Overview
Peak bagging is the practice of reaching summits as part of a defined list or personal goal. Popular lists include Colorado’s 58 Fourteeners (14,000+ foot peaks), New Hampshire’s 48 4,000-footers, and the Adirondack 46 High Peaks.
List Culture
Dedicated peak baggers track progress through apps like PeakVisor and PeakBagger.com. Completing all peaks on a prestigious list earns membership in clubs like the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative or the Adirondack Forty-Sixers.
The Fastest Known Times
Speed records became social media bragging rights in the 2010s. Kilian Jornet set multiple FKTs on fourteener rounds. In 2019, John Zahorian completed all 58 Colorado Fourteeners in 9 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes.
Crowding Concerns
Popular peaks like Colorado’s Quandary and California’s Mount Whitney saw permit systems implemented due to overcrowding from social media-driven peak bagging culture.
Sources
- Colorado Fourteeners Initiative: 14ers.org
- Adirondack Forty-Sixers: adk46er.org
- John Zahorian FKT (2019): fastestknowntime.com