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It’s Official — Chris Davenport to Attempt Backcountry Skiing all 54 Colorado Fourteeners in One Season

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

Turns out that Chris made his first public announcement on a local access TV station a few days ago. Perhaps I should start watching more boob tube? No thanks. At any rate, here is Davenport’s first press release about his project, uncut and unedited. I’m really excited about this — some hot attention to what Colorado has to offer, and Chris is certainly the man for the job.

“CHRIS DAVENPORT’S 2006 “SKI THE 14ERSâ€? PROJECT
There are 54 peaks in Colorado over 14,000 feet, and in 2006, professional freeskier Chris Davenport plans to be the first ski them all in a single season. Two-time World Champion Davenport’s work in ski films and success in big mountain contests ranks him among the best alpine athletes on skis today. He’s made a career out of leading first descents in mountain ranges around the world. But now the Aspen-based Davenport is turning to his own backyard in search of his greatest challenge yet: To ascend to the highest points in Colorado and ski down through some of the most demanding backcountry in the Rockies. Only one other ski-mountaineer has laid tracks down all 54 mountains over 14,000 feet in Colorado, the legendary Lou Dawson. Davenport plans to start skiing these formidable peaks on January 1, and continue making tracks for as long as the snow holds out.

Davenport is a uniquely qualified explorer who will draw upon his backcountry savvy to assess avalanche danger and impending weather conditions before making his ascent. Once he reaches the summit, he’ll work with a team of cinematographers and photographers to capture amazing, undiscovered lines in heart of Ski Country, USA. During the often-dangerous winter months, Davenport hopes to ski four to seven 14ers a month. Then, with the deep spring snowpack working in is favor, Davenport will embark on a ski mountaineering marathon and ski an unprecedented succession of steep 14-plus peaks. Descending just one of these mountains presents incredible risks: a single misstep or miscalculation about the snowpack can lead to injury and death. As a husband and father of two, Davenport doesn’t take the dangers lightly. But like so many, he can’t resist the allure of these wild peaks.

Colorado’s 14ers are some of the highest, most remote corners of the Lower 48. Hiking these peaks in summer has become a national passion as thousands of outdoor enthusiasts flock to Colorado searching for what you can only find way above tree line. By skiing these peaks in a single winter, Davenport will heighten awareness about these natural treasures. Each 14er is a high-alpine refuge, and Davenport’s hopes that his journey into these backcountry ski sanctuaries will inspire a new generation of snow-sport mountaineers.

By expertly documenting the entire experience, Davenport and his team will reveal the true heart of this human quest: the search for higher understanding of the self, The expert navigation, the brutal climbs to the top and the brilliantly carved lines that weave gracefully down from 14,000 feet and into the imaginations and hearts of mountain lovers all around the world.

A majority of these peaks have never been documented in the history of the ski film industry, especially from the perspective of a world –class skier like Davenport, there fore the production team will be breaking new ground on a cinematic level. Along for the ride are some of the industry professionals top athletes such as; Chris Klug (Olympic snowboarder), Shane McConkey, Lou Dawson (first person to Ski all 14K peaks in Colorado), the Marolt brothers, Mike and Steve (first Americans to ski off an 8000 meter peak) and Charlotte Fox, a famous mountaineer and survivor of the Everest tragedy of 1996. With additional interviews and commentary by these experienced professionals, the audience will have a fuller understanding of what this adventure means to the world of winter mountaineering and backcountry extreme skiing as well as the quest for personal fulfillment and accomplishment on a basic human level. “

Posted by Lou on November 30, 2005 | Filed Under Fourteeners 

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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