This past Saturday Brittany Walker joined the club of people to have skied or ridden down all 54 of Colorado’s 14ers. This puts her number 9 in the overall list currently consisting of Lou Dawson, Chris Davenport, Ted Mahon, Frank Konsella, Jordan White, Joseph Brannan, Christy Sauer Mahon, Jarrett Luttrel and now we add Brittany Walker.
Part of what makes Brittany’s success a bit more amazing is the fact that she blew out her knee part way through the project. After spending countless hours rehabbing and training to get back to climbing and skiing she started back in on her remaining list. It has really been a joy to see Brittany knock em out and shrink the list. I think all in all I had the pleasure of skiing 11 of the 14ers with her. Brittany has come a long way in her climbing ability, and really did a great job of working her way up to the hardest climbs as the skiing has never really been an issue for her. Looking back on some pics of our trips together brings back great memories. And I am looking forward to more trips and more skiing in the near and distant future.
Some pictures from over the last few years:
The first time I got to ski with Brittany was in 2007 on Mount Lindsey. After a bit of a bony summit we skied Pow for 2,000 feet down the north side.
Dropping in off the top of Sunshine Peak in the San Juans.
Later that same day Frank and Brittany on top of Redcloud.
Dropping in off the top of San Luis Peak.
Frank and Brittany on the train to the needles. This was one fun trip.
Brittany fighting her way through deadfall on the way to Chicago Basin.
Brittany nearing the summit of Sunlight.
Brittany skiing the widowmaker on Windom in pow conditions.
Jarret, Frank, Brittany, and I enjoying our stashed beers back at the train stop.
Brittany on the way up Capitol last year.
Brittany skiing the East Face of Capitol. I imagine if you ask her, she will tell you that this was one of her more rewarding summits and skis, and likely the one she was very happy to have behind her.
Here she is just nearing the summit of Pyramid for her second to last ski descent.
And off the top of Pyramid she goes.
Myself, Frank, Brittany, and Matt after completing the landry line a couple weeks back.
Brittany and her crew atop Pikes peak for her final 14er ski. Wish I could have been there to join in the festivities.
Congrats again Brittany! You have done one hell of a job with this project and I am excited to see where your motivation takes you next.
Cheers!!
Brittany May 18, 2011
Thanks Jordan for such a touching tribute! That was so awesome of you, I can’t even describe! It has been a pleasure skiing with you and watching you grow as a mountaineer and as a person. You know, when I first met you, you couldn’t even drink a beer with us at the bar. Now, look at you! Thank you so much for helping me up the hardest of hardest fourteeners. I owe you so much for that. You rock, and I can’t wait to ski with you again. We’ve many more lines to ski!
Claire May 22, 2011
Wow! that’s so awesome! Brittany, will you be a SheJumper and we can interview you for our website? You are inspirational!! (YOu too, Jordan!)