14er Speed Record Attempt

Andrew just texted from Summit of Capitol.  The satellite tracker was fully charged this am, but now it has stopped working.  He thinks that it may have gotten knocked.  Soft reset not working.  I may have to figure out a way to get him a new one!  It may be disappointing for the day toda!   Bummer!

So just a quick update for those not following the play by play.  Andrew is currently returning from Mt. Massive, his 39th peak. 19 left to go in Colorado!  He is still making excellent time!  He is heading to the Elk Range tonight, starting with Capitol, then Snowmass, North and South Maroon, Pyramid, and Castle.  Stefan Griebel will be joining Andrew on this latest adventure (except Castle.)  Thanks Stefan!

 

Change of plans, no raft: we are using ladder, quicker and safer. Found a great place to make a bridge, no raft needed!! We secured the length of two ladders and laid them across the gap in the rocks. A few others showed up and helped secure the ladder. James went off to meet up with Wes and Andrew on the trail, and shortly after, showed up. River water crossing was a success. We transitioned in the Red Van and at 1250 Wes and Andrew left for S. Mt Elbert TH. I left for Aspen with Will to buy Andrew his inhaler and meeting back in Aspen at Capitol trailhead at 7 pm with rest of crew. I will post tomorrow.

While we scouted the river yesterday the boys went fishing, caught some fish! Thanks Will for keeping them happy!! Scouting was a fail, Andrew has to take the out and back option for La Plata. After scouting we unpacked and repacked and met Wes. We drove up 381 to Clohesy lake to pick up Andrew. Rough 4 wheel drive Kim, was a champ. Very impressive. Andrew arrived at 1102pm. Missouri was in blizzard conditions, (he was extremely thankful we scouted out this route last year during one of our hikes.) He can’t get complete breath in and is coughing a lot, dry heaving (most likely because he ate next to nothing today) Shin splits on right and left ankle extremely irritable. He absolutely needs sleep so we are trying for at least two hours. We know now he hates the mountains MissouriPrinceton and Yale ha ha. The plan was for Huron to take about 4 hrs then La Plata out and back BUT THEN brilliant plan by Andrew to take a raft across river (James owns a raft-lives in Aspen, easy drive to pick up) after La Plata. Because bridge was out:boat is IN! Boys are going rafting baby!!!!
After a couple hour nap I braced his ankle and knee, tried to force feed some pizza (although way too much garlic on it) ibuprofen and other meds, and packed his pack while Kim and James went back to the pathfinder so James could drive to Aspen. He started on the trail to Huron at 0216 with Wes. back at 0603 off to La Plata. His body is feeling great!!! “The only thing holding him back is sleep”-Wes. He took 3 one minute naps on the mtn. At 10800 Wes took lead and started carrying his pack down the mountain. A couple girls were on their way up and by look of extreme exhaustion from Andrew they believed Wes’s comment of this being Andrews very first 14er, they wished him luck and moved on! HAHA! He tried to catch some sleep while Kim drove down the VERY bumpy road to La Plata West Winfield. The plan: to come down north side to the river and raft across the river. Andrew is still mad at us for not sharing in his experience with the blizzard on the summit of Belford. 0702 Andrew leaves to start, Wes had to do a couple things but is trailing shortly behind to catch up and keep Andrew company! LETS CROSS OUR FINGERS FOR SUCCESSFUL RIVER CROSSING!!! Pics and videos to come. Stay tuned.

Sorry everyone, this is the first chance I’ve had to update!

From James @08:03 this morning:

He came off Princeton really sleepy which slowed the downhill pace by thirty minutes.  We are taking an hour to really sleep at Denny creek I think it will help him find his 30th wind:) I’ll finally surpass him in the sleep race that has been a fight for both of us when he heads up the trail at 230am. Andrew thinks his th-th split will be about 5:45

If you didn’t already know the man that is Homie find some time.  He is a great individual that wants to help in any way possible.  I was leaning on his experience and common sense to get through some logistical spots that my sleepy brain couldn’t handle.  He also set a great shuttle from blank gultch back to Princeton which let me work on andrews feet and knee on the move while in his van.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homies friend Wes will be joining Andrew for Huron tonight, good news!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we were driving up to Princeton trailhead and it was pouring! We parked when we saw the dirt bike, car and mtn bike. Shortly after dinner Homie and James showed up at the trailhead and did a lot of talking about routes for todays mountains. While they were talking, we had a little entertainment as a bear just decided to make his way to Andrews car towards the food, it wasnt hard to scare him off. Then Andrew arrived back at the trailhead and we headed towards Denny creek TH while I transitioned him in car. massages with the roller, fixing feet, changing socks and shoes, changing ace wraps, feeding, ibuprofen- all the good stuff. (We met Kim here). Andrew slept for 1 hour until about 215 am when we woke him up and he changed, got rolled out with the massager, brushed teeth and left for the trail at around 255 . We woke up around 645 and no Andrew so kim hiked up to 10800 and met Andrew there, they hiked back together. Andrew said he couldn’t shake being tired, he had to take a few naps on the trail. He has been struggling with the night hikes, as they are his slowest times. He is not looking forward to going up and down Huron in the dark, it will be a long day. At around 745 we left the trailhead and headed to Columbia – North Cottonwood trailhead. Here we organized all gear and vehicles and James left to hike with Andrew. James will descend and come down Harvard where me and Kim plan to hike up and meet James, then leave to do some scouting around Huron, and meet Andrew for some TLC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totally missed Andrea this morning!  I drove to Crag’s Campground this morning just to say hi and let the little ones see Dad for a few.  When I arrived, Calvin, Axel and Brenda were still sleeping, and the Mule had already left for Johnson Village.  Everyone awoke and I also met Tom, who’s son was hiking Pike’s with Andrew.  I apologize that I missed your name.  Thanks so much for being there!  I am truly amazed at how good Andrew looks!  He is smiling, motivated, ready to go!  He is also very disappointed that his belly is exactly the same size as it started out!  I am also truly amazed by his crew! James who just kept on moving after learning his truck is totaled, has probably been getting far less sleep than Andrew, and hiking to and from dirt/mountain bike placement.  He is totally in charge!  True dedication.  Huge thanks to Homie for the support as well!  And CaveDog for supporting from afar!And Will Robnett whom none of us knew but Kim, and I still have yet to meet, but came along for all this foolishness, and has been indispensible!  Andrea already knows she is not normal, and a freak of nature!  I came home to find her arm splint disassembled and left on the counter.  We often joke that she is my stunt double in the mountains.

 

So Andrew was attempting some other time saver, so went in reverse order, but found too much snow for his plan.  Still made amazing time though!