Sierra Nevada, all 15 fourteeners

Hans Florine sets new Siera Nevada 14'ers record of 3 days 12 hours, 11minutes

Aldo Frezza

October 2003

A peculiar but passionate competion is in the making in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Known as the CA 14ers, the race is on to climb all peaks over 14000 feet (4.267m). As fast as possible. The 15 peaks in question lie in a north-south line from Palisade, Kings Canyon National Park to Mount Whitney - Mount Langley in the Sequoia National Park.

The competition dates back to 1998 when Hans Florine, Russ Mc Bride and Tony Ralph completed the first traverse in 9 days, 11 hours. Successive athletes cut the ascent time down to 6 days in 2001 (Josh Swartz) and then, at the hands and feet of Jack Mc Broom, a staggering 4 days, 11 hours 19 minutes

This summer a further two attempts shattered the ascent time further still. In August 35-year old Russ Mc Bride, although unable to complete the entire traverse, set record times of 7 peaks in a single day: Thunderbolt, Starlight, North Palisade, Polemonium, Mount Sill, Middle Palisade and Split Mountain in just 22 hours and 21 minutes. The five peaks along the Palisade Ridge were sent in 3.30 hours.

A month later Hans Florine returned to the scene, pulverising all previous records with his 3 days, 12 hours and 11 minutes. Florine set off on 17 September northwards, climbing Monte Tindall on day one, the isolated Withney and Langley massifs on day two, and a further 4 summits in the Mount Whitney area on day 3. A airplane ride to Shasta was then followed by swift ascents of the northern peaks.

Record times, even if both Florine and Mc Bride voluntaruly left out Mount Williamson (protected in summer due to the rare big horn), bringing the number of 14ers down to 14. But the race is not over yet. Ex recordman Josh Swartz has stated that the new challenge can't be respected until the 3 day barrier is broken. Stay tuned.

Aldo Frezza