Spotlight on Kevin Baker!

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Q: What was your first fourteener, and when did you climb it?
My first 14er was Elbert on my first wedding anniversary, 8/2/98 via the Black Cloud trail from the south.  My wife and I lived in Kansas City at the time and were working on the state highpoints.  This is the first time we had ever climbed above 13000', and we paid the price.  We were clueless Kansas cottoneers as I had a Jansport backpack (like what you had in high school) and a cotton sweatshirt to keep me warm.  Our boots were very thin and we both got pretty bad blisters.  I suffered a mild case of altitude sickness and my wife got a sunburn.  I had never felt so physically exhausted in my life.  At the time, I was not aware that there were so many 14ers in CO.

Q: At what point did you commit to finishing them all?
It took me awhile to warm up to the idea of finishing them all, because I have a pretty healthy fear of heights.  When I bought Roach's guidebook, I committed to climbing only the class 1 and 2's.  When I saw the pics of the Bells, Capitol's knife edge, Pyramid, etc., I thought there was no way I would touch those.  I think I pretty much felt like I could finish them when I did my first class 4 (Pyramid) on 9/10/05.  I felt like the infamous ledge traverse and the green gully weren't too scary.

Q: What is your favorite fourteener route?
It's pretty hard to pick out a favorite, but I would have to say the Y Couloir on Pikes Peak.  When you look at it from Woodland Park, it seems almost vertical.  It's almost feels like you're in the Alps with the spectacular scenery around you.  It's a night and day difference from the mellow east slopes and when you get to the top people look at you like you are a rock star!

Q: What was your most delightful moment on a 14er?
I would have to say finishing on San Luis with my wife and friends was the most delightful as we took our time and enjoyed the occasion as a group.  It was special to share that moment with them.

Q: What was your most terrifying moment on a 14er?
I have been real fortunate with the weather as I was shut down only twice on 14ers (both times with snowstorms on lowly Castle).  On El Diente's nasty north slopes, my climbing partner was above me about 20 feet and he knocked loose a microwave size rock that was heading straight for me.  It's inevitable that you will knock some loose, so it was no fault of his.  The rock bounced about halfway down to me and I had a split second to guess where it would go by.  It headed straight for my right leg and I jumped just in time as it flew underneath me.  We heard it crash down the slopes for 30 seconds or so.  Had it hit me, it probably would have broke my leg and sent me flying.

During the same climb, my only close encounter with lightening came shortly after we summitted at 6:20om.  I know, what happened to the off the summit by noon rule!  We dropped about 50' off the ridge and a storm engulfed us with some close lightening strikes.  The flash/booms were sometimes less than a second, but lucky for us the storm was short and we felt no electricity!  The storm dropped about 6" of slick graupel on the rocks, which made for a heinous descent, mostly by headlamp.

Q: Do you have any plans for future mountain lists?
I am kind of a list junkie, but I am going to try not to let them control me so much.  The first list that I started working on in KS was the state highpoints, which I am down to 5 on.  It will be awhile on that one though, as Denali requires too much time off work!  This winter I hope to complete all of the named and ranked summits in my home county (El Paso, CO).  I don't think it has been done before, but there are a couple 5th class summits that could give me problems.  The other list I am close on is the CO counties, which I hope to finish next year on Vermillion. I am slowly chipping away at the top 200, but it's not going to be a priority.  From there, we'll see what happens. 

Q: What 14er did you climb last? Did you intentionally save it for last or is it a 14er that previously eluded you?
I guess when I burned through all the class 1 and 2 slogs, San Luis was the logical one to finish on.  I intentionally left it for last so that my wife and friends could be with me.  My wife pretty much had it with loose climbs on the descent of Challenger's standard route in a hail storm, so I wanted to make it a nice, mellow hike.

Q: What is the single most important piece of advice that you would give to someone just starting out?
I think the most important thing to remember is the mountain will always be there another day.  I have gone against my own words a few times on some of the more remote climbs I have done, so I am guilty of this myself!  Risking your life or serious injury is not worth another tick off a list.  I would also say pay attention to your partners needs and stay together on the tougher climbs.  Be safe and have fun.  Even the death marches can be a blast!