Die-hard hiking fans know the grit and determination it takes to hike to the top of one of Colorado’s 58 14ers, but can you imagine swimming to the top of one, let alone all 58?
On March 6-7, that is exactly what the swimmers of the Durango Swim Club accomplished during their annual swim challenge, aptly titled, “Swim the 14ers.”
For nearly 20 years, the Durango Swim Club (DSC) has hosted this annual swim challenge as a way to fundraise for the team and build swimmers’ camaraderie. T
his year’s swim challenge was held at the Durango Rec Center and 89 of the swim club’s swimmers participated. The team swam with one ambitious goal: To collectively swim the equivalent distance of summiting all 58 of Colorado’s iconic 14,000-foot peaks.
The funds raised during the team’s successful challenge will be used to support swimmer scholarships, equipment, team travel and more. The Durango Swim Club is a 501(c) (3) organization.
Head coach Haley Benjamin participated in the swim challenge herself during her years as a member of the team, prior to becoming the head coach. Now, instead of swimming the challenge herself, Benjamin is there to encourage her swimmers, ages five to seniors in high school, to push their limits.
“It was kind of a full-circle moment for me,” Benjamin said. “I remember swimming in the challenge when I was just 11 years old.”
Incorporating the region’s love of hiking into the team’s challenge seemed fitting.
The goal was to swim a collective 274,100 yards or 822,300 feet, which mirrored the elevation of all 58 peaks. Instead of meeting their goal, the team shattered it.
The swimmers swam 356,225 yards or 1,068,675 feet. Instead of reaching the summit of 58 14ers, they reached the top of 75.
The event unfolded over two days. Older swimmers swam on Thursday, while younger ones swam on Friday. Coaches encouraged their swimmers to chase down their goals, while parents cheered from the deck.
Swimming is often seen as a solitary sport, but the swim challenge flips that narrative. From the youngest pre-team members to seasoned seniors, swimmers across the swim club’s training groups, pre-team, bronze, silver, gold and senior, were required to work together to accomplish their goal.
Each group was given its target yardage, which each group smashed. The bronze group was given the goal of 55,000 yards, but instead, they swam 76,900 yards. Older swimmers helped support young swimmers in the water and through encouraging words, supporting the team’s desire to cultivate leaders in and out of the pool.
Standout swimmers at this year’s challenge include Grant Wright, who swam the highest individual total yards with 10,100. Bodie Fischer tripled his previous year’s 3,300 yards to swim 7,200 yards.
Fischer plans to hike Wilson Peak (14,021 feet) with his dad this summer to add to the experience.
The Durango Swim Club noted that this challenge isn’t just about the tradition or building the swimmers’ endurance or mental toughness, it is a lifeline for the club. The funds raised during the swim challenge help provide scholarships to local swimmers in need, keep dues affordable and fuel the team’s growth.
Hiking a 14er is no small feat, nor is swimming one. Through the swim challenge, DSC proved that with teamwork and tenacity, any summit is within reach.
Donations are still being accepted, and the swimmers have raised $27,247.50 of their $25,000 goal. Support their efforts and donate to the swim challenge at www.durangoswimclub.org.
