Spotlight on David Worthington!

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Q: What was your first fourteener, and when did you climb it?
Torreys Peak – August 6, 2005.  After moving to Colorado in late July, 2005, I immediately began with easy hikes of increasing elevation.  After doing Mt. Sniktau (13,235’) the weekend before, I was ready for Torreys and Grays and found them to be easy.

Q: At what point did you commit to finishing them all?
Initially, I thought that I would climb a few and I did not have much interest in completing them.  By the end of 2005 I had decided that I would probably stop when I reached the halfway point (29 peaks) during the summer of 2006.  However, once I started laying out my summer schedule in May, I realized that I could complete them all in the summer of 2006 if I was aggressive.
Q: What is your favorite fourteener route?
I’m not sure.  I climbed so many this summer that the routes just blurred together.  I didn’t fully appreciate any of them.  But whichever I were to choose, I would NOT choose it based on challenge/difficulty.  Rather, I would choose the most scenic with the best views.

Q: What was your most delightful moment on a 14er?
I still haven’t experienced that yet...  But, I would say my most delightful moment so far has definitely been sharing summits with my hiking/climbing partners.  I do not enjoy solo hiking.

Q: What was your most terrifying moment on a 14er?
Carefully planning trips and start times around the weather forecast and outlook has enabled me to avoid any terrifying moments on a 14er.  However, while descending West Apostle (13er) with SarahT and her friend Estelle, Estelle took a double somersault tumble in a steep scree gully above me.  She immediately yelled out that she hit her head and I was terrified that she had seriously injured herself.  Luckily, her injuries were minor.  However, I would describe that incident as the closest call that anyone in my party has ever had.


Q: Do you have any plans for future mountain lists?
Working the Colorado 14er list distracted me from other hiking interests in neighboring states.  In addition, I alienated some good hiking friends because of my speed and madness.  I don’t think I’ll pursue any lists as aggressively as I pursued the 14ers.  I plan to work on the Western CONUS state highpoints as well as the Utah 13ers next.

Q: What 14er did you climb last? Did you intentionally save it for last or is it a 14er that previously eluded you?
Mt. Elbert – August 19, 2006.  Early in the summer I had the Wilson group peaks scheduled as finishers.  But as the schedule was rearranged to accommodate the availability of various hiking partners, Elbert started moving toward the end.  By mid-July I began planning for Elbert to be the finisher.  As a finisher, Elbert was fantastic.  It was close enough to the Front Range so that several of my friends were able to join me.  Plus, the class 1 trail was suitable for hiking in an outlandish outfit...



Q: What is the single most important piece of advice that you would give to someone just starting out?
START EARLY!  Become an “alpine” morning person and be willing to hike the entire approach in the dark.  I was successful by often being on trail before 0300.