[Back to contents] Day -2: Thursday, August 26, 1999 The Plan has just hit its first major snafu. Upon calling the Taylor Ranch (owners of Culebra peak) to make arrangements to climb Culebra, we found that their number was disconnected. After some detective work it turns out that the ranch has been sold. The latest information is that climbers are not being allowed access to the mountain. However, this occurrence must have happened very recently, because no one seems to know about it.

Day -1: Friday, August 27, 1999 Because of the problems with Culebra, we have decided to leave as early as possible today (from Boulder) to get down to the former Ranch. The plan is to try to find someone on the ranch (There is a rumor that the new owners have hired security people to guard the area) that we can explain our situation to. Hopefully, they will give us permission to climb it.

Day 0: Saturday, August 28, 1999 Permission to climb Culebra granted! Thanks to the understanding and enthusiasm of the General Manager of Taylor Ranch, Jim Barron, Andrew was given special permission to climb the Peak on Sunday evening. The official start was 5:30 a.m. from approximately 11,000 feet near the South Colony Trailhead just outside Westcliff. He began by climbing Humboldt, then Kit Carson, then Challenger. Crestone Peak's northwest couloir was next, and then a traverse over to Crestone Needle. He then descended to his mountian bike, for a long technical downhill back to the car, arriving at 6 p.m. He was in good spirits, but tired. His feet were wet and blistered. And this was only day one.

Day 1: Sunday, August 29, 1999 There was a deviation in the plan due to the constraints of Culebra. We woke at 2 a.m., and Andrew began at the Huerfano River Trailhead near Redwing and Gardner, by climbing Lindsey first. He then did a long traverse over to Blanca and continued on to Ellingwood. From Ellingwood, he tried a route he had never before attempted to reach Little Bear. The book stated it was a class 4 climb. Andrew would disagree, claiming that it made the Little Bear Blanca ridge of class 5 fame, look like nothing. With no safety gear, this was no easy task. Not to mention the fact, that the route went straight up a stream runoff, and one of his better hand holds was a clump of moss. He at least had his rock shoes with him. "I hate Little Bear, now I remember why I say that it's the hardest Fourteener." After a long descent by mountain bike on "the toughest road in Colorado" according to Gerry Roach, the Lake Como road, Andrew returned to the car with blood dripping down one leg, and a nickel sized divet out of his left hand. The result of one "minor" crash before his return at 5 p.m. Now on to Culebra. We were to meet the ranch foreman, Ed, at 6:30 p.m. at the ranch gate. We arrived at 6:25 p.m. As Andrew left us to drive up the Culebra road, a massive storm covered the entire Blanca group, only an hour after we had left. Only clear skies at Culebra, for what Andrew called a "nice easy class 2 climb." He was back at the gate at 11:45 p.m., ready to eat and go to sleep.

Day 2: Monday, August 30, 1999 A tragedy! On his way up Eolus in the San Juan Range, Andrew met a man frantically scrambling down the mountain, whos partner had just fallen to his death. As the other man ran to catch the train to get help, Andrew climbed to the peak to call 911 from the cell phone he was carrying. At last word, Search & Rescue planned to send a helicopter to retrieve the body. After several hours of waiting with the dead climber, the shock and lack of bivouac gear prevented Andrew from staying to meet Search & Rescue. He continued in the dark to Sunlight and Windom, and plans to be done with this leg at about 10 a.m. Tuesday. The whole story! After meeting the man running down the mountain, Andrew searched for the fallen man. As he was unaware of his status, he called his name, but found him dead an hour later. He then proceeded to call 911 from the peak of Eolus and wait for Search & Rescue. Hours later the helicpoter came and waved Andrew to leave, as they now knew the location of the body. Andrew then continued to climb Windom and Sunlight in the dark. He returned to the car by mountain bike at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, with no brake pads left. He had slept for 3 hours, but not well. Visions of what he had seen, weighed heavily on him.

Day 3: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 A late start! At 2:45 p.m. Andrew was off again, into the rain. He has changed his schedule by breaking up his planned day 4 and day 5. He set off to do El Diente, Mt. Wilson, and Wilson Peak, saving Sneffels for later. He will then break up day 5 (a ridiculously difficult day.) He's a little behind schedule, but under the circumstances, doing extremely well. He is sick of energy bars and now wants real food. "Huevos Rancheros" is what he keeps repeating. That appears to be my influence, as I mentioned that on day 2, Shane and I had a fabulous breakfast of Huevos Rancheros at the Gardner Cafe on our way to the Lake Como trailhead. His sister Laura bought him eggs, tortillas, and beans, hoping to satisfy him. More to come... Andrew's hope to return to the car by midnight, was dashed by a nasty electrical storm in the Wilson Group. After climbing El Diente and Mt. Wilson, Andrew was forced to take cover from the rain and sleet, and try to get some sleep. After a rough 2 hour nap, he continued on to Wilson peak. Laura waited, knowing nothing, until Andrew showed himself at 7:30 a.m.

Day 4: Wednesday, September 1, 1999 At 11 a.m., Laura joined Andrew in the ascent of Sneffels, through snow, sleet, and a very hard rain. As Laura shivered on the cold and wet hike, she could only imagine Andrew's miserable sleep the night before. 3 1/2 hours later, they were on their way to Lake City. Red Cloud and Sunshine are the goal for the rest of the day. He hopes to be done by midnight, for a long night's sleep in the warm, dry truck. Every mountain he calls Eolus, an obvious sign of his traumatic experience there.

Day 5: Thursday, September 2, 1999 Andrew finished with Red Cloud and Sunshine about 2 a.m. Thursday morning. The thick fog and rain caused him to get lost a few times, adding a few more hours to an already long day. He began today with Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn. He also plans to do Handies and San Luis, before driving to the Aspen area tonight. The weather has been taking its toll, Andrew has a bad cold. A pre-existing knee problem has resurfaced, from the continual climbs and descents on rocky trails. He's totally exhausted and not sleeping well, or nearly long enough. He won't eat any more energy bars, and wants nothing but real food. He is back to his regular training diet of chocolate and candy. I'm afraid he's not eating enough to sustain himself. His "slim but far from chiseled" body, will surely be slimmer and far MORE chiseled by the end of this adventure.

Day 6: Friday, September 3, 1999 Shane and I will meet Laura and Andrew somewhere in Aspen tonight. At last word, Laura was unsure which group Andrew would be doing today. He will climb either the Maroon Bells, Pyramid, and Castle, or Snowmass and Capital. I know he has to be hurting now. The chocolate chip cookies I made last night will be greatly appreciated, I'm sure. Shane and I can't wait to see him. As I will be gone for the weekend, I hope to have someone update the site in my absence. Stay connected... Due to a late start, and a long drive, Andrew only did Capital. He returned to the car about 10 p.m., and Laura made him some dinner. Laura's relief (Shane, Kelly, Chris, Leslie and I) arrived at 11 p.m., ready to drive to the Maroon Bells trailhead for another early start.

Day 7: Saturday, September 4, 1999 A 4 a.m. start on the North and South Maroon peaks, then over to Pyramid. The entire group of us (with the late arrival of Andrew's Dad) waited for Andrew to finish, about 4 hours later than anticipated. We were lucky to meet a couple in the parking lot, who had seen Andrew near the peak of Pyramid, and relayed a message from him that he was behind schedule. Laura was very happy not to be the only one worrying. Andrew was declared undisputed winner of the ugly foot contest we had in his absence. I can't believe he's walking on those things. We then drove up Castle Creek Road to about 10,000 feet, where Andrew began his ascent of Castle. He returned after midnight, and we drove to the town of Marble. Day 8: Sunday, September 5, 1999 Andrew's motorcycle idea, had not been working out. The clutch was gone, and Shane's quick fix was a failure. It was imperitive that Andy have some sort of motorized transport to the trailhead of Snowmass at Crystal Lake (4x4 access only,) or he would never make it in time. As none of us had a 4 wheel drive vehicle, Shane called Tom Bowers, owner of Performance Ski in Aspen. Out of the blue, he asked him for help. Amazingly, he lent us one of his dirtbikes for the day, and Andy was able to make the summit in reasonable time. We owe you one Tom. At long last, both "the f*%#@!g San Juans" and the Elks are out of the way. Our caravan then traveled just outside of Leadville, in the the beautiful Sawatch mountains. Andy, his Dad, Shane, and the Bud dog then proceeded to climb Elbert. After almost six hours, they returned with Andy in great shape. His knee didn't even bother him this time.

Day 9: Monday, September 6, 1999 We all overslept! At 5 a.m. Andrew woke us up. He began with Mt. Massive about 5:30 a.m. At about 10 a.m. he returned to the cars, and we drove him to Winfield to do La Plata. He returned at 4:15 p.m., and the remaining support crew (now including Andrew's Mom,) drove to Minturn to climb Holy Cross. He finished about 2:30 a.m. A really big day planned tomorrow! Columbia, Harvard, Oxford, Belford, Missouri, and Huron.

Day 10: Tuesday, September 7, 1999 Another late start! Due to the late finish last night and a desire to get at least a few hours of sleep, Andrew woke up at 7:30 a.m. Starting with Columbia, continuing to Harvard, Oxford, Belford, Missouri, and then, where's Huron? Andrew got lost while ascending the back side of Huron, just as the sun went down. After wandering around for about 2 hours halucinating, he then made the decision to walk up the 6 mile road. He then rethought that idea, aimed himself at the peak, and bushwhacked to treeline. He returned to the trailhead at 4:30 a.m., not half a hour after Brenda (Andy's Mom) dropped his bike off at treeline for the descent. She had taken the wrong road and left his bike in the wrong place, only realizing back at the car. Luckily, she met a group of men hunting in the dark. They drove her back to the bike, then to the proper trailhead, and back down again. His bike helmet disappeared somewhere along the way, but at this point, who cares! Andrew's truck is hurting pretty badly. Besides the white smoke pouring from the exhaust, it now has no bumper. Andrew's Mom drives quite fast on dirt roads.

Day 11: Wednesday, September 8, 1999 Today Andrew got Shavano, Tabeguache, and Antero in 9 hours. At Yale, he followed Gerry's directions and got lost again, having to bushwhack to treeline again. He returned to the trailhead at 1 a.m., ready to move on to Princeton. He finished Princeton at 6 a.m.

Day 12: Thursday, September 9, 1999 Andrew called me from Pike's Peak, near the summit. It turns out that they will not allow hikers on the road, so Andrew had to drive to 13,500 feet and hike from there. In order to comply with the 3,000 foot rule, he will have to make this trek 6 times over. This will more than make up for it, as he must do this at altitude. He will still have to complete Sherman, Quandary, Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross today. He doesn't think he'll get anymore sleep until the end, except during the drives from peak to peak. All that's left after today, will be Torreys, Grays, Evans, Bierstadt, and Long's. If anyone is interested in coming to the finish, we will be at the Long's Peak Trailhead, sometime VERY LATE Friday night or VERY EARLY Saturday morning. We will be parked at the Long's Peak Trailhead. Please Join us!

Day 13: Friday, September 10, 1999 At 4:30 a.m. Andrew began climbing Quandary. After only 3 hours, Andy, Kelly, and I returned to the car and continued on to "beautiful Torreys and Grays." After another 3 hours, Andrew returned, and we drove up Guanella Pass to Bierstadt. He traversed across the sawtooth ridge to Evans, climbing down in a hail and lightning storm. As Andrew passed out in the truck after a rub down, we ever so slowly drove down the Mt Evans road, with practically no brakes. Time is now of utmost importance. We had to get to the Longs Peak trailhead at the very latest by 10 p.m. We arrived about 8:30 p.m., and Andrew and I set out for the last hike just before 9 p.m. Andrew followed me up the trail, dozing off while walking. When we reached the boulder field, I prepared to bivy while waiting for Andrew to summit Long's and return. With no watch and a little nap, I had no idea what time it was, or how long Andrew had been gone. I didn't know whether to worry or not. I expected a two hour turn around time. As the clouds rolled in, and the snow began to fall, I saw a light far off in the distance. I assumed it was Shane, coming to sit with me. My interest in watching the light approach, kept me a little warmer. When the person finally arrived, I was surprised to find it was our old pal Buzz Burrell, who recently demolished the Colorado Trail Speed Record. I have never been so happy to see someone in my life. He continued up to the keyhole to meet Andrew. After a few minutes, relief. I heard Andrew's voice. As we walked down, Andrew was in high spirits, talking all the way. His knee and ankle pain had all but disappeared, thanks to Buzz. His presence was greatly appreciated. On the way down, Buzz explained that he had been with Ricky Denesik on his descent of Long's, when he set the record in 1997. We thank you for joining us Buzz, you made our night! Andrew arrived at the trailhead at 4:18 a.m., one hour and 28 minutes ahead of the record! Congratulations Andrew! [Back to contents]

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