouri Mountain 14,067’
March 25, 2006 Mount Yale 14,196’
March 28, 2006 Mount Democrat 14,148’
April 2, 2006 Snowmass Mountain 14,092’
April 4, 2006 Redcloud Peak 14,034’
April 4, 2006 Sunshine Peak 14,001’
April 7, 2006 Culebra Peak 14,047’
April 8, 2006 Mount Lindsay 14,042’
April 10, 2006 Crestone Peak 14,294’
April 13, 2006 Pyramid Peak 14,018’
April 17, 2006 Castle Peak 14,265’
April 19, 2006 North Maroon Peak 14,014’
April 20, 2006 Capitol Peak 14,130’
April 22, 2006 La Plata Peak 14,336’
April 23, 2006 Mount Antero 14,269’
April 24, 2006 Tabequache Peak 14,155’
April 26, 2006 Handies Peak 14,048’
April 27, 2006 Uncompahgre Peak 14,309’
April 27, 2006 Wetterhorn Peak 14,015’
April 29, 2006 San Luis Peak 14,014’
May 1, 2006 Ellingwood Point 14,042’
May 4, 2006 Mount Wilson 14,246’
May 4, 2006 El Diente 14,159’
May 4, 2006 Wilson Peak 14,017’
May 8, 2006 Mount Eolus 14,083’
May 8, 2006 Windom Peak 14,082’
May 8, 2006 Sunlight Peak 14,059’
May 12, 2006 Mount Harvard 14,420’
May 14, 2006 Mount Bierstadt 14,060’
May 15, 2006 Pikes Peak 14,110’
May 17, 2006 Mount Columbia 14,073’
May 26, 2006 Mount Evans 14,264’
May 31, 2006 Mt. of the Holy Cross 14,005’
November 11, 2007 Mount Bross 14,172’
December 13, 2007 Kit Carson Peak 14,165’
December 22, 2007 Mount Princeton 14,197’
December 23, 2007 Humboldt Peak 14,064’
January 10, 2007 Little Bear Peak 14,037’
January 11, 2007 Crestone Needle 14,197’
January 14, 2007 Mount Shavano 14,229’
January 15, 2007 Blanca Peak 14,345’
January 19, 2007 Longs Peak 14,255’
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