PEAK POPULARITY

Peaks Suffer From Wear, but Aspen 14ers Fare Better Than Some

By David Frey, 10-04-06

Talk about a tough job, but a good view out the office window.

Beth Grady and Andrew Larson spent the last two summers climbing 21 of Colorado's Fourteeners as researchers for the Peak Rangers program of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, a program co-founded by the Forest Service. They discovered that while some of the state's most popular climbs have paid the cost of foot traffic, the more technical peaks around Aspen have weathered their popularity a little better.

The Aspen Times reports on the study, which concluded that the tough terrain in the Elk Mountains stands up to the foot traffic of "peak baggers" better than the fragile alpine tundra on many other peaks. Because the climbs are so technical, they also attract fewer climbers, it found, and those who show up bring more experience and higher backcountry ethics.

"Most visitors to the Sawatch Range are in their beginning stages and want to 'bag' as many as possible in the quickest amount of time possible," the study said. "Many choose to sign the registers and continue onto the next [peak] without taking the time to enjoy the magnificent views and feeling the sense of accomplishment. These mountains are close to the Front Range and are considerably easy hikes."

In the Elk Range, it said, there are fewer climbers who are likely at the end of their checklists. "Because of more exposure and experience in the backcountry, the study said "people have received a higher education in Leave No Trace ethics. Their practices develop into deep respect and appreciation of wilderness."

The researchers studied peaks in the Elks, the San Juans in southwest Coloado and the Sawatch Range in central Colorado. On Mount Massive, the state's second-highest peak, they found six or seven routes cutting through the alpine vegetation has hikers sought to escape the crowds. The Elks weren't without damage, though. The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative and the Forest Service are planning trail rehabilitation on North Maroon and Maroon peaks, where the trails rise above treeline.

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