Spotlight on Phil Klotzbach!

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Q: What was your first fourteener, and when did you climb it?
August 12, 2000 Mount Democrat followed by Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross later that day

I had just moved from Massachusetts to Colorado to attend graduate school in the Atmospheric Science Department at Colorado State University.  The department had a hiking group at the time, and they were going to climb Democrat, Lincoln and Bross on August 12.  My roommate was also in the Atmospheric Science Department and convinced me to give some 14,000 foot peaks a try.  I had always enjoyed hiking growing up in New England, but I had never experienced a hike above about 6,000 feet before!  Until that point, my highest hiking had been to the summit of Mount Washington a couple of times.

Q: At what point did you commit to finishing them all?
It was probably early in the summer of 2003.  I climbed six peaks in 2000 and a couple more in 2001, but it wasn’t until 2003 that I really decided to finish off the list.  It was early that summer that I made some new friends who were also out to finish off the list, so I decided to join them in the quest! 

Q: What is your favorite fourteener route?
The South Face route on Crestone Needle was spectacular.  It was a great rock climb on very solid rock with spectacular views from the summit.  I heartily recommend accessing the South Face route via the Cottonwood Lake approach.  Although it is somewhat long and requires a bit of bushwhacking, the views of Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle and Broken Hand Pass were just spectacular!  

Q: What was your most delightful moment on a 14er?
Completing the Maroon Bells traverse.  I had been afraid of that traverse since I first read about it in Gerry Roach’s book back in 2000, and completing that traverse a couple of weeks ago with body and soul intact was quite exciting.  It was at that point that I realized that I might actually finish the 14ers! 

 
Q: What was your most terrifying moment on a 14er?
Probably the most terrifying moment was descending Crestone Peak in early June, with snow still covering the trail.  While glissading down the fairly steep slope, I lost control of my ice axe and glissaded out of control for a couple of hundred feet before crashing into some rocks.  Amazingly, I survived with only a few bumps and bruises!

Q: Do you have any plans for future mountain lists?
I’m currently also working on the New Hampshire 4000 footers list.  I’ve got 24 of the 48 peaks done, and I hope to knock off a couple more when I go back to New England to visit family next week. 

Q: What 14er did you climb last? Did you intentionally save it for last or is it a 14er that previously eluded you?
I climbed Snowmass Mountain as my last 14er.  I had never attempted to climb Snowmass before.  My friends that I did most of my climbing with over the past couple of years climbed it last year when I was away on vacation, so I hadn’t gotten around to it yet.  It was a beautiful day for a climb, and the views from the top of Snowmass were spectacular! 

Q: What is the single most important piece of advice that you would give to someone just starting out?
I would advise people to start off with some of the easier 14ers (i.e., San Luis Peak, Grays, Torreys, Bierstadt, etc.) and then work up to some of the harder peaks.  I did not climb a Class 4 peak until I had climbed approximately 30 of the 14ers.  Pace yourself, take lots of pictures, and enjoy the experience.  If you decide to climb all the 14ers, you will encounter some of the most beautiful scenery in the world!