14er Speed Record Attempt

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!

Sorry photos are upside down/sideways!!! ENJOY!

Got the flat fixed last night! THANK YOU PAT! spare was a full reg tire thankful for that. Florian drove Van, Laura- pathfinder and pat, his own car :). Of course we packed and repacked and organized, and got a full 2 hours of sleep!!!! The infamous Noel (cookiehiker) showed up with cookies and it was awesome to see her! Andrew knew she would be showing up and when he got back and was in the van, I was pulling out food and the first thing he said was “where are my cookies!?” HE LOVED THEM! Thanks Noel! ALSO big THANKS to Jeff who hiked with Andrew all last night!! Andrew said “he could have run miles up and around me. He RAN when I went on my bike. (That Pat hiked up for Andrew to 11k) He was prob annoyed when I stayed on road the whole way up I just didn’t want to have to think!” Andrew summited around 0058, with GREAT weather!! he is sore but still going. We taped him up nice and good while he was passed out!! And now….Antero!!!  Laura drove out to town to get a new tire, and thank goodness she did a huge nail was in the tire!!!! That could have been bad if we needed another tire, and had no spare because we.were.using.it haha. So YAY LAURA you saved us from potential disaster. It’s hard to crew guys, nothing about this is easy, communication has been a little rough, and mix in lack of sleep. But we are still going!!!! GO ANDREW GO!!!!!!

 

“There was buzzing but I ignored it”