The Hightower Team is kicking off our fundraising efforts with a bang and we need your help! Last year we participated in the Over The Edge Event and raised just over $2000 for cancer research. The event was dedicated to all of the Hightower family members who have lost their fight against cancer. This year we have a new goal!

Our goal is to challenge ourselves both physically and mentally, and climb six of Colorado’s highest mountains over the next five weeks.  All of these mountains are over 14,000 feet, and we are dedicating each summit to a Hightower family member who lost their fight against cancer. We are confident in our ability to successfully summit each 14er, but we know climbing can be just like cancer. Sometimes you do everything you can both physically and mentally to succeed, but you fall short of your goal. For a cancer patient, that goal is to simply survive.

The Over The Edge event is organized by the Cancer League of Colorado. This non-profit organization is all volunteer, with no offices or paid staff. 100% of money they raise stays in Colorado and only goes toward cancer-related service or research. Each dollar donated is generally matched by national institutions more than 20-to-1.

Help us by Making a Pledge!

The Hightower Team asks that you make a pledge to help fight cancer. We want to raise $3000 before the Over The Edge event held on July 8th and 9th. Below is a list of Colorado 14ers we intend to climb, along with map and route information for each mountain. Please join us in our fight against cancer and help us reach our goal! Click here to make a donation.

Learn more about Over the Edge

Weekend of June 4th and 5th: Dedicated to Keith Hightower - DONE!

Quandary Peak, 14,265’ – Cristo Couloir, Route #2 on MAP

Weekend of June 11th and 12th: Dedicated to Ruthelle Rhodes Hightower – Changed to Sherman South Slope! Make up July 2nd & 3rd

Mount Elbert, 14,433’ – Box Creek Couloirs, Route #4 on MAP

Weekend of June 18th and 19th: Dedicated to George & Ruthelle Rhodes - Changed to Mount Silverheels! Read about the legend

Challenger Point, 14,081’ North Slope, Route #1 on MAP

Kit Carson Peak, 14,165’ From Challenger Point, Route #2 on MAP

Weekend of June 25th and 26th: Dedicated to Derwood Jones – Done June 11th, climbed before the snow melted! Ski descent!

Mount Sherman, 14.036’ South Slope, Route #3 on MAP

Weekend July 2nd and 3rd: Dedicated to Billy Hightower - Climbed Grays Peak June 26th. Std. route due to conditions, ski descent.

Torreys Peak, 14,267’ Emperor Couloir, Route #10 on MAP

Thank you 14ers.com!

We can thank Bill Middlebrook the creator of 14ers.com for his great photos and route plans. Without his knowledge many of us wouldn’t be able to climb Colorado’s beautiful mountains. Thank you Bill for the photos and all of your hard work!

Traditionally The Hightower Team starts climbing Colorado’s highest peaks in May as the snowpack and avalanche danger subsidies. There is nothing better than hiking to the top of a mountain and being able to ski back to the car! However, 2011 hasn’t been a normal year with Colorado’s northern and central mountains getting snow well into May. Record snow totals have kept some of the Rocky Mountains dangerous and full of unstable snow. Those looking to hike 14ers should be careful and only the most experienced climbers should attempt them when the snowpack is unstable. The typical climbing season consists of Summer’s warmest months and goes into the Fall.

If you are thinking about climbing your fist 14er there are some great options available in the Front Range. With current mountain conditions now is a great time to plan a trip and decide what to climb. The Hightower Team recommends an easier climb to anyone looking for their first 14er experience. Remember, all 14ers are challenging, but the easier ones in the Front Range are Grays Peak, Torrey’s Peak, Mount Bierstadt, and Mount Evans. For those who want to start by climbing two peaks in a day, consider Grays and Torrey’s. If you are eager to start in May, you should consider the southern mountains. La Nina created a drier winter for the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo ranges, so the snowpack is relatively safe for climbers. Have fun out there and be safe!