Fourteener
Encyclopedia
In mountaineering
terminology in the United States, a fourteener is a mountain
that exceeds 14,000 feet (4,267.2 m) above mean sea level
. There are 547 fourteeners in the world. The importance of fourteeners is greatest in Colorado
, which has the majority of such peaks in North America. Climbing all of Colorado's fourteeners is a popular pastime among peak baggers
; another popular target is climbing all of the fourteeners in the contiguous United States
. Various ski mountaineers have completed ski descents of all the Colorado fourteeners, and the first attempts are being made to complete ski descents of all U.S. fourteeners.
Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid
, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level
as an equipotential
gravitational surface. Topographic prominence
is the elevation difference between the summit and the highest or key col to a higher summit. Topographic isolation
is the minimum great circle
distance to a point of higher elevation.
All elevations in the 48 states
of the contiguous United States
include an elevation adjustment from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988
(NAVD 88). If a summit elevation or prominence has a range of values, the arithmetic mean is cited.
to be independent. Objective standards for independence include topographic prominence
and isolation (distance from a higher summit), or a combination of the two. However, fourteener lists do not always consistently use such objective rules.
A rule commonly used by mountaineers in the contiguous United States
is that a peak must have at least 300 feet (91 m) of prominence to qualify. By this rule, Colorado
has fifty-three (or 54 depending on criteria) fourteeners, California
has eleven (twelve using mean prominence), and Washington has two. However, the subsidiary summit of Liberty Cap in Washington (one of the summits of Mount Rainier
), at 14112 feet (4,301 m) and 492 feet (150 m) of prominence, is often not counted as a fourteener despite meeting the prominence criteria.
According to the Mountaineering Club of Alaska, it is standard in Alaska
to use a 500 feet (152.4 m) prominence rule rather than a 300 feet (91 m) rule. By this rule, Alaska has at least 21 peaks over 14000 feet (4,267 m) and its 12 highest peaks exceed 15000 feet (4,572 m).
For comparison, Canada
has 15 fourteeners, and Mexico
has 8; however, the importance of the arbitrary 14,000-foot mark is minimal outside of the U.S. (due in large part to the otherwise universal usage of the metric system
). In Europe, it is very common to attempt to climb all of the independent 4000 metres (13,123 ft) peaks in the Alps
; that pastime roughly corresponds to fourteener-bagging in the U.S., although some of the European peaks are more technical climbs in general.
The following U.S. summits have 14,000 feet of elevation, but have less than 300 feet of topographic prominence:
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
terminology in the United States, a fourteener is a mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
that exceeds 14,000 feet (4,267.2 m) above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. There are 547 fourteeners in the world. The importance of fourteeners is greatest in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, which has the majority of such peaks in North America. Climbing all of Colorado's fourteeners is a popular pastime among peak baggers
Peak bagging
Peak bagging is an activity in which hillwalkers and mountaineers attempt to reach the summit of some collection of peaks, usually those above some height in a particular region, or having a particular feature.Peak bagging can be distinguished from highpointing...
; another popular target is climbing all of the fourteeners in the contiguous United States
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
. Various ski mountaineers have completed ski descents of all the Colorado fourteeners, and the first attempts are being made to complete ski descents of all U.S. fourteeners.
Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid
Geoid
The geoid is that equipotential surface which would coincide exactly with the mean ocean surface of the Earth, if the oceans were in equilibrium, at rest , and extended through the continents . According to C.F...
, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
as an equipotential
Equipotential
Equipotential or isopotential in mathematics and physics refers to a region in space where every point in it is at the same potential. This usually refers to a scalar potential , although it can also be applied to vector potentials...
gravitational surface. Topographic prominence
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
is the elevation difference between the summit and the highest or key col to a higher summit. Topographic isolation
Topographic isolation
The topographic isolation of a summit is the minimum horizontal distance to the nearest point of higher elevation. Topographic isolation represents a radius of dominance in which the summit is the highest point. Topographic isolation can be calculated for small hills and islands as well as for...
is the minimum great circle
Great circle
A great circle, also known as a Riemannian circle, of a sphere is the intersection of the sphere and a plane which passes through the center point of the sphere, as opposed to a general circle of a sphere where the plane is not required to pass through the center...
distance to a point of higher elevation.
All elevations in the 48 states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of the contiguous United States
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
include an elevation adjustment from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988
North American Vertical Datum of 1988
The North American Vertical Datum of 1988 is the vertical control datum of orthometric height established for vertical control surveying in the United States of America based upon the General Adjustment of the North American Datum of 1988....
(NAVD 88). If a summit elevation or prominence has a range of values, the arithmetic mean is cited.
Qualification criteria
Not all summits over 14,000 feet qualify as fourteeners. Summits which qualify are those considered by mountaineersMountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
to be independent. Objective standards for independence include topographic prominence
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
and isolation (distance from a higher summit), or a combination of the two. However, fourteener lists do not always consistently use such objective rules.
A rule commonly used by mountaineers in the contiguous United States
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
is that a peak must have at least 300 feet (91 m) of prominence to qualify. By this rule, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
has fifty-three (or 54 depending on criteria) fourteeners, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
has eleven (twelve using mean prominence), and Washington has two. However, the subsidiary summit of Liberty Cap in Washington (one of the summits of Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
), at 14112 feet (4,301 m) and 492 feet (150 m) of prominence, is often not counted as a fourteener despite meeting the prominence criteria.
According to the Mountaineering Club of Alaska, it is standard in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to use a 500 feet (152.4 m) prominence rule rather than a 300 feet (91 m) rule. By this rule, Alaska has at least 21 peaks over 14000 feet (4,267 m) and its 12 highest peaks exceed 15000 feet (4,572 m).
For comparison, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
has 15 fourteeners, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
has 8; however, the importance of the arbitrary 14,000-foot mark is minimal outside of the U.S. (due in large part to the otherwise universal usage of the metric system
Metric system
The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...
). In Europe, it is very common to attempt to climb all of the independent 4000 metres (13,123 ft) peaks in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
; that pastime roughly corresponds to fourteener-bagging in the U.S., although some of the European peaks are more technical climbs in general.
Table
| Rank Ranking A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either 'ranked higher than', 'ranked lower than' or 'ranked equal to' the second.... |
Mountain Peak Summit (topography) In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation... |
State U.S. state A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of... |
Mountain Range Mountain range A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain... |
Elevation | Prominence Topographic prominence In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit... |
Isolation Topographic isolation The topographic isolation of a summit is the minimum horizontal distance to the nearest point of higher elevation. Topographic isolation represents a radius of dominance in which the summit is the highest point. Topographic isolation can be calculated for small hills and islands as well as for... |
Location Geographic coordinate system A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on the Earth to be specified by a set of numbers. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represent vertical position, and two or three of the numbers represent horizontal position... |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Alaska |
63.0690°N 151.0063°W |
| 2 |
Alaska |
63.0976°N 151.0055°W |
| 3 |
Alaska Yukon |
60.2927°N 140.9307°W |
| 4 |
Alaska |
62.9605°N 151.3992°W |
| 5 |
Alaska |
61.3845°N 141.7529°W |
| 6 |
Alaska |
61.7305°N 143.4031°W |
| 7 |
Alaska |
61.7252°N 143.3925°W |
| 8 |
Alaska |
62.2132°N 144.1292°W |
| 9 |
Alaska |
63.0349°N 150.9768°W |
| 10 |
Alaska Yukon |
60.3346°N 139.6929°W |
| 11 |
Alaska |
61.4191°N 141.7152°W |
| 12 |
Alaska British Columbia |
58.9064°N 137.5265°W |
| 13 |
Alaska Yukon |
60.3194°N 139.0726°W |
| 14 |
Alaska |
61.2834°N 141.1433°W |
| 15 |
Alaska |
63.0603°N 150.9296°W |
| 16 |
Alaska |
62.9496°N 151.0921°W |
| 17 |
 California |
36.5786°N 118.2920°W |
| 18 |
Alaska Yukon |
60.3519°N 139.0752°W |
| 19 |
Alaska |
61.3272°N 141.7867°W |
| 20 |
Alaska |
61.3646°N 141.9001°W |
| 21 |
 Colorado |
39.1178°N 106.4454°W |
| 22 |
Colorado |
39.1875°N 106.4757°W |
| 23 |
Colorado |
38.9244°N 106.3207°W |
| 24 |
 Washington |
46.8521°N 121.7579°W |
| 25 |
California |
36.6559°N 118.3111°W |
| 26 |
Colorado |
39.0294°N 106.4729°W |
| 27 |
Colorado |
37.5775°N 105.4857°W |
| 28 |
Colorado |
38.0717°N 107.4621°W |
| 29 |
Colorado |
37.9668°N 105.5855°W |
| 30 |
Colorado |
39.3515°N 106.1116°W |
| 31 |
Colorado |
39.0097°N 106.8614°W |
| 32 |
Colorado |
39.6339°N 105.8176°W |
| 33 |
Colorado |
38.6741°N 106.2462°W |
| 34 |
Colorado |
39.6428°N 105.8212°W |
| 35 |
Colorado |
39.3973°N 106.1064°W |
| 36 |
Colorado |
39.5883°N 105.6438°W |
| 37 |
Colorado |
40.2550°N 105.6151°W |
| 38 |
Colorado |
37.8391°N 107.9916°W |
| 39 |
California |
37.6341°N 118.2557°W |
| 40 |
California |
37.0943°N 118.5147°W |
| 41 |
Colorado |
38.6192°N 106.2393°W |
| 42 |
Colorado |
38.7492°N 106.2424°W |
| 43 |
Colorado |
38.9607°N 106.3607°W |
| 44 |
Colorado |
37.9647°N 105.5766°W |
| 45 |
Colorado |
38.8442°N 106.3138°W |
| 46 |
California |
41.4092°N 122.1949°W |
| 47 |
Colorado |
39.3354°N 106.1077°W |
| 48 |
Colorado |
37.9797°N 105.6026°W |
| 49 |
Colorado |
39.0708°N 106.9890°W |
| 50 |
Alaska |
62.0059°N 144.0187°W |
| 51 |
Colorado |
38.6255°N 106.2509°W |
| 52 |
Colorado |
38.9648°N 106.3388°W |
| 53 |
California |
37.0960°N 118.5032°W |
| 54 |
Colorado |
38.0038°N 107.7923°W |
| 55 |
Colorado |
39.3396°N 106.1400°W |
| 56 |
Colorado |
39.1503°N 107.0829°W |
| 57 |
Colorado |
38.8405°N 105.0442°W |
| 58 |
Colorado |
39.1188°N 107.0665°W |
| 59 |
California |
36.5901°N 118.2908°W |
| 60 |
Colorado |
37.6212°N 107.5919°W |
| 61 |
Colorado |
37.6218°N 107.6227°W |
| 62 |
Colorado |
37.9804°N 105.6066°W |
| 63 |
Colorado |
38.9039°N 106.2975°W |
| 64 |
Colorado |
38.9476°N 106.3785°W |
| 65 |
Alaska Yukon |
60.3074°N 140.4584°W |
| 66 |
Colorado |
37.9762°N 105.5552°W |
| 67 |
Colorado |
39.5826°N 105.6688°W |
| 68 |
Colorado |
37.6274°N 107.5959°W |
| 69 |
California |
37.0209°N 118.4224°W |
| 70 |
Colorado |
37.9130°N 107.5044°W |
| 71 |
Colorado |
37.1224°N 105.1858°W |
| 72 |
Colorado |
37.5826°N 105.4927°W |
| 73 |
Colorado |
37.5837°N 105.4449°W |
| 74 |
Colorado |
37.5666°N 105.4972°W |
| 75 |
Colorado |
39.2250°N 106.1699°W |
| 76 |
Colorado |
37.9410°N 107.4219°W |
| 77 |
California |
36.5234°N 118.2394°W |
| 78 |
California |
36.6556°N 118.3370°W |
| 79 |
Colorado |
39.0717°N 106.9502°W |
| 80 |
Colorado |
37.8603°N 107.9847°W |
| 81 |
Colorado |
37.9868°N 106.9313°W |
| 82 |
Colorado |
38.0607°N 107.5109°W |
| 83 |
California |
36.5647°N 118.2913°W |
| 84 |
California |
37.0702°N 118.4691°W |
| 85 |
Alaska |
62.0091°N 144.0630°W |
| 86 |
Colorado |
38.9455°N 106.4381°W |
| 87 |
Colorado |
39.4668°N 106.4817°W |
| 88 |
Colorado |
37.9228°N 107.4256°W |
Topographic prominence
The table above uses a topographic prominence criterion of 300 feet. If a criterion of 100 meters of prominence is used instead, the table above shrinks to 85 summits. If a criterion of either 150 meters or 500 feet of prominence is used, the table above shrinks to 76 summits.The following U.S. summits have 14,000 feet of elevation, but have less than 300 feet of topographic prominence:
- Mount McKinleyMount McKinleyMount McKinley or Denali in Alaska, United States is the highest mountain peak in North America and the United States, with a summit elevation of above sea level. It is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.- Geology and features :Mount McKinley is a granitic pluton...
, Browne Tower, 14,530, AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Prominence = 25–125 ft (7.6–38.1 ). It is unclear why this became included on some fourteener lists. - Mount Cameron, 14,238, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Prominence = 118 feet. - El Diente PeakEl Diente PeakEl Diente Peak is a fourteen thousand foot mountain peak in the U.S. state of Colorado. It is located in the Lizard Head Wilderness in the San Miguel Mountains of the San Juan Mountains, in Dolores County approximately north of Rico....
, 14,159, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Prominence = 239 feet. On many fourteener lists. - Point Success, 14,158, Washington. Prominence = 118 feet.
- Polemonium PeakNorth PalisadeNorth Palisade is the third highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada range of California. It is the highest peak of the Palisades group of peaks in the central part of the range. It sports a small glacier and several highly prized rock climbing routes on its northeast side.- History :North Palisade...
, 14,080+, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Prominence = 160–240 feet. - Starlight PeakNorth PalisadeNorth Palisade is the third highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada range of California. It is the highest peak of the Palisades group of peaks in the central part of the range. It sports a small glacier and several highly prized rock climbing routes on its northeast side.- History :North Palisade...
, 14,080, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Prominence = 80–160 feet. - North Conundrum PeakCastle Peak (Colorado)Castle Peak is a fourteener in the Elk Mountains in the US state of Colorado. It is the highest peak in the Elks and the twelfth highest in Colorado. The peak is in Pitkin County near the Gunnison County line and about south of Aspen. The best climbing months are June, July, August, September...
, 14,040+, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Prominence = 200–280 feet. - North Eolus, 14,039, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Prominence = 159–199 feet. - North Maroon Peak, 14,014, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Prominence = 234 feet. On many fourteener lists. - Thunderbolt PeakNorth PalisadeNorth Palisade is the third highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada range of California. It is the highest peak of the Palisades group of peaks in the central part of the range. It sports a small glacier and several highly prized rock climbing routes on its northeast side.- History :North Palisade...
, 14,003, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Prominence = 223 feet.
See also
- 4000 meter peaks of Alaska
- 4000 meter peaks of California
- 4000 meter peaks of Colorado
- 4000 meter peaks of North America
- 4000 meter peaks of the United States
- List of California fourteeners
- List of Colorado fourteeners
- Table of the highest major summits of the United States (uses 500 meter prominence criteria)
- ThirteenerThirteenerIn mountaineering in the United States, a thirteener is a mountain that exceeds above mean sea level, similar to the more familiar "fourteeners," which exceed...
External links
- 14ers.com: Home of Colorado's Fourteeners
- Colorado 14er stickers with prominence information
- peaklist.org (More prominence information for high-prominence peaks)
- Information on the fourteeners in Colorado
- Trip reports from Colorado Peaks
- California Thirteeners (VRMC) with interactive maps
- California Fourteeners (VRMC) with interactive maps