Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Fourteeners speed climb

Does anyone know if Hans Florine and Russ McBride have started on their trip to beat the Ca. 14ers speed climb record of 4-1/2 days?

Was in the last Outside, but only indicated they'd start "sometime in July or August".

actually wasn't the record time under 4 days. i think something like 3 days and 17 hours or something.

Jack McBroom did it last year in 4 days, 11 hours, and 19 minutes.
http://www.climbaz.com/features/cal14ers.html

you're right. i read his trip report on summitpost.com awhile back. and i then i saw his name in the register on top of Russel on Monday but i couldn't remember who he was. that guy is a stud, he's pushing 50 and he'll probably re-set the record if Florine and his buddy break it. Florine is using a chartered plane to fly to Shasta saving about 8 hours, shouldn't a true record attempt be in the same style as Mcbroom's who drove all the way to Shasta.

Kind weird how the records get into that realm of "how pure is pure?"

If you really want to be pure about it, how about set a record where you drive to the trailhead of the first hike and walk to all the rest from there? It'd be pretty brutal to get from the Sierra to White Mountain, and especially from there to Shasta, but if you really want to be pure about it. . .

Good question. What constitutes by fair means in an attempt like this. So many arguements about what are the true 14er's, what aid is permissable, and so on. At the end of the day this record will require some sort of footnote. Personally, I like how Jack did it. I also think consideration should be given for a solo attempt. If you have ever been on some of the peaks he did without a partner and without climbing protection you would realize how he took great risks to achieve his goal.

I haven't (yet!), but I have seen photos, in particular Starlight and Thunderbolt look quite *****y if you were solo. . .

Someday I hope to get to the top of all 15.

They should observe the Bighorn Sheep restrictions on Williamson. If they are doing it now, they are entering when the area is closed.

It's not that difficult to do. I had to observe the restrictions earlier this year when I went up Williamson, and record or no record, they should too. Protecting sheep is more important than climbing records.

There has been a long history of speed records
on the 54 (or 55) 14ers in Colorado. Most have
observed the "3000 foot rule", where you must
ascend at least 3000 vert to the first summit
of an enchainment and descend at least that much
after the last one. Arbitrary, but it avoids the
use of machines on those peaks that they would be
possible (all of them if you used a helicopter).
The record is 10 days and some hours by Cave Dog.

This summer Andrew Hamilton did all the 14ers
entirely self-powered in 19days 10hours. He rode
a bicycle between the peaks (and up Mt Evans,
which has a paved road to the top.)

The self-powered 14ers has also been done
essentially unsupported by a guy from Maryland
in 1995. He carried all his camping gear and
just resupplied with food from stores along the
way. He also observed the 3000 foot rule for
hiking vs. biking. 37 days and something.

Apparently the entire thing has been done
completely ON FOOT as well, by Mike Whitehurst
in 1985 (anyone know this guy?), though it has
been difficult to obtain detailed information
on that.

Make your own rules! Enjoy the mountains!
PB