Welcome!

This is my blog, which is simply a collection of mountain climbing stories or “trip reports” I’ve written over the years. Each tells the story of a specific hike, climb, or ski tour. I’ve been climbing mountains in Colorado for four years now, focusing specifically on tallest mountains here in the state (often referred to as the “14ers”).

I climbed my first mountain in central Colorado, West Buffalo Peak, in June of 2001. For a long time I didn’t step foot on another peak until I climbed my first 14er, Mt. Elbert, in July of 2003. In 2005 I decided I wanted to climb all of the 14ers in the state (there are 58 in total) and accomplished this goal two years later on August 7, 2007. Since then I have continued to summit the high peaks of Colorado, and have had the privilege of traveling outside the U.S. twice to climb mountains of greater stature in other countries (Pico de Orizaba in Mexico, and Cerro Aconcagua in Argentina).

I summited Quandary Peak with my wife Anna-Lisa (her first 14er) in June of 2008, and since then have picked up ski mountaineering. I hope to continue to grow towards new challenges, climbing has certainly changed my life in many ways. I would like to specifically mention my friends and climbing partners Stuart Clark and Ryan Scollard, who have accompanied me on most of my climbs throughout the years. I hope you enjoy reading my posts. – Ben Conners

Longs Peak - November, 2008