Notes
Paced Joe P in his Hardrock 100 event. I started with him at mile 42 and we stayed together until 82. We started under a rising half moon that was so bright we didn't need lights for the climb from Grouse to Engineer. After the descent into Ouray (arrived around 5:30am), we were both drunk with sleepy. Fueled up, did the long climb to Gov Basin, then the stiff climb to Virginius and the snow fields... a little rain an hail on the snow pitches made it interesting, but better than the direct sun. 5,400 ft of climb in about 11 miles was a challenge! We made a quick descent into Telluride (4,400 ft in 5 miles took us 1 hour 20 minutes!) and met up with the crew again. Major fueling went on, then an agonizing climb to Oscars (4,500 ft up) and down to Chapman (3,100 ft down) in 9 miles... We had weather on Oscar's Pass (over 13,000 ft) which really got my attention! Lightning and thunder all around us, with absolutely no cover! Needless to say, we didn't waste a lot of time getting the heck off that mountain! This may have been the hardest thing I have ever done... can't wait to get back out there for an attempt of my own!