Spotlight on Sue Personett!

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Q: What was your first fourteener, and when did you climb it?
My first fourteener was Pikes Peak and I climbed it on July 9, 2003, six days after my 50th birthday. I'd been looking at Pikes Peak for a long time and thought now that I'm 50, I should do some things that I always wanted to do, so I climbed it.

Q: At what point did you commit to finishing them all?
A few days after my Pikes Peak hike, I saw Gerry Roach's book in Borders and started flipping through it. All of the hikes looked shorter than Pikes Peak. I bought the book and planned a hike for Gray's and Torrey's Peaks. I was hooked!!!

Q: What is your favorite fourteener route?
There are so many great ones. I loved the SW Ridge of Sneffels, the hike from North Halfmoon Creek TH up to North Massive, the Willow Lake approach to Kit Carson, the West Slopes route through American Basin with all of the wildflowers on the way to Handies, the NW Face of Little Bear, the S-Ridge on Snowmass, the Chicago Basin area, and the Knife Edge on Capitol Peak.

Q: What was your most delightful moment on a 14er?
I would have to say that glorious autumn day on Wilson Peak with Dan Bayer. The weather was perfect, the aspens down below were spectacular and the company was very good!!!

Q: What was your most terrifying moment on a 14er?
It was the time I hiked Missouri Mountain solo and was caught in a snowstorm. With poor visibility and the temperature dropping rapidly, all I wanted to do was to get down to a lower elevation where I'd be warmer. In my haste, I took the wrong trail on the descent and when I broke through the clouds I realized that I was on the west side of the mountain and headed for Clohesy Lake. I wasn't going to hike back up into that snowstorm just to get over into Missouri Gulch. I figured this mistake would add a few more hours to the hike. Then there was that " flash boom" on Yale too.

Q: Do you have any plans for future mountain lists?
No more lists. There are a few more mountains that I'd like to climb but they aren't priorities. However, I would like to focus more on some activities such as ( but in no particular order):

1. rock climbing
2. ice climbing
3. snow climbing
4. the Crestone Peak to Needle traverse
5. the Little Bear/ Blanca Peak traverse
6. canyoneering
7. Wham Ridge
8. the Super Ultimate Triathalon of Death

But seriously, no more lists, I'm through with them.

Q: What 14er did you climb last? Did you intentionally save it for last or is it a 14er that previously eluded you?
Capitol Peak. Yes I saved it for last!!! It looked like it would be a fun peak to finish on and it was!

Q: What is the single most important piece of advice that you would give to someone just starting out?
"Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they are yours."-Richacd Bach. However, if you really want to climb mountains, you will find a way. Don't be afraid to ask for help and advice. The great members of 14er World are a fantastic resource and fun to hike/climb with too!!!