Colorado's Thirteeners 13800 to 13999 FT: From Hikes to Climbs »

Gerry Roach started climbing in Colorado in 1955. Among his numerous accomplishments, Gerry is the second person ever to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents. In more than 50 years of mountaineering, he has climbed in dozens of states and countries. Jennifer Roach is an expert on Colorado's mountains. She has climbed Colorado's 500 highest peaks and is close to finishing all of Colorado's thirteeners. She has climbed Colorado's mountains for 20 years and knows all about places most of us have never heard of.

Climbers rank Colorado mountains as among the most challenging and stunning peaks on the continent. For decades, the state's 54 Fourteeners (i.e., climbs of 14,000 feet or above) have received most of enthusiasts' attention, but recently some mountaineers have expressed favor for the so-called Thirteeners — peaks not quite as tall. Climber-author Roach has already chronicled the Fourteeners. Now he takes on 59 major peaks in 6 mountain ranges, with detailed information on routes, preparations, and relative difficulty. High roads now taken.

Booknews

The Roaches (both are experienced mountaineers) have compiled a detailed, first-hand guide to climbing Colorado's 13,000-foot mountains, with photos, topographic maps, a discussion about safety and the point system, and tables of Colorado's highest peaks are given. The routes, 202 in all, are described in the technical language of the adept, with driving directions, distance, elevation gain, difficulty scale, and effort rating included for each. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)