Spotlight on Kurt Traskos!

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Q: At what point did you decide to go for the Highest Hundred?
Pretty much right after the 14ers!  The highest 100 just sounds like a cool number!  I love mountains, so why stop after the 14ers!

Q: What are some of your favorite centennial routes?
The Wham Ridge on Vestal was GREAT fun!  I liked it so much, in fact, that I did it twice in the same trip!  It is a gorgeous and captivating looking route!  The route on Jagged was a complete blast too!  I’ll be back for both!

Q: How would you compare the technical difficulty of climbing the 14ers verses the technical difficulty of climbing the Highest Hundred?
Jagged, Dallas and Teakettle are more difficult since they are rated 5^th class.  All three are fun routes!  I would say that the rest are comparable to many of the 14ers in terms of difficulty.

Q: How would you compare the danger of climbing the 14ers verses the danger of climbing the Highest Hundred?
Well prepared, all of them can be done relatively safely and “danger” can be reduced significantly with experience.  I think one of the biggest issues with any peak is weather!  It can complicate any route quickly!

Q: In your opinion, what are the most beautiful centennial peaks?
Vestal is a gorgeous looking mountain in a gorgeous area!  What is there NOT to like about the Grenadiers?!  Jagged is very distinct in appearance and aptly named.  Pigeon is absolutely stunning from the Ruby Basin!  Every peak has its charm.  Rio Grande Pyramid is located in a quiet area of the Weminuche Wilderness and is recognizable from so many areas.  It has that quiet solitude kind of appearance that has drawn my attention so many times.

Q: During the time it took you to finish the centennials, did you ever have any moments of doubt?
I didn’t doubt I’d finish, I just had doubts that I’d finish this year!  It took a lot of commitment to finishing 21 centennials for me being a weekend mountain climber.  I made nine separate trips to the San Juans over the last few months!  I think the road trips were the toughest part!  The peaks were all great experiences!

Q: What is the single most important piece of advice that you would give to someone just finishing the 14ers and thinking about doing the highest 100?
Go for it!  If you love the mountains, it is a great pursuit, as are any Colorado mountains!  It is helpful to have a strong knowledge of map and compass since some of the routes can be great fun “off trail” while enjoying amazingly pristine areas.  The CMC offered me a lot of solid training to make just about any Colorado outing safe and more enjoyable.  I feel confident with my abilities, which makes my outings more enjoyable.  The book Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills is just that.  It seems that with more mountaineering knowledge, there is more freedom in experiencing the mountains!

Q: Which group was more fun to climb, the 14ers or the centennials?
Both!  The 14ers led me to the 13ers, etc.  Both have been thoroughly enjoyable pursuits!  I have enjoyed a lot more solitude on the 13ers.

Q: What was your final centennial and why did you save it for last?
Hagerman.  I didn’t give it too much thought since my remaining centennials all seemed like fun.  It was nice to finish in the Elk Range this time since it is such a special place for me.  I lived in the Roaring Fork Valley for many years, and it always feels like “home” to me!  It was a thoroughly enjoyable outing for my final summit in such a gorgeous area!

Q: Do you have any plans for future mountain lists?
Well, I’d be a liar if I said no!  I have to admit, I am a list person.  I love having a list of things that I WANT to do!  I’d like to complete the 13ers in my lifetime.  I still have time to pursue this over many years.  I want to experience climbing peaks all over the world.  I want to improve my rock climbing skills to pursue countless routes.  I’d love to ice climb in many new areas in the US and abroad.  Hut trips are great.  The lists are endless.  One thing is guaranteed though, I’ll never get bored!