The non-standard14er Podcast

Snowmass Mountain S-Ridge vs Standard: Episode 45

Snowmass Mountain was the topic of discussion in the latest episode of the Non-Standard 14er Podcast.  Recent 14er Finisher and longtime listener NatDog joins JacerJack, TayJack, Short-Rope and AWOL Pat to talk about his experience on the S-Ridge and the Geneva Lake Side.  We compare the standard route from Snowmass Lake to the S-Ridge in an attempt to influence TayJack’s decision on the best way to tackle Snowmass.

14er Thru-Hike with Pawel: Episode 44

After both spending 43 days connecting all of Colorado’s 14ers in one self-supported wheel-less thru-hike and winning a bout against rhabdomyolysis, Pawel Szafruga joins the Non-Standard 14er Podcast.  His record-breaking journey started at Barr Trail and ended at the bottom of Longs Peak.  We got to learn all about his ultra-lite gear, his route-planning, some unique connecting ridges, road hiking, and his re-supply methods.

The 14er Finisher Journey: Episode 43

With JacerJack's recent completion of the 14ers a few weeks earlier on Handies Peak, a "Finisher" episode was in order. Mike Phelps, host of the Return's Mandatory Podcast, joins us with our discussion about the 14er finisher journey.  Amongst a bunch of laughs and 14er stories, we talk about the "finisher blues," the highs and lows, and life lessons we've learned climbing the 14ers.  

Top 100 Peaks in under 23 days (part 2): Episode 42

In part two of our conversation with Andrew and Andrea, our discussion starts with their “rock bottom” moment on their Centennial Peak record adventure.  How and why they did the Blanca/Lindsey group the way they did and getting a car battery jump deep in the Ten Mile Range were just a few of the stories on this podcast that the pair enthusiastically tells in tandem.  You’ll understand why the saying “every ridge goes right?!” applies to this duo. 

Top 100 Peaks in under 23 days: Episode 41

A few weeks removed from doing Colorado’s highest 100 peaks in under 23 days, the team of Andrew Hamilton and Andrea Sansone join the Non-Standard 14er Podcast to talk all about it.  We learn why they started the record-breaking Centennial Peak challenge on Culebra, got details on their Elk Centennial Traverse, heard about the trouble accessing the Decalibron and got to hear what it’s like running out of food in the San Juans and still needing to summit Eolus, Sunlight, Windom and Jupiter before getting resupplied.  We also got to learn about how the couple motivates each other when one of them is at a mental and physical low point. This is part 1 of our conversation

Embrace Discomfort with author Michael Easter: Episode 40

We always noticed that we feel more calm, more collected and happier after a 3-day backpacking 14er trip, but now we have all the studies/research that explain why.  This is thanks to the recently-released book “The Comfort Crisis” by Michael Easter.  In the book, Michael articulates all the research on “rewilding” and why things like: being in nature, doing hard things, pushing your comfort zone, getting away from phones, and carrying heavy loads is good for a healthy and happy self.  Michael Easter joined the Non-Standard 14er Podcast in the latest episode to talk all about it.  We mention a RAT question (a measure of creativity explained in podcast) during the episode, see if you can figure it out. 

"Practice Suffering" Andrew Hamilton 14er Speed Record Holder Part 2: Episode 39

In part 2 of our conversation with the Colorado 14er Speed Record Holder, Andrew Hamilton, we learn all about the logistics and about his support team during this 2015 record breaking attempt. We also get to hear more about doing “Holy Nolans” and got a sneak peak of his plans for the Centennial Record attempt set for late June this year.  We also got to ask Bad Dad what advice he’d give to everyone doing 14ers---the answer might surprise you! 

14er Speed Record Holder Andrew Hamilton: Episode 38

Colorado 14er Speed Record Holder (9 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes), Andrew Hamilton joins the Non-Standard 14er Podcast.  We got to learn about the evolution of the speed record, his 1999 attempt, his interactions with previous record-holders and the logistics of climbing all the 14ers in under 10 days in July 2015.  Andrew or “Bad Dad” also holds the Winter record for Nolans 14 and has set summer records for the Summer Nolans 14 and “Holy Nolans” (adding Mount of the Holy Cross). In 2018, he was the first person to climb all the 14ers in a calendar winter.  This is part 1 of 2 of our conversation with Andrew.

Mt. Yale, Ultra running, and "Death-Bed Fodder": Episode 37

Mountain runner, Centennial Peak Finisher, Colorado Trail Through-Hiker, and High School Cross Country Coach, Sean O’Day joins the Non-Standard 14er podcast to discuss ultra running and his 25-mile loop around Mt. Yale.  You might know Sean better by his 14er handle: Doggler.  Mt. Yale was the center of our discussion and the various ways (Denny Creek, Avalanche Gulch, Kroenke Lake approaches) up it, but we covered all sorts of topics from the mental aspects of pushing yourself to do crazy things like a 100-mile race or lugging a 72-pound keg up Mt. Bierstadt.  You can find Sean's trip report here:

http://seanoday.blogspot.com/2012/05/tour-de-yale.html

Backcountry Management with Wilderness and Trails Specialist Katy Nelson: Episode 36

U.S. National Forest Ranger, Katy Nelson, joins the Non-Standard 14er Podcast in this episode to talk about the permit system at Conundrum Hot Springs, Leave No Trace, bear bags, overcrowding, and life in the White River National Forest.  Katy is the Wilderness and Trails Specialist in the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District of Colorado.  We got to learn about the data of 3 years of Conundrum Hot Springs permits and hear about the Wilderness Act which requires the mandate to provide “outstanding opportunities for solitude.”