Congratulations Jarrett Lutrell, first person to snowboard all Fourteeners
Around the same time Christy Sauer was becoming the first woman to ski all the fourteeners, and the 7th person to do so overall, snowboarder Jarrett Lutrell was getting Longs Peak done via Keplinger’s. He thus became the first person to snowboard all 54 of Colorado’s big ones, and by most people’s reckoning the 8th person to glisse them all (based on who got back to civilization first, which we believe was Christy.)
Jarrett Luttrell on Capitol Peak, a week before skiing Longs.
According Derek Dreschel, who was one of Jarett’s two partners (the other being Brennan Metzler), the frequently bony Keplinger’s was coated top to bottom with a couple feet of soft spring snow. Posthole city, but they made it. “Jarrett doesn’t usually get too excited,” said Derek, but we stopped a few hundred feet below the summit and Jarrett charged on ahead with energy you could just see was coming from him knowing that yeah, this was it!”
We expect to see a trip report filed here soon.
The crew descended Keplinger’s without incident, made the long deproach, and there we go: all the fourteeners have been ridden!
Jarrett uses a splitboard for most of his “ski” alpinism. People say he can tele better on his splitboard planks better than most telemarkers can tele on their skis. He rides with an ax in hand, and maneuvers like a cat on the steep stuff. You know the guy has the chops — it’s not easy getting every one of those peaks and coming home alive every time.
Congratulations Jarrett!
Incidentally, when we first ramped up WildSnow.com as a more newsy site and evolving blog, Jarrett filed a few trip reports from the beginnings of his project. Check one out.
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11 Responses to “Congratulations Jarrett Lutrell, first person to snowboard all Fourteeners”
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Nice job Jarrett! Way to finish your project!
Fantastic Jarrett. Got a good look at the North Face as well as the Trough today. Looks like a lot of snow up there.
Way to go Jarrett. Very happy for you man! Maybe you can take the winnings and finally get a new splitboard
Awesome feat! A lot of hard work and patience has finally paid off. Congrats Jarrett
Cool!
Good style getting it done on a snowboard……
Nicely done Jarrett, here’s a hearty and well-deserved congratulations!
I dare say, is that a Voile Split Decision Kit homemade homemade board? That’s impressive, ski mountaineering without reliable traversing traction. How did he get the two color bases, split two different boards and put them together or just find a board with that base pattern?
Thanks folks, and thanks Lou! This spring has been so much fun. I really enjoyed meeting some of the other people out there getting after it. The project as a whole really turned out to be something special. Not sure what I’ll do now. Maybe Shasta?
j~
Nice work Jarrett, and congrats! According to Lou, now you start bagging the many classic Thirteeners in Colorado. I’m still only halfway there but hoping to one day surf all 54 as well. Much respect! :ninja:
Oh hey! Thanks Jason! Are you still shredding down in Telluride? Hard to justify the drives to the swatch when you’ve got lines like that out the door. I know od a couple 13ers that could use some shredding, but for now I think it’s time to fix the bike.
Thanks for linking those old articles Lou. Sweet helmet I got on there.
I’m way behind on news, got wind of Jarrett’s accomplishment from Venture Snowboards site. very cool and none-too-easy a goal to complete. Proud for you. I’ve carried a board alot, I’m more intrigued by the splitboard (and tele-bility when skinning/approaching routes).
The new Cali 130-140cm short ‘snurfer” boards that place the rear binding right on the tail could make a lightweight option. they claim they feel more like surfing, I wonder how they would perform on steep ice or with a split binding. there would be less tail to swing around on steeps?
Congrats again. with Lou’s permission, check out http://www.lokigear.com jackets. Our eVENT shell and Primaloft jackets are”self-complete” and super sweet for everything from Denali to the sand dunes. If interested we might get you out a “tester”