Ralston Finishes Winter 14’ers 

Aron Ralston, the Colorado man who had to amputate his own arm below the elbow after a canyoneering accident, has completed a seven-year project to solo the Colorado 14’ers in winter. Last weekend, Ralston climbed four peaks in the remote Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan Mountains to complete the Colorado Grand Slam, which, by his count, totals 59 peaks above 14,000 feet. (The “official” count is only 54 peaks.) Ralston had climbed 45 of the peaks before the accident in 2003 that made him famous and cost him his right hand; he did two more last winter and another dozen this year. He becomes only the third person ever to complete the Colorado 14’ers during the calendar winter, and the first to do them all solo. Ralston told The Aspen Times, “I guess I’m just more relieved than euphoric or ecstatic.”