Tour 14er - Self-Supported Duathlon 14er Challenge!

[THE LONG RANGER]

OK, time to begin!

Start time is scheduled for Friday @ 4:00am at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, CO -
There's a small chance I'll start a little earlier depending on how my schedule works out. Trackleaders has
been kind enough to take the time to put up a Tracker for this, so you may follow along:

http://trackleaders.com/tour14er

I'll be riding/climbing this as a self-supported individual time trial - the goal is to  ride to, and summit all the named and ranked 14ers in CO (53, by my count, but it's a given thatn I'll do the other usual suspects). Goal is to better a time set by Roy Benton in 1995 of 37 days,  12 hours - the last and fastest self-supported, self-powered time I could find in my research. It works out to roughly 1.5 summits a day. My rules are here. It's a DIY thing.

My projected route is shown on the Tracker, but there's nothing to say I won't change my mind and take a different route - in fact, it's a given.
There's no course really, so there's no, "off course", so don't worry about that.

I'll also try to post photos while I go and you may follow me on whatever you'd like:

Instagram:
 
http://instagram.com/longrangerjustin

Twitter:
 
http://twitter.com/justinsimoni
   
Facebook:

http://facebook.com/longrangerjustin
   
My hands - and feet are going to be pretty occupied, so if you spot me while on your own hikes and take a photo please share them!
It would mean a lot to me. It's been great to meet people while on my training runs/hikes.

I'll be easy to spot: big busy red beard and most likely a bright red, "Salvagetti" bike jersey on and a tiny, gray casquette on my sunburned head.
I'll look - and smell like a thru-hiker, but my pack will be minuscule or non-existent. Hi-fives and smiles are definitely appreciated if we cross paths, but please don't meet up with me to explicitly give me any sort of support, like food. Or whiskey.

Thanks goes out to a very long list of people: Salvagetti for being a wonderful bike shop to me for over a decade, Greg at Bolder Bikepacking for making some amazing packs that have taken me across the country - twice, and my lady for hanging in there, while I go out to do my /silly things. And also for the belays at the crags, which I guess would also fall under, "Hanging in there". A few companies/individuals in those companies have been helpful with gear. Thank you: Selle Anatomica for making literally the best saddle in existence, BOA Technology for having me on their product testing group, Ultimate Direction for making some pretty sweet vests. I've gained much inspiration from far too many individuals to count, really - I'd list them out, but I don't want to forget anyone.

I'm not doing this to raise money for a non-profit or anything like that, but if what I'm hoping to do inspires you, my suggestion would be to give to the 14ers.com CFI fundraising effort (if that's OK with you, Bill):

https://www.coloradogives.org/cfibillm

If you're looking for a more humanitarian org., consider the Colorado Harm Reduction Action Center:

http://www.harmreductionactioncenter.org

Wish me luck! As it's been shown, this type of challenge is TOUGH. I hope I can myself make it back to Golden before all the Aspen leaves change.

[Jilleo]

Good luck Justin!

[Shirey]

Looks like Justin polished off the Crestone group yesterday and either slept on top of the Needle or his spot has stopped updating.

Fine start though!

[THE LONG RANGER]

Indeed! Did Humboldt,  Columbia (13er), Kit Carson, Challenger, all before 11am, and then took on the Crestone Traverse. Summitt ed the Needle at around 14:15 and met up with a pretty nasty  thunder storm. Descended down to Broken Hand Pass but got stuck at the top of the pass, waiting for the now very dangerous storm to pass. Sure The Spot Could not Work Through The Cloud cover. Monsoon season here is currently epic, CTRers take note.  I'm exactly on my schedule though as I anticipated these issues. Culebra on sat or Fri if I'm feeling frisky, and then the tour will kick into a higher gear as I bee more aggressive bagging the easier peaks. The more technical peaks are extremely dangerous when wet. Lindsey done today, finishing up the rest of the Sangres starting tomorrow

[Done]

Nice work. Please keep posting updates--lots of fun following you!

[ruthslp]

oh this is awesome   

[THE LONG RANGER]

Check the instagram account and fb page for updates! Having a total blast! Vroom vroom!

[Shirey]

So you've done 2 of the classic traverses in troublesome weather and a bear already ate all your food... when is this thing gonna get exciting???

 

Just kidding man, keep it up Justin. Glad to hear you are having FUN!

[Gimmearaise]

Pretty awesome, I'm enjoying all your social media posts!

[aaron w]

Just checked your fb page.  All I can say is wow!  What a tour!  I can think of no better man for this job    Keep it up buddy!

[THE LONG RANGER]

Thanks Aaron! Salida is going to he a great stop on the tour as always. My band's also playing bicycle days on the 13th of sept. Fyi. Tell mle!

[Woodland]

I'd love to see the 'Current Radar' feature on the Tour 14er tracker.

This is an amazing adventure Justin, love following along. Good luck out there!

[Shirey]

Still crushing it out there Justin! Just about finished off the San Juans.

Its been fun watching your FAST progress each day. Alas, it is time to begin my own adventure tomorrow, but I'll be anxious to see where you are when I get to Durango. Or maybe we'll catch up with you out on the trail somewhere in the next few days as you make your way to the Collegiates.

When I think life sucks a couple times next week, I'll try to envision climbing the Hourglass in a driving rainstorm, and maybe it won't seem so bad anymore.

Continued Good Luck!

[THE LONG RANGER]

Long may you range! You may catch me back in summit county at the tail end of the tour!

[THE LONG RANGER]

San Juans have been cleared! Not even counting the 14 14ers summited, that was a brutal cycling route. Climbs up to and over 13k, hike a bike single track and roads, crazy loose surfaces and tough grades. Onwards to the Elks!

[mikepro]

 

[Majcolo]

This is such a great idea, and you are a complete stud for doing it. That's a whole new level.

[Woodland]

Justin, you are an animal!

I am in awe of your progress - from what I can tell you bagged 5 14ers yesterday, crashed at midnight and have been up and rolling since 6!

You are inspiring me to start tackling some 14ers...

Keep up the good show!

[Shirey]

Justin, you are an animal!

I am in awe of your progress - from what I can tell you bagged 5 14ers yesterday, crashed at midnight and have been up and rolling since 6!

You are inspiring me to start tackling some 14ers...

Keep up the good show!

I can barely even wrap my mind around what he is doing. If he can bring this home, and it certainly looks like he can, it is just a ridiculous accomplishment.

Also, he states in his kickoff post that the FKT is 37 days & 12 hours... and I think he started on 7/25 at 4am, so that gives him until 8/31 @ 4pm to set a new FKT..... assuming my math is correct.

[mikepro]

I can barely even wrap my mind around what he is doing. If he can bring this home, and it certainly looks like he can, it is just a ridiculous accomplishment.

Also, he states in his kickoff post that the FKT is 37 days & 12 hours... and I think he started on 7/25 at 4am, so that gives him until 8/31 @ 4pm to set a new FKT..... assuming my math is correct.

Ridonkulous, indeed.  It's a fun watch.  For besting the Benson FKT, Simoni will need to summit 14 more 14ers in approx. 10 days.  Plus, get from TH to TH by bike.  Big, big balls.  Come on, Justin!