Deadliest 14er: A Colorado Climber’s Nightmare Has Seen 70+ Deaths

Lots of people see Colorado's incredible Rocky Mountain peaks and instantly imagine themselves being able to hike to the top of all of them. Some of Colorado's 14er mountains are easier to summit than others, and some 14ers have a history of being more deadly than others.

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Did you know that some of Colorado's 14er mountains average multiple fatalities on an annual basis? Hiking in the Centennial State is serious business, and everyone who wants to make it to the top of one of these peaks needs to spend time doing their homework. Keep reading to take a closer look at Colorado's deadliest 14ers.

Rocky Mountain National Park's Only 14er Mountain

Since 1915, more than 70 people have set out to summit Longs Peak and have died trying. Longs Peak is the 15th tallest 14er in the state of Colorado at an elevation of 14,259 feet. This mountain is located inside Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park and is the only 14er found within the park's boundaries.

Colorado's Longs Peak: First Ascent

American badass John Wesley Powell enlisted with the 20th Illinois Volunteers and fought with the 2nd Illinois Artillery at the Battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. He lost an arm in the battle at Pittsburg Landing, then after the war, made his way to Colorado to become an adventurer. Powell was the first person to successfully summit Longs Peak in August of 1868, and then became the first person to float the Grand River (Colorado River) through the state, all the way to the mouth of the Grand Canyon. He completed both feats with just one arm.

Keep reading to take a closer look at the six deadliest 14er mountains in the state of Colorado, and find out where each of them is located.