Spotlight on Bill Farrow!

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Q: What was your first fourteener, and when did you climb it?
Mt. Oxford on July 19, 2003. I had just moved to Boulder from Wisconsin a few weeks earlier and had very little hiking experience. When my neighbors asked me if I wanted to do some 14ers, I replied “Sure…what’s a 14er?”.  We left Boulder at some ungodly hour and did Oxford first because I opted for the more gentle approach via Elkhead Pass. We did Belford on the way back. It was a long, enjoyable day. I could hardly walk the next few days but “it hurt so good”.  Later I figured out that it is usually easier on your legs to go up the steep route and descend the more gentle route. Live and learn.

Q: At what point did you commit to finishing them all?
At first, I thought doing them all was out of my league. But, after taking BMS with the CMC in 2004, I had more confidence, experience and hiking partners and started thinking about doing them all. I noticed an article in a CMC publication that stated no one on the CMC list of finishers had done Oxford as their first 14er. And no one had finished on Princeton. So, I decided that if I did them all, I would save Mt. Princeton for my finish.

Q: What is your favorite fourteener route?
I loved doing Crestone Needle. The day before, two friends and I had a big day doing many peaks. The next morning, when we were climbing, the thought that kept going through my mind was “Pure Joy”. I think it was the combination of being with friends, conglomerate rock, good weather and being on the summit so early in the morning.

Q: What was your most delightful moment on a 14er?
The summit of Little Bear in late-September. We had the mountain to ourselves on a bluebird day with incredible views and no reason to be in a hurry.

Q: What was your most terrifying moment on a 14er?
We had some difficult sections on Wilson Peak. In order to avoid private property, we took a difficult route up a couloir near the false summit. The rock was very loose and whole sections were unstable. There was also snow in places and the route got steeper as we ascended. Fortunately, near the summit, we met some people who were good friends of the landowner and they gave us permission to descend on the standard route. Going down that couloir we ascended would have been very dangerous.

Q: Do you have any plans for future mountain lists?
I am working on the High 100 and plan to start doing more peaks closer to home in the IPW and in RMNP.

Q: What 14er did you climb last? Did you intentionally save it for last or is it a 14er that previously eluded you?
As I mentioned, I intentionally saved Mt. Princeton for my last one. Having an easier one allowed my son to join me. Also, it was great to enjoy the hot springs afterwards.

Q: What is the single most important piece of advice that you would give to someone just starting out?
Take classes and learn from experienced people. They have lots of good ideas that making hiking safer and more enjoyable. Most people love to give advice and tips, so don’t be reluctant to ask for it.