Sawatch Mountain Range, Colorado – In June 2017, ultra runner Andrew Hamilton set a new N-S speed record of 53 hours, 42 minutes on Nolan’s 14 in Colorado. Congrats!
Nolan’s 14 is an unofficial traverse of roughly 100 miles and approximately 44,000 vertical feet that tags 14 summits over 14,000′ in the Sawatch Mountain Range of Colorado. To complete Nolan’s 14, this must be accomplished in under 60 hours while traveling in either direction. Nolan’s 14 is not an official race, but an ultra running challenge.
According to KDVR.com, Hamilton completed more than the standard N-S Nolan’s 14. With the help of a support crew, Hamilton started with Holy Cross (14009′), thus adding an extra 14er and roughly 30 miles to this feat. He then dropped back to Fish Hatchery and completed the standard Nolan’s 14. Hamilton’s feat is being referred to as Holy Nolan’s or Nolan’s 15. Check out Hamilton’s route for his 2017 Holy Nolan’s Attempt on Garmin.com.
Hamilton already has the speed record for completing a S-N traverse of Nolan’s 14 without a support crew in 53 hours 39 minutes in 2015 (KDVR.com). Hamilton also climbed all 58 points over 14,000′ in Colorado in just 9 days, 21 hours, and 51 minutes in July 2015 (Climbing.com).
OutsideOnline.com provides a brief history of Nolan’s 14. Back in 1991, ultra runner Fred Vance challenged Jim Nolan to see if he could complete the feat. There is no specific route that must be followed. Few trails exist between the peaks so bushwhacking and off trail travel is mandatory.
Nolan’s 14 includes the following 14000′ peaks in the Sawatch Range:
- Massive – 14421′
- Elbert – 14433′
- La Plata – 14336′
- Huron – 14003′
- Missouri – 14067′
- Belford – 14197′
- Oxford – 14153′
- Harvard – 14420′
- Columbia – 14073′
- Yale – 14196′
- Princeton – 14197′
- Antero – 14269′
- Tabeguache – 14155′
- Shavano – 14229′
- ***Holy Cross – 14009′ (add #15 for Holy Nolans)
MattMahoney.net provides full Nolan’s 14 descriptions on his site. Only about 15% of people finish the course.
See also: List and Map of the Colorado 14ers
 in the Sawatch Range of Colorado. Congrats!){kind=link}