Author: Andrea Sansone

Holy Cross was A LONG NIGHT for him he took maybe 5 cat naps and claims the 5 hour to be a ‘dud.’ About 8 hours for Holy Cross. THANK GOD Charlie was there to hike with him and keep his mind awake at least … He reached the TH a little later, but it’s okay- he says “I can use my built in sleep and hike!” – no Andrew, FYI I WILL make you sleep for a least an hour. He probably won’t put up much of a fight. We did our resupply transition to prepare not seeing Andrew all day. (So 2 packs had to be packed. One for Yale, the other for Columbia, Harvard, Oxford, Belford and Missouri, which Kyle and Homie will be dropping off to him.) Andrew was happy with how the transition went so for the day we did his laundry, grocery shopping, filled water etc. etc. He stayed mostly dry last night as most of the rain passed as they began Holy Cross. He has not hit much weather yet today!! (Edit: 15 min later- rain!!) I got some sleep and will prob sleep more today. 2100’/hour on Yale. You are amazing Andrew as you continue to make up even just the slightest bit of lost time, and doing GREAT overall. Big thanks to Will who hiked Yale this morning, and Homie who is with Andrew for a multiple of these afternoon peaks. And BIG thanks to everyone who is offering to step up and help when needed. Your willingness and generosity does not go unrecognized. It is hectic with the change of crew, and less of us. David had taken over logistics and coordination with Kyle in 4Runner now that Laura is gone and Brenda has taken over the Red Van driving role! (Which is not easy considering this is where Andrew sleeps, and he isn’t happy when it’s a bumpy ride!) Haha So thankful for these amazing individuals and the team effort made by each. GO ANDREW GO!!!!!

(FYI y’all are crashing the Delorme site, he’s still climbing and summiting even if it doesn’t seem so)

Will be OOS for a while so here is another update! Arrived EARLY to Elbert trailhead. HUGE THANKS to Charlie Nuttleman.. He plans on hiking Elbert, (some?of Massive) and Holy Cross which was a major concern for SLEEP DEMONS for Andrew!!!! See you for a transition to Massive and then off to Holy Cross, then Big traverse coming up in Sawatch to keep our fingers crossed for!!!! GO ANDREW GOOOO!!!!

WE ARE MOVING ON!!!! Screwed up N. Maroon descent he got cliffed out, but didn’t want to back down so HE “just did it.” (Something you prob shouldn’t tell your support crew) Bell Cord was terrible mush. Although I’d say he crushed it. What is it they say??? Oh…NAILED IT!!!!!!!!!!! His legs are TIRED!!! But I’ll take it!!!!!!! Drive to castle creek was smooth then opted to sleep for 45 min so I doctored him up, he ate after coming back from cap, (a warm baked potato loaded with cheese- he LOVED IT along with some pad thai) and Laura and I packed his pack. His legs look great, although after that rest break getting going again he was TIGHT for sure and he hobbled away into Kyle’s car! Big thanks to our friend James who will be hiking these next two with Andrew!!! KICK BUTT ANDREW!!! 0528 he left us at lower TH! 1001 and Andrew COMPLETES THE ELKS!!!!!!! Transition should be smooth to Elbert and Massive, we just need to keep the sleep demons off HOLY CROSS! Now about me- It’s a sad day. 3/4 of our support crew leaves today. Spending the last 6-7 days with Andrews family have been some of the best laughs and memories I’ll ever have. Gigi and Florian left with the RV and Axel and Calvin right after we left Capitol. I will hopefully see Gigi in August. Laura and Natalie will be leaving after Andrew does Massive. The amount of work and team effort that has been put into this does not go unrecognized and we would not be where we are right now if you guys were not here helping this run as smoothly as possible. BIG THANKS!!!!! I am so thankful for David- Laura’s husband who will be coming out along with Andrews mom Brenda for the remainder of the record to help out Kyle and myself.

Andrews first REAL night sleep! YAY!! He used the time he was ahead to really get some sleep, rest his legs, and focus on rejuvenating for an estimated 24 hour day in the Elks. On the drive to Aspen, I massaged out his legs, Natalie and I taped him up and he ate, took some meds, etc. etc. you all know routine by now. A thunderstorm hit which made Andrew want to delay his start just a bit to 0230, and was basically on time with a 0236 departure. Skies clear!!! (he told us no snow gear for pyramid but he forgot he wanted his ice ax so he had to come back for it) Thankful he remembered and had hardly started when he came running back! Natalie cooked a HUGE breakfast!! It smelled so good I was so jealous. While Laura and I packed his packs (one for pyramid, the other for Bells-Cap) and transition gear, Andrew ate. Well really just stuffed himself, but just loved his breakfast! Thanks Natalie! Laura, myself, Gigi and Florian hiked in at 0430 met him with a transitioning of packs at Crater Lake. We were way early and spent time taking some awesome pictures of sunrise and the Bells. His round trip time on Pyramid- 4.5 hours. We did a final prep for his long day away from us. He feels great going out, although a little concerned about swelling in his legs, but who climbs 30ish 14ers in 5 days and doesn’t have mild swelling?!?! crazy, just crazy Andrew!! His pack is heavy, but he crushed the bell cord and traversed in 52 minutes. WAY TO GO!!!! Big thanks to Florian who hiked up with Andrew to 11200 and offered awesome encouragement. But the best part of this day – Luke Stevenson!!! Huge THANKS for offering up your place in Aspen for showers, restock of water, naps and WIFI. He will be hiking with Andrew later in the week. As for the rest of the evening, its just food and heading to Capitol Lake where Natalie and Kyle will meet Andrew and hike out with him. GO ANDREW GO!!!!!! YOURE KICKING BUTT and we are ALL behind you!!!!!!!!!! GO GO GO! – can any of us say this enough!?

 

 

Andrew came off from Antero-Shav and a huge hail storm welcomed him onto Princeton 🙂 an out and back planned and then on to Elks. This is going to be a HUGE push, Pyramid–>Capitol keep the GOOD VIBES coming as it was this push last year that was the cause of what took him out. We are definitely packing his snowshoes, and keeping him rubbed out and taped up good! Hopefully the drive over goes smooth, fingers crossed, and that he gets some good sleep in. GO ANDREW GO!!! We are all behind you!!!! Big thanks: Pat and Max left when Andrew was just about to head up Princeton. What an awesome asset to our support crew, thank you for all your hard work, and Max, for being there with Axel and Calvin. Kyle, Laura, Natalie, Gigi, Florian YOU GUYS ROCK! Transitions, drivers, food, logistics, medical necessities, the ability for Calvin and Axel to be here, NONE of this would be possible without you! I’m tired, but feeling thankful for these amazing individuals!