(NEW!) Historical Highlight - FIRST CMC TRIP May 2025

CMC has a long history in mountaineering, education and advocacy which is focused in Colorado's Rocky Mountains but extends around the world. Each month we'll highlight a different moment in history to share with our members.
Graham Ottley Graham Ottley
July 09, 2025

In May 1912, the newly formed Colorado Mountain Club achieved a significant milestone that would mark the beginning of over a century of mountain adventures. On May 30, 1912, the club completed its first trip – a climb up to the top of South Boulder Peak.

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Source: https://dismalwilderness.com/south-boulder-peak-and-bear-peak-loop/

This historic expedition came just over a month after Mary Sabin and James Grafton Rogers invited a group of individuals together to discuss forming a club that would celebrate Colorado's major resource – its mountains and on April 26, 1912, a total of 25 people gathered to formally establish the Colorado Mountain Club. 

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Mary Sabin co-founded the Colorado Mountain Club in 1912 with her former student, James Grafton Rogers. She climbed numerous Colorado 14ers, as well as mountains in Switzerland and elsewhere.

What makes this May excursion particularly noteworthy is that it represented the culmination of the founders' vision to make Colorado's alpine attractions accessible to enthusiasts while fostering a spirit of conservation and education. From this modest beginning with 25 charter members climbing a single peak, the Colorado Mountain Club grew to become one of the state's most influential outdoor organizations, eventually offering thousands of trips annually and playing a crucial role in establishing Rocky Mountain National Park.

Source: The World According to the Colorado Mountain Club — Outdoor Alliance

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