Here I'm turning around right below the summit of Tinkham Peak

This is a personal list of peaks where I didn't make the summit. I won't include the peaks I went back a second time to finish. For most of these mountains I was very near the summit when I made the decision to turn around, usually because of unfavorable conditions. It seems that many mountain enthusiasts push on when clearly the best choice is to call it a day.

I always try to be acutely aware of the conditions as they change so that I can make the best decisions and minimize risk. I plan to live a long life always returning to the mountains and to do this sometimes requires admitting defeat. I have learned a lot from the trips in which I nearly made it and I don't consider them failures in any way. For instance I have turned around twice on Mount Baker because of a blizzard and avalanche conditions but it is not shown below because I did make the summit on another trip.


2006
Sahale Peak

2007
North Twin Sister

2008
Seven Fingered Jack
Nimbus Peak

2009
Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain (Sauk)
Tinkham Peak
Iztaccihuatl

2010
Bald Eagle Peak
Goblin Mountain
Church Mountain
Cathedral Rock
North Mountain
Lichtenberg Mountain

2011
Gilbert Peak
Mount Russell

2012
Cannon Mountain
American Border Peak
Mount Bretherton