MY MOUNTAIN
AND DESERT
ADVENTURES
By Tim Briese
Over the past many years I have spent numerous wonderful days exploring the mountains of Colorado, the deserts of Utah and Arizona, and many other beautiful places. In 2000 I completed climbing all of the fourteen thousand foot peaks in Colorado and in 2012 I finished the highest 200 peaks in the state. Nature is my Cathedral. In recent years I have especially enjoyed trying to capture the grandeur of the wilderness through photography. Following are trip reports with photos of adventures that I have been blessed to enjoy.
14ER | DATE |
1. Longs Peak (14,255') | Aug. 12, 1979 |
2. Pikes Peak (14,110') | Sept. 2, 1980 |
3. Mt. Elbert (14,433') | Aug. 29, 1985 |
4. Mt. Massive (14,421') | June 19, 1989 |
5. Grays Peak (14,270') | Aug. 27, 1995 |
6. Quandary Peak (14,265') | Sept. 13, 1995 |
7. Mt. Princeton (14,197') | June 25, 1996 |
8. Mt. Harvard (14,420') | July 13, 1996 |
9. La Plata Peak (14,336') | July 20, 1996 |
10. Mt. Democrat (14,148') | Aug. 18, 1996 |
11. Mt. Lincoln (14,286') | Aug. 18, 1996 |
12. Mt. Bross (14,172') | Aug. 18, 1996 |
13. Mt. Yale (14,196') | Aug. 29, 1996 |
14. Mt. Sherman (14,036') | Sept. 14, 1996 |
15. Mt. Tabeguache (14,155') | Sept. 22, 1996 |
16. Mt. Shavano (14,229') | Sept. 22, 1996 |
17. Huron Peak (14,003') | Oct. 8, 1996 |
18. Mt. Bierstadt (14,060') | Feb. 17, 1997 |
19. Mt. Evans (14,264') | May 31, 1997 |
20. Mt. Columbia (14,073') | June 28, 1997 |
21. Humboldt Peak (14,064') | July 7, 1997 |
22. Missouri Mountain (14,067') | July 27, 1997 |
23. Uncompahgre Peak (14,309') | Aug. 8, 1997 |
24. Mt. Lindsey (14,042') | Aug. 16, 1997 |
25. Torreys Peak (14,267') | Aug. 19, 1997 |
26. Crestone Needle (14,197') | Aug. 25, 1997 |
27. Mt. Belford (14,197') | Sept. 18, 1997 |
28. Castle Peak (14,265') | Sept. 30, 1997 |
29. Mt. Antero (14,269') | Oct. 15, 1997 |
30. Holy Cross (14,005') | July 10, 1998 |
31. Crestone Peak (14,294') | July 26, 1998 |
32. Blanca Peak (14,345') | Aug. 24, 1998 |
33. Ellingwood Point (14,042') | Aug. 24, 1998 |
34. North Maroon Peak (14,014') | Sept. 12, 1998 |
35. Mt. Oxford (14,153') | Sept. 25, 1998 |
36. Handies Peak (14,048') | Oct. 2, 1998 |
37. Culebra Peak (14,047') | July 14, 1999 |
38. Windom Peak (14,082') | July 31, 1999 |
39. Sunlight Peak (14,059') | July 31, 1999 |
40. Mt. Eolus (14,083') | July 31, 1999 |
41. Mt. Sneffels (14,150') | Aug. 13, 1999 |
42. Wilson Peak (14,017') | Aug. 14, 1999 |
43. Capitol Peak (14,130') | Aug. 23, 1999 |
44. Little Bear Peak (14,037') | Aug. 26, 1999 |
45. Kit Carson Peak (14,165') | Sept. 9, 1999 |
46. Redcloud Peak (14,034') | June 23, 2000 |
47. Pyramid Peak (14,018') | July 14, 2000 |
48. Wetterhorn Peak (14,015') | July 23, 2000 |
49. Snowmass Mountain (14,092') | Aug. 1, 2000 |
50. South Maroon Peak (14,156') | Aug. 15, 2000 |
51. Mt. Wilson (14,246') | Sept. 8, 2000 |
52. El Diente (14,159') | Sept. 9, 2000 |
53. Sunshine Peak (14,001') | Sept. 10, 2000 |
54. San Luis Peak (14,014') | Sept. 16, 2000 |
2003 ADVENTURES
McIntyre Hills | Jan. 27 |
Guadalupe Peak, Texas (8,749') | Mar. 28 |
Picket Wire Canyonlands | Apr. 17 |
McCurdy Mountain (12,168') | June 18 |
Mt. Whitney, California (14,495'), | June 28 |
and Mt. Muir (14,015') | |
Boundary Peak, Nevada (13,143') | June 29 |
Mt. Russell, California (14,086'), | June 30 |
and Mt. Carillon (13,552') | |
Mt. Meeker (13,911') | July 19 |
Vermillion Peak (13,894'), | July 24 |
and Golden Horn (13,780') | |
Arrow Peak (13,803'), | July 26 |
and Vestal Peak (13,864') | |
Grizzly Peak (13,988'), | Aug. 14 |
and Garfield Peak (13,780') | |
Culebra Peak (14,047'), | Aug. 22 |
and Red Mountain (13,908') | |
Ice Mountain (13,951'), | Aug. 23 |
and North Apostle (13,860') | |
Humboldt Peak (14,064') | Sept. 1 |
Dyer Mountain (13,855') | Sept. 16 |
Mt. Oklahoma (13,845') | Sept. 19 |
Huerfano Peak (13,828'), | Sept. 23 |
and the Iron Nipple (13,500') | |
Pancake Rocks | Sept. 25 |
Horseshoe Mountain (13,898') | Sept. 27 |
Wheeler Peak, New Mexico (13,161') | Oct. 1 |
North Carbonate Peak (13,870') | Oct. 21 |
Lackawanna Peak (13,823') | Nov. 19 |
2004 ADVENTURES
Square Top Mountain (13,794') | Mar. 8 |
Utah Canyon Country | Mar. 21-25 |
Crack Canyon, Behind the Rocks, Calf Creek Falls, | |
Fence Canyon, Peekaboo and Spooky slot canyons, | |
and Willis Creek Canyon | |
Mt. Aetna (13,745') | July 1 |
and Taylor Mountain (13,651') | |
Mt. Sniktau (13,234') | July 9 |
Hagerman Peak (13,841') | July 11 |
Rio Grande Pyramid (13,821') | July 15 |
Jupiter Mountain (13,830') | July 18 |
Half Peak (13,841') | July 30 |
Borah Peak, Idaho (12,662') | Aug. 22 |
Kings Peak, Utah (13,528') | Aug. 23 |
Holy Cross Ridge (13,831') | Sept. 2 |
Drift Peak (13,900'), a climb to measure if this one is "official" | Sept. 9 |
Phoenix Peak (13,895') | Sept. 17 |
Humphreys Peak, Arizona (12,633') | Sept. 20 |
2005 ADVENTURES
In 2005 I completed climbing the highest 100 summits in Colorado, finishing on Jagged Mountain in August.
Apishapa Canyon, near Walsenburg, Colorado | Jan. 20 |
Little Cottonwood Creek, near Buena Vista, Colorado | March 12 |
White Canyon, Utah | March 26 |
Alaska hikes: Exit Glacier, Russian River Falls, and Swede Lake | June 12-20 |
Pt. 13,811 and Pt. 13,832 | July 11 |
Thunder Pyramid (13,932') | July 28 |
Gladstone Peak (13,913') | July 29 |
Dallas Peak (13,809') | July 30 |
Teakettle Mountain (13,819') | July 31 |
Jagged Mountain (13,824') | Aug. 16-18 |
Deer Mountain (13,761'), Pt. 13,741, and Mt. Champion (13,646') | Sept. 1 |
Fisher Towers, Utah | Sept. 13 |
North Taylor Creek, Sangre de Cristo Mountains | Sept. 27 |
Red Peak (13,189'), and Eccles Pass loop hike | Oct. 7 |
2006 ADVENTURES
Delicate Arch, Utah | Jan. 8 |
Corona Arch, Utah | April 2 |
Grape Creek Canyon, near Salida, Colorado | April 8 |
McCurdy Mountain (12,168'), Ute Creek Trailhead | April 22 |
Penitente Canyon, near Del Norte, Colorado | May 3 |
Rito Alto Peak (13,794') | May 20 |
Crestone Needle (14,197') | June 10 |
Mt. Langley, California (14,027') | June 27 |
Mt. Tyndall, California (14,015') | June 29 |
Navajo Peak (13,409') | July 18 |
Pilot Knob (attempt), (13,738') | July 20 |
Lookout Peak (13,661') | July 21 |
Tijeras Peak (13,604') | July 22 |
Table Mountain, Wyoming (11,106') | July 31 |
Union Falls hike, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming | Aug. 2 |
Geyser Spring hike, near Dunton, Colorado | Aug. 25 |
Navajo Lake hike, Lizard Head Wilderness | Aug. 26 |
Missouri Lakes/Fancy Pass loop hike, Holy Cross Wilderness | Sept. 4 |
Grizzly Mountain (13,708'), Cyclone Mountain (13,596'), and Carbonate Mountain (13,663') | Sept. 12 |
San Luis Peak (14,014') | Sept. 18 |
Macey Lakes hike, Sangre de Cristo Wilderness | Sept. 26 |
Bard Peak (13,641'), and Mt. Parnassus (13,574') | Oct. 13 |
2007 ADVENTURES
2008 ADVENTURES
2009 ADVENTURES
Peralta Trail, to the Weavers Needle, Superstition Mountains, Arizona | Febr. 4 |
Sedona Sampler: Hikes around Sedona, Arizona | Febr. 6 |
Druid Arch, Canyonlands NP, Utah | March 20 |
Devils Garden Loop Hike, Arches NP, Utah | March 21 |
Electric Peak A (13,598') | July 1 |
"Lightning Pyramid" (13,722') | July 24 |
Sayres Benchmark (13,738') | July 25 |
White Dome (13,627') and Peak One (13,589') | July 29 |
Mt. Oso (13,684') | July 30 |
Pt. 13,688 B | Aug. 1 |
Peak Fifteen (13,700') and Animas Mountain (13,786') | Aug. 20-22 |
Grizzly Peak B (13,738') | Aug. 23 |
Mt. Blaurock (13,616') | Oct. 2 |
2010 ADVENTURES
Pt. 13,626 | June 30 |
Redcliff (13,642') | July 6 |
Rolling Mt. (13,693') | July 7 |
Grizzly Peak C (13,700') | July 19-20 |
Pt. 13,795 | July 22 |
Castleabra (13,803') | July 23 |
Bald Mt. (13,684') | Aug. 18 |
Silver Mt. (13,714'), Pt. 13,681 | Sept. 11 |
"Quarter Peak" (13,674') | Sept. 27 |
Bent Pk. (13,393'), Carson Pk. (13,657'), Pt. 13,580, | Sept. 28 |
Pt. 13,581 | |
Pt. 13,691, Pt. 13,688A | Sept. 29 |
2011 ADVENTURES
Vulture Peak, Arizona (3615') | Febr. 4 |
Piestewa Peak, Arizona (2608') | Febr. 9 |
Tarryall Peak (11,780') | June 1 |
East Spanish Peak (12,683') | June 10 |
Comanche Peak (13,277'), Spring Mountain (13,244'), Venable Peak (13,334') | June 23 |
Matterhorn Peak (13,590') | Aug. 8 |
Clark Peak (13,580') | Aug. 18-19 |
Potosi Peak (13,786') | Aug. 23 |
"Northwest Pole" (13,660'), Pole Creek Mountain (13,716') | Aug. 24 |
Gilpin Peak (13,694') | Aug. 25 |
Garfield Peak (13,780') | Sept. 16 |
Pt. 13,631 | Sept. 19 |
2012 ADVENTURES
In 2012 I completed climbing the highest 200 summits in Colorado, finishing on The Guardian in July.
"Cupid" (13,117'), Grizzly Peak D (13,427') | Jan. 4 |
Brins Ridge, Arizona (5527') | Febr. 5 |
Cathedral Rock, Arizona | Febr. 6 |
Camelback Mountain, Arizona (2704') | Febr. 13 |
Picacho Peak, Arizona (3374') | Febr. 15 |
Trinchera Peak (13,517'), Leaning South Peak (13,203'), Cuatro Peak (13,487) | June 12 |
San Miguel Peak (13,752') | July 10 |
Mt. Jackson (13,670') | July 20 |
Storm King Peak (13,752'), Peak Seven (13,682'), Peak Six (13,705'), | July 24-27 |
Mt. Silex (13,628'), and The Guardian (13,617') | |
North Star Mountain (13,614') | July 28 |
Music Mountain (13,380') | Aug. 19 |
Silver Peak (13,513'), Mt. Marcy (13,490') | Sept. 19 |
Boreas Mountain (13,082') | Oct. 2 |
Kelso Mountain (13,164') | Dec. 1 |
2013 ADVENTURES
2014 ADVENTURES
Bennett Peak (13,203') and Sheep Mountain (12,492') | June 20 |
Pikes Peak (14,115') from Crags Trailhead | June 26 |
Uncompahgre Peak (14,309') revisited | July 17 |
Treasury Mountain (13,462') | July 21 |
Belleview Mountain (13,233') | July 22 |
Boulder Mountain (13,528') | July 23 |
Pacific Northwest trip - Washington, British Columbia, and climb of 3rd Burroughs Mountain (7828'), Mount Rainier NP | Sept. 8-13 |
Our favorite Colorado aspen viewing hike | Sept. 26 |
2015 ADVENTURES
2016 ADVENTURES
Browns Canyon National Monument | March 21 |
Jenkins Mountain (13,432') | June 17 |
Unnamed 13460 | June 24 |
Hasley Pass hike | July 11 |
Unnamed 13546, Unnamed 13541 | July 17-18 |
Montana Mountain (10,948') | July 19 |
Cirque of the Towers, WY | Aug. 4 |
Sweetwater Gap, WY | Aug. 6 |
Tundra Top (13,450'), Cataract Peak (13,524'), Coney Benchmark (13,334') | Aug. 20 |
Whitecross Mountain (13,542') | Aug. 21 |
T10 (13,477') | Aug. 22 |
Baldy Peak (10,603') | Aug. 23 |
Neahkahnie Mountain, OR (1660') | Sept. 7 |
Camp Muir, Mount Rainier, WA | Sept. 10 |
Zion Narrows, UT | Sept. 17 |
North Twin Cone Pk. (12,323'), Mt. Blaine (12,303'), South Twin Cone Pk. (12,340') | Oct. 26 |
2017 ADVENTURES
2018 ADVENTURES
Bear Peak (8461'), South Boulder Peak (8549') | March 17 |
Unnamed 11762 | June 12 |
Hoosier Ridge (13,352') | June 29 |
Mt. Wilcox (13,408') | July 19 |
Antora Peak (13,269') | July 23 |
Mt. Crested Butte (12,162') | July 24 |
Fairview Peak (13,214'), Terrible Mountain (12,100') | July 25 |
Mt. Elbert (14,433') - a friend's 70th birthday celebration | July 30 |
Eureka Mountain (13,507') | Aug. 13 |
Gudy Peak (13,566') | Aug. 22 |
Mt. Rhoda (13,402'), Mountaineer Peak (13,434') | Aug. 23 |
Unnamed 13510B, Trico Peak (13,321') | Aug. 24 |
2019 ADVENTURES
Sabino Canyon, AZ | Jan. 8 |
Tom's Thumb, AZ | Jan. 11 |
Murphy Trail, UT, and Mesa Arch and Grandview Point | March 17 |
Peekaboo Trail, UT | March 18 |
Horseshoe Canyon, UT | March 19 |
Sipapu Bridge, UT | April 13 |
South Peak (12,892') | June 28 |
Lone Eagle Peak hike | July 9 |
Teocalli Mt. (13,208') | July 23 |
Napoleon Mt. (12,563'), Yellow Pine Ridge (9894'), High Dune (8691') | July 24 |
Unnamed 11594, Unnamed 11144 | July 25 |
Yankee Boy Basin hike | Aug. 13 |
Wildhorse Peak (13,266') | Aug. 14 |
Unnamed 12780, Fitzpatrick Peak (13,112'), Quartz Benchmark (8892') | Aug. 19 |
Cinnamon Mt. (12,293'), Anthracite Mesa (11,269') | Aug. 20 |
Carbonate Hill (10,928') | Aug. 21 |
Banff National Park, Canada | Sept. 4-7 |
Flat Tops Wilderness scenic loop backpack, including Lost Lakes Peak West (11,928') and Lost Lakes Peak East (11,935') | Sept. 21 |
Cross Mountain Trail | Oct. 17 |
Piedra River Hot Springs | Oct. 18 |
Bryce Canyon National Park, Queen's Garden Trail, UT | Nov. 1 |
Honaker Trail, UT | Nov. 6 |
2020 ADVENTURES
Round Mountain (9033') | April 1 |
Unnamed 8906, China Wall (9189'), Unnamed 9752 | April 29 |
Goose Creek Trail | May 13 |
Lost Creek Wilderness loop backpack | May 21-22 |
South Peak (12,892') | June 11 |
Mill Creek Trail | June 22 |
Lost Man Lake | July 9 |
Taylor Peak (13,435') | July 19 |
Broncho Mountain (12,834') | July 20 |
Mount Baldy (12,805') | July 21 |
Highland Mary Lakes/CDT loop hike | July 30 |
Wheeler Geologic Area backpack | Aug. 9-10 |
Unnamed 10989, Cochetopa Dome (11,132'), Unnamed 10998 | Aug. 29 |
Resolution Mt. (11,905'), Ptarmigan Hill (12,143'), Unnamed 9732 | Aug. 30 |
Mountain Boy Peak (13,198') | Aug. 31 |
Lily Lake | Sept. 3 |
South Peak (12,892'), Part II | Sept. 5 |
Rabbit Ears Peak (10,657'), (to summit towers) | Sept. 14 |
"Zirkel Circle" loop hike | Sept. 15 |
Aspen Foliage Viewing Hikes | Sept. 27-30 |
Goblin Valley, UT | Oct. 19 |
Cathedral Valley, UT | Oct. 20 |
Golden Cathedral, UT | Oct. 21 |
Chesler Park and Druid Arch, UT | Oct. 23 |
Platte River Trail | Nov. 16 |
2021 ADVENTURES
Palm Canyon Trail, Kofa Mountains, AZ | Jan. 7 |
White Pocket, AZ | Jan. 10 |
Toadstool Trail, Edmaier's Secret, UT | Jan. 11 |
Mt. Sanitas (6863') | Jan. 17 |
2022 ADVENTURES
Tom's Thumb hike, AZ | March 1 |
North Mountain, AZ (2104') | March 3 |
Upper Calf Creek Falls, UT | March 23 |
Escalante Overlook Trail, UT | March 23 |
Coyote Gulch, UT, via the Sneaker Route | March 24 |
Yellow Rock, UT (5524') | March 25 |
2023 ADVENTURES
Devils Bridge hike, Sedona, AZ | January 9 |
Antelope Canyon, AZ | January 30-31 |
The Wave, North Coyote Buttes, AZ | February 1 |
Corona Arch, UT and Monument Valley, AZ | February 2-3 |
Coyote Gulch, UT, via Chimney Rock | March 18 |
Arizona wildflower hikes | March 20-24 |
Peralta Trail, AZ | March 23 |
Red Rocks Trail, Woodland Park, CO | July 13 |
West Maroon Trail, Crested Butte, CO | July 18 |
Unnamed 8868, Unnamed 8660, Little Wolford Mt. (8807'), Wolford Mt. (9182') | July 24 |
Unnamed 10018, Unnamed 9420, Lone Spring Butte (10,262') | July 25 |
Montgomery Pass | July 28 |
Mt. Herman (9068'), with granddaughter Ellie | August 5 |
Mayflower Gulch | August 17 |
Harmonica Arch | August 22 |
Cirque Mountain (13,692') | August 29 |
Seigal Mountain (13,281') | August 30 |
Unnamed 8374, Unnamed 8761 | August 31 |
Oregon and Washington coast - beaches and rainforests | September 6-10 |
Dome Rock and Cap Rock (8547') | September 20 |
Kebler Pass and Ohio Pass fall colors | October 5-6 |
Southwest Colorado fall colors | October 11-13 |
Utah eclipse and the Burr Trail | October 14 |
Bighorn Canyon, UT | October 15 |
Yellow Rock and Lower Hackberry Canyon, UT | October 16 |
Lick Wash, UT | October 17 |
Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument, UT | October 18 |
Cheesman Canyon, CO | October 25 |
2024 ADVENTURES
MORE CLIMBS -- More Colorado hikes and climbs that I did from 1997 to 2005, including some 14er re-climbs, some 13er climbs, and other adventures. Included are climbs of all of the 13er Centennial Peaks (highest hundred), most of which are not otherwise listed on this Home Page. Also included are some out-of-state climbs done during that time period, including some state highpoints.
Please email me with comments or questions at tbriese@comcast.net