The Colorado Rockies are part of the North American Cordillera which stretches 3,000 miles from Alaska through western Canada and the United States into northern Mexico. The centerpieces of this dramatic uplift are the 54 peaks over 14,000 feet, or “Fourteeners,” as they are affectionately referred to by climbers. Colorado’s Fourteeners are now visited by nearly 500,000 people each season. While some of the more remote peaks remain pristine, increased recreational use has seriously impacted many peaks and their alpine basins.

Formed in 1994, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is a partnership among nonprofit organizations, concerned individuals, and public agencies to protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado’s Fourteeners and the quality of the recreational opportunities they provide. More…