Author: Andrea Sansone

 

Major wash out on road to huerfano, AFTER we got Andrew and AFTER an epic hail and rain storm, Andrew didn’t experience it as much up on the mountain. But basically no red van At this time and we had a bulldozer helping Kyle get out, (there were multiple multiple washouts) meanwhile exchanging tons of gear anticipating we would have to leave the van we stocked up and Andrew and I booked it to Laura about a half mile down where the she drove us to RV which was on pavement, where Andrew got to rest some, I rubbed him out and had ALOT of organization ahead of us. Big shout out to mr. Bulldozer, Gigi Florian and Laura for saving the day!!!!!!!

 

organized organized unpacked and repacked.. Lots of work. No sleep for me, everyone else just a couple hours. Laura drove Andrew up the 4WD road, and tried to get some shut eye there, Andrew made it through Culebra, feeling good (even with bare minimal essentials because of the mess we were in!) but he was WAY tired!!! Left ranch gate roughly around 0230? He was snoring and I worked on his feet and legs. Laura in path finder, Gigi, Florian and kids in RV, Natalie driving the van and we picked up Kyle’s car he left from the wash out!!! Then headed to Crestones still ahead of schedule, seems it’s suppose to be a little drier today (let’s hope!) this early schedule helps him significantly on the traverses.

 

Call signs!
Kyle-Cliff Hanger
Calvin- mop top
Axel- the evil midget
Laura- Debbie downer
GiGi- Dismal Dorothy
Andrea- doubleO1- (obnoxiously optimistic)
Nat- the Red Baron
Florian- Flo Bear
Andrew-BADDAD!!!!!!!!!!!!

And oh, you know when you are sleep deprived when you drive away with the walkie-talkies on your windshield and drive 4 miles, then when told to look at the windshield, you look BACK???!!

 

Arrived at 0720 (ish) and after we finished up getting Andrews pack together, Natalie, Andrew and Kyle headed up Lake Como Road! GO ANDREW GO!!

 

sorry pictures are not right side up! We will fix later!

Good day today for Andrew only minor injuries and soreness to deal with. We have been taping him up with KT tape and it seems to help him. He is crushing the descents which is unlike him as Andrew always seems to crush the up and ups. (Yes you are still crushing EVERYTHING) Waiting for Andrew to finish Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre Nat, Laura and myself and kiddos went to dinner, hung out at RV park, SHOWERED!!! And Gigi and florian watched U.S. dominate in soccer!! Wahoo!! After Andrew and Kyle arrived we headed straight to San Luis, as if it seemed right into a lightening storm. It only seemed like heat lighting with a strike here or there and by the time he got started, the majority of the lightening was over. Nat drove the van, Laura, pathfinder, Gigi, florian and kiddos in the RV and Kyle in the 4Runner. I doctored Andrew up, he enjoyed his pizza and got some sleep and by 1147pm he left the trailhead to head up San Luis! Next up, Little Bear Blanca! Fingers crossed for weather to hold out, but rain gear wise, we are prepared!!!

From my POV:
Andrew returned early from sneffels! We had to wake up FAST! Although he claims to have been 20 min slower on the ascent but made up for it on the descent he says “and that’s just not like me at all!!” Ha. On our way to cinn. pass was BUMPY, to say the least. Although I was able to give Andrew a good rub out and re tape his feet. Natalie and Laura did not come up with us, because the van can not come this way, instead they will meet us after red cloud, sunshine with the REST of our crew!! (who are currently waiting at the RV park) YAY!!! Reorganizing and organizing and packing waiting for andrew to come down off Handies! He was about 45 min ahead of schedule this morning when he left from American Basin (around 645 am). We unpacked packed and reorganized and got some sleep (not so much Kyle, he watched a movie but only got around an hour and a half of sleep last night as the rest of us got 3 hours. Keep going Andrew!!
Summit around 815 am about 45 min ahead here!! Pulled up to silver creek/grizzly gulch trailhead at 0914, hoping this head start will save us from nasty weather on little bear blanca and crestones traverse!!!! Our friend Charlie Nuttleman showed up to hike with Andrew today and Kyle hiked up to Redcloud! Nice that Andrew was in some good company for the start of the day!!! 0919 depart up to Redcloud and I reorganized unpacked and packed and organized then got some rest. When the rest of the crew arrived they took off to meet Andrew to hike the rest of the way down with him. 147pm Andrew and Charlie followed by EVERYONE else was down!!! Off to Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre! HIKE ANDREW HIKE!!!!

Well Andrew got some great weather for the ED Wilson traverse but often coming off the peaks did his footsteps constantly cause the snow to slide out!! Coming down on the bike we spotted Andrew and he arrived to us at 1004pm. It was a busy transition, from ROA to Sneffels , feeding Andrew, getting packs packed, drying gear, situating the bike, taping his hands and feet, rubbing out his legs, we all worked. He is sore, but enjoyed his rest in the car. He left Sneffels TH at1220 Am ten minutes ahead of schedule. Now it’s time for some sleep for a couple hours. HIKE STRONG Andrew.

 

(Sorry some of these pictures may be sideways or upside down, we will fix it!!)