Day 2 Andrew and the Crew

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A friendly greet off Handies!
A friendly greet off Handies!

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Getting ready for Redcloud and Sunshine!
Getting ready for Redcloud and Sunshine!
Scenic hike
Scenic hike
Welcome back Andrew !! Coming off Redcloud Sunshine!
Welcome back Andrew !! Coming off Redcloud Sunshine!

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Off to Matterhorn Creek trailhead
Off to Matterhorn Creek trailhead

Sorry for the delay in posting! We have been out of service all day! As of now Andrew has completed Redcloud, and Sunshine and is now on his way to Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn. He had mentioned previously his climb up Wilson Peak and Sneffels have been challenging and a minor setback for timing sake because of the hard packed snow in the dark. It made route finding a bit more difficult. He even said he was doing some “self arrest glissading” because the snow was so hard!
The day has been so fun so far! James and Andrew drove Cinnamon Pass and Will and I took the kids the long way through Lake City meeting up at silver crk /grizzly gulch trailhead where Kim was waiting for us!(she arrived at 3 am!) We also met here SJRon where he was also waiting to cheer Andrew on! He had a sign for Andrew on the back of his ATV. The kids stayed entertained by fishing at his lake! (Thanks RON!)We stayed entertained by jammin out to country music and making new friends and listening to their own life threatening adventure stories!! As Andrew came running down to meet us we had “the final countdown” blasting! He sleeps when he can in the car and we do our best to keep him ibuprofened up, rubbed out and well fed! WAY TO GO ANDREW! keep up the great effort!

Day 2

I have not heard anything since getting this text from James at 614am.

“He is still feeling good and eating well.  The night route finding is harder then expected with the large quantity of snow. We are only back two hours off the original plan so that’s exciting.”

Andrew sleeping between peaks on a shuttle
Andrew sleeping between peaks on a shuttle

 

James' sweet nectar of life contraption aka coffee
James’ sweet nectar of life contraption aka coffee

 

 the sunrise coming over from ouray in ansel Adams fashion
the sunrise coming over from ouray in ansel Adams fashion

 

Thanks for all the geeks crunching the numbers on 14ers.com, especially Homie for the play by play!  Looks like he just had a nice glissade off Redcloud.  Others were wondering what he has for traction.  He has hiking boots, waterproof trailrunners, +/-gaiters, +/-microspikes, +/-crampons, +/- snowshoes.

Mountains Climbed:

1)Windom 2)Sunlight 3)Eolus 4) N. Eolus 5)El Diente 6)Mt. Wilson 7)Wilson Peak 8)Sneffels 9)Handies 10)Sunshine 11)Redcloud

While WE were sleeping…

Calvin and Axel on their way to ROA
Calvin and Axel on their way to ROA

 

Transition at Rock of Ages last night
Transition at Rock of Ages last night

 

Andrew really enjoyed his mountainbike downhill off ROA trailhead!  He is eating well and feels good.  Hopefully Andrea can do some more updates during the day, as I will be heading back to work in bit.  Just got a text, they are leaving Ouray now.

 

Moving on to Ouray!

Well we made it to ROA TH and of course boys will be boys. We hiked, and played with sticks and had sword fights. James met us at the trailhead After dropping off the bike, and we organized all of the gear in the car, made sandwiches for Andrew, and made some fun friends Who are planning on doing the Wilson’s tomorrow! It was such a beautiful night here, the stars were amazing! And then finally we saw Andrews light, he was coming back on his bike. We packed up and we’re headed on! He is doing and feeling great! The first 24 hours is almost complete!image

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The train!

Sorry for the late addition, but someone does have to (financially) support this endeavor! Calvin and Axel are on their way with Andrea, probably at Rock of Ages by now to meet up.  9news tried to do a little phone interview, but I was working.  Clearly they could have used a little help with the details.

As you all have figured out by now, he made the train!

A sight for sore eyes!
A sight for sore eyes!
The train!
The train!

 

James says that Andrew feels strong so far.  It got a little stormy with rain and sleet, but seems like the wind has pushed out some of that weather.  Cloudy with a hint of blue over the Wilsons.

 

Andrew on the dirt bike from Silverton to kilpacker trail head over ophir pass to the Wilson group
Andrew on the dirt bike from Silverton to kilpacker trail head over ophir pass to the Wilson group

 

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On his way!

So it looks like he started right at 430am!  I hope Andrew is right about his splits.  If he doesn’t make the train at 1115am, he may have to restart tomorrow!  There is a noon train, but it does not pick up regular passengers at that time.

T-15h (or so)

Waiting for the train in Silverton
Waiting for the train in Silverton

 

James cooking up some lunch and dinner.
James cooking up some lunch and dinner.

 

Some pre-hike foot care.
Some pre-hike foot care.

 

After driving all night to drop off the Volkswagen to Andrew’s Mom Brenda in Durango, they spent this morning doing some last minute prepping!  James and Andrew are waiting to catch the train from Silverton to Needleton for the hike to Chicago Basin.  It looks like he plans to start between 4 and 4:30am tomorrow (Wednesday, June 18th) morning, depending on how optimistic he feels, 3000ft below Windom.  He must make it back to the train by 11:15am to catch the train back from Needleton to Silverton.  It looks like the weather may throw some light rain/snow/gusty winds at him.

Natalie