Lidar elevations

[Candace66]

And as for White Mtn, my understanding is that Mt. Elbert in CO is second to Whitney?

The newly calculated Lidar elevation for Elbert is 14,438'. 

LOJ Lidar analysis results page

Well Whitney (I have not climbed) is a damn sight harder the Elbert (have been up), that's for sure!  Some of the CO 14ers are really tough, probably out of my league, but most are (sometimes long) straightforward walkups, easily done in a single day, and those in the know are usually off the peak by 2 or so due to thunderstorm potential.  But I've been up only a few, I think Candace has been up a bunch of them.

The 14ers are also incredibly popular  On a weekend I would choose a nice 13er, because I prefer solitude (and almost no one seems to go for the 13ers!)

Seems like Whitney is not THAT much beyond what you do. It's class 1 with a good trail. The several miles in the forest you can easily hike in the dark. Avoid the permit lottery hassle by doing it in mid-November like I did!   

My Nov. 12, 1999 Whitney trip report

I've done 42 of the 53+ CO 14ers. The ones I haven't done are class 3 or higher; a very long outing barely feasible or unrealistic as a day hike; on private property and thus requiring an advance reservation and large fee; or some combination of the above.

As you noted, the 14ers are crowded.  But not only on weekends.  This is leading to measures such as trailhead shuttles, a ban on parking along the roads leading to TH's, etc.

Here are estimates of 2020 hiking traffic on the 14ers: click here

My last visit to CO was in 2017.  Even during the week I found plenty of people at or near the 14er TH's, making it difficult to grab an informal camp site.  I was able to score a great campsite along the popular South Colony Lakes Road in the Sangres (the usual access to the Crestones, Humboldt, and high 13er Columbia Point) by arriving on Tuesday, lol.

So, I may well not be checking off any more CO 14ers!  Even if I decide the route is technically possible for me AND within dayhike range.

Speaking from experience, even climbing 13ers during the week doesn't assure you solitude. Especially if they require you to start at or near 14er TH's, or from any easily accessible TH.