Nolan's 14

Nolan's 14 is a legendary Sawatch Range linkup in Colorado built around climbing fourteen 14,000-foot peaks in a single continuous outing. The route is run as an extreme mountain “push,” with most attempts framed around finishing within 60 hours.

The line connects between the Fish Hatchery in Leadville and the Shavano foothills (Blank Gulch Trailhead by Shavano), and it can be attempted northbound or southbound depending on which end you start.

It’s not a simple “follow the trail” hike: only a small portion uses established routes like the Colorado Trail, while more than half is off-trail. Expect route-finding through rugged terrain such as talus fields, steep scree, and exposed ridges.

The challenge style depends on your route choices between summits. Participants can choose their own lines, and navigation is typically based on prior scouting/recon plus offline mapping and a GPS app for confirmation when visibility and footing get sketchy.

Nolan’s 14 is about more than mileage and climbing; sleep deprivation and sustained decision-making over roughly two and a half days are often described as the toughest parts. Supported attempts commonly use a crew for staged resupplies and access points between peak clusters and valley crossings.

Because the course is extremely remote and largely off-trail, come equipped for advanced alpine navigation and sustained alpine travel. That includes having maps available offline and being prepared to move through broken rock and steep, unstable terrain for hours at a time.

If you’re considering an attempt, scout key sections in daylight before committing to the full traverse. Even for people familiar with the Sawatch, having dedicated recon time helps reduce uncertainty during night travel and helps you refine the specific ridgelines and crossings you’ll commit to.

More information: Wikipedia, Nolan's 14 Recon | Stuck in the Rockies, NOLAN'S FOURTEEN - Black Diamond