Peaks and Valleys: Dan Hobbs and the 14er self-supported record

As Dan Hobbs’ eyes ricochet off his suit coat and out his Rand Tower office window at the Marquette Avenue traffic below, his mind can’t help but wander back to Colorado.

In 2013, he bolted for the mountains, convinced they could heal him from severe depression.

It worked.

He hiked all 58 14,000-foot peaks in the centennial state in just 24-days.

Now, two years later, he’s at another midlife juncture. scornfully sizing up his suitcoat, he glances back at his screen, where a story about Andrew Hamilton’s new supported 14er record — 10 days — evokes a covetous stare.

“This should be me,” he mutters to himself.

Hobbs’ first venture to Colorado reminded him of life’s beauty.

His second — where he would lower the self-supported 14er record to 14 days, 17 hours and 33 minutes — would teach him how to thrive in its darkest moments.

The Seder-Skier Podcast was the first to interview Hobbs after this incredible accomplishment. Episode drops tomorrow on seder-skier.com and The Seder-Skier Podcast page