The 14ers, Colorado's 54 mountains that exceed 14,000 feet above sea level, culturally influence what Americans think is important, said a K-State geographer.
"With increased technology and better access, the uprising in mountain recreation and extreme sports puts more renewed emphasis on the 14ers, and this influences what people see as important," said Kevin Blake, an associate professor of geography at K-State.
Blake is working on a book intended to show how people and cities use the 14ers as a form of place identity.
The book will focus on three points: the evolving idea of the 14ers as a group rather than individual mountains, the environmental repercussions of the increased number of hikers on the mountains, and the role the 14ers play in place identity for local communities.
"Mountains can evolve, not only in a physical way, but also in a cultural way, and as of now, we do not have a book about the culture of the 14ers," Blake said.
Blake's research is based on interviews with land managers, climbers, forest rangers, tourists and leaders of non-profit organizations related to the 14ers in Colorado.
Blake also has spent years participating and observing, hiking with other climbers and documenting geographical features in Colorado.
The popularity of the 14ers continues to climb and, along with other American landscapes, sometimes are compared to the cathedrals of Europe, according to Blake's research. He said the mountains are one of the most popular attractions in the country.
"Colorado shines compared to all other places due to the number of peaks above 14,000 feet in a relatively small geographical area," he said.
Many American Indians consider entire landscapes, especially mountains, to be sacred places. It appears these mountains are becoming more important to many other Americans as well, Blake said.
"The idea is that the 14er is centered more around an individual seeing it as a sacred place," Blake said. "In that way, it becomes their connection to the world."
The Colorado mountains increasingly are seen in advertisements, magazines and even TV commercials.
During his research, Blake found that people see them as a distinct group instead of individual mountains, which contributes to their place identity.
The mountains are popular because they symbolize the lofty ideals of proper land management.
Blake said he enjoys the work he does and never really sees it as a job.
"I'm really writing this book as an active scholarship to give the public something they will simply enjoy," he said. "Being able to read and write about (the mountains) is as satisfying as climbing them."
Blake is the recipient of several awards in his field, including the William L. Stamey Award for Excellence in Teaching from K-State's College of Arts and Sciences.
He teaches several graduate and undergraduate courses at K-State and is the creator and teacher of the undergraduate course "Geography of the American West."
