2015 14er Speed Record Attempt

[d_baker]

Badass. Congratulations on what is definitely an admirable accomplishment!

Bill, you need to make up a special icon thingy for his checklist.

[thenotoriousrob]

Gotta admit, I miss having that extra browser window up this morning showing the red arrow moving every 10 minutes. What an accomplishment, congrats again.

[TakeMeToYourSummit]

Andrew! I was bummed when it didn't work out last year...
Awesome redemption! May your record last many years!

[fahixson]

Wow, step away from the computer for a few hours and see what I missed, 30+ pages on this thread. Although I've had a blast following Andrew and Crew online, seeing this accomplishment in person the past couple nights is an unforgettable experience. What else could motivate 40 people to hang around at 11,200' past 2AM in the middle of the week?

Andrew tackled an astounding record with style both on and off the mountain. An amazing combination of physical strength and mental toughness, not to mention the uncanny ability to rally support from an amazing team. Congratulations and thank you all for the inspiring efforts.

BKS, thanks for driving last night. Mandy, thanks for posting pictures. Hope to see more pop up from everyone else up there. Maybe they're on the FB page? It's been hard enough to keep up with this thread and the tracker, I haven't ventured over there yet. Edit - Thanks asarsam for posting pics to FB!

Lastly, just wanted to throw in one more admiration for Cave Dog. At one point last night he deflected praise and pointed out this moment is really all about Andrew. I thought his presence at the finish only enhanced that focus and wonderment at Andrew's accomplishment. He had to be one of the most excited people to be there and again demonstrated a true class act. Cave Dog sets the character bar high for CO 14er FKT record holders. No doubt, Andrew is up for that challenge as well.

[Mountain Maverick]

"Great moments, are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here tonight, that's what you've earned here tonight.....*Tonight, you are the greatest mountain climber in the world. You were born to be a mountain climber. You were meant to be here tonight. This...is your time. This is your time, now go out there and take it!" Excerpt from the 1980 speech by Herb Brooks to the USA Hockey team prior to their semi-final game with with the Soviets, more commonly known as the Miracle on Ice. (*with some writer's license taken to fit the accomplishment we just witnessed:).

I have been at this mountain climbing thing now for almost 20 years. I still have not finished the 58 Colorado 14,000' Peaks. But I have experienced, like many on this site have, the glorious feeling like we were on top of the world when we finally stepped onto many summits. That feeling may rank as one of the best, if not, the best experiences in many of our respective lives.

Andrew, your accomplishment finally completed in the early hours of today, has so many of us so feeling inspired, because it allowed us to relive that summit glory, vicariously through you, 58 times. 58 times, you showed us what one person can do when it is their time and the odds are stacked against them. I dare say you moved an entire community of people with a feat of perseverance unprecedented. The endurance and fortitude which you demonstrated, physically, mentally, spiritually, under extreme conditions, was something that many of us can not begin to understand. But we watched. We marveled. We tried to understand. We tried to find words. We were compelled because we saw a small piece of ourselves, and what we love about the mountains, play out in your rugged determination, and humble attitude.

You moved an entire community these past several days, across many states. How many of us will ever be able say that in our own lives? So with that, our collective gratitude goes out to you for daring to show that the near impossible, is indeed very possible.

I won't candy coat it, I cried when I saw that you had finished it off (i'm a crier, what can I say). I cried tears joy for you, your team, and your family. I cried tears of relief that you were safe...finally. I cried tears of amazement for the sheer enormity of what you had just undertaken, subsequently accomplished. And I admit, there were also a few tears of regret for myself for giving up on some of my dreams over my life because they were too hard. I know you moved others the same way, how could we not be moved after witnessing a dream like this, realized.

So it's done, yeah man!! Well done, and a hearty Congratulations goes out! You made it happen...and, it is your time. Enjoy!

[BiochemMichael]

Congrats to Andrew and crew. It was impressive watching. The sustained energy and will of that man is amazing. Way to set a standard of badassery. Congrats again and we look forward to hearing about the journey at HH.

[Summit Stomper]

"Great moments, are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here tonight, that's what you've earned here tonight.....*Tonight, you are the greatest mountain climber in the world. You were born to be a mountain climber. You were meant to be here tonight. This...is your time. This is your time, now go out there and take it!" Excerpt from the 1980 speech by Herb Brooks to the USA Hockey team prior to their semi-final game with with the Soviets, more commonly known as the Miracle on Ice. (*with some writer's license taken to fit the accomplishment we just witnessed:).

I have been at this mountain climbing thing now for almost 20 years. I still have not finished the 58 Colorado 14,000' Peaks. But I have experienced, like many on this site have, the glorious feeling like we were on top of the world when we finally stepped onto many summits. That feeling may rank as one of the best, if not, the best experiences in many of our respective lives.

Andrew, your accomplishment finally completed in the early hours of today, has so many of us so feeling inspired, because it allowed us to relive that summit glory, vicariously through you, 58 times. 58 times, you showed us what one person can do when it is their time and the odds are stacked against them. I dare say you moved an entire community of people with a feat of perseverance unprecedented. The endurance and fortitude which you demonstrated, physically, mentally, spiritually, under extreme conditions, was something that many of us can not begin to understand. But we watched. We marveled. We tried to understand. We tried to find words. We were compelled because we saw a small piece of ourselves, and what we love about the mountains, play out in your rugged determination, and humble attitude.

You moved an entire community these past several days, across many states. How many of us will ever be able say that in our own lives? So with that, our collective gratitude goes out to you for daring to show that the near impossible, is indeed very possible.

I won't candy coat it, I cried when I saw that you had finished it off (i'm a crier, what can I say). I cried tears joy for you, your team, and your family. I cried tears of relief that you were safe...finally. I cried tears of amazement for the sheer enormity of what you had just undertaken, subsequently accomplished. And I admit, there were also a few tears of regret for myself for giving up on some of my dreams over my life because they were too hard. I know you moved others the same way, how could we not be moved after witnessing a dream like this, realized.

So it's done, yeah man!! Well done, and a hearty Congratulations goes out! You made it happen...and, it is your time. Enjoy!

Very well said here! This pretty much sums it up! Like watching the race to the moon! Couldn't stop watching and wondering every moment! Way to go Andrew and the whole team! I want to go climb another one now so bad! Rest a few days and head West to get the rest if you want to! You have our permision!

[Cave Dog]

I am back at home in Portland now. I wanted to thank Glen for giving me a ride to Longs and suffering through United’s cascading delays and Natalie Hamilton for a the ride to DEN this morning. Also, I would like to thank the nice fellow at the trailhead that lent me his headlamp. Unfortunately, I still have it and have forgotten your name. Give me a call at 503-234-2535, and I will mail it to you.

It was great to meet so many of you last night. It is a testament to the magnitude of the event that, by my calculation, about 50 people would come from all around to hang out at two in the chilly morning along the slopes of Longs last night. In no small part because of 14ers.com, Colorado has such a warm and inviting mountaineering community.

I cannot think of a more deserving recordholder than Andrew Hamilton. He has put in the time and energy to learn about and respect the mountains. He has put in the true grit of multiple attempts. And, he has mastered the enormously complex routes and logistics. He pushed the limits of the human experience, and has shown all of us how that spirit, that is in all of us, is capable of so much more than we would have dreamed. Andrew clearly has a gift, and he used that gift to bring a group of people together, to work upon a common but daunting purpose that has now come to fruition. Thank you, Andrew, for letting us bear witness to your gifts and inspiring us all to work on achieving our own dreams.

Live the Dream,

Cave Dog

[mtgirl]

Also, I would like to thank the nice fellow at the trailhead that lent me his headlamp. Unfortunately, I still have it and have forgotten your name. Give me a call at 503-234-2535, and I will mail it to you.

It was forum member semitrueskerm. Send him a PM, and I'm sure you can coordinate it's return.

EDIT: I sent semitrueskerm a PM, giving him your phone number, in the event neither of you see this. I also told him that since THE CAVE DOG wore his headlamp, that he should auction it on here and donate the proceeds to CFI.

[Tory Wells]

In no small part because of 14ers.com, Colorado has such a warm and inviting mountaineering community.

Let's not forget the 14ers Facebook page Oh wait, no, scratch that, never mind.

Sir, your graciousness has been more than impressive to watch. You were a deserving record holder for so long and an inspiration to us all, thank you.

[Scotzman]

I cannot think of a more deserving recordholder than Andrew Hamilton. He has put in the time and energy to learn about and respect the mountains. He has put in the true grit of multiple attempts. And, he has mastered the enormously complex routes and logistics. He pushed the limits of the human experience, and has shown all of us how that spirit, that is in all of us, is capable of so much more than we would have dreamed. Andrew clearly has a gift, and he used that gift to bring a group of people together, to work upon a common but daunting purpose that has now come to fruition. Thank you, Andrew, for letting us bear witness to your gifts and inspiring us all to work on achieving our own dreams.

Live the Dream,

Cave Dog

I am equally impressed by the character of the men who held, and hold, such an impressive record, as the record itself. Similar to how Steve G is remembered, people are in awe of the numbers but it's how they get there and the people they touch along the way that really lasts forever.
Thank you.

[glenmiz]

I can't do justice to what I just experienced with words; I have thirty pages of this thread to go through and am certain you'all have done well to describe what I'm feeling.

All I can say is congratulations, Andrew, you earned a great prize.

Talking with Cave Dog on the way from the airport and from the trailhead to the finish line, I learned something very important. In the end, it matters not how long you hold this record. YOU OWN IT RIGHT NOW! Enjoy this moment and savor it. You know what you did to accomplish this feat and very few will feel anything like that satisfaction. If the record stands for fifteen years, or eleven days, no one can take this moment away from you - IT IS YOURS. Regardless of how long the record stands, I know you will be every bit as gracious as Cave Dog was and is - a true champion.

One more thing. Andrea, Kyle, Laura, Natalie, and the rest of the team, you are great. The only way this happened was with your relentless support in every way possible. Enjoy knowing that it wouldn't have happened without you.

Glen
p.s. I'll update the spreadsheets with the data from Longs today.