Nolan's 14

[pbakwin]

While I totally agree with Andrew, it's important to point out that "Nolans" isn't just doing these 14 peaks as a link-up, it's doing them in a certain amount of time. If you backpack all these summits in a week you have completed the Nolans course, but you definitely have not completed Nolans. In that sense it is similar to any other ultra - if you finish Hardrock in 48:00:01 you don't get a "finish". I guess because of the disagreement anyone who does reach the last summit within 60 hours of the start will be credited with finishing Nolans. (Is Andrew the only person who has tagged the last summit within 60 hours but failed to reach the TH under that time?) In my view, the "record" will have to be TH-to-TH, since otherwise it would be very different going north or south. Obviously it's still different TH-TH, just not as different.

There has been a similar disagreement w.r.t. the JMT (since Eric mentioned the JMT). The JMT *does* terminate on the summit of Whitney. Some people start the clock on the top, while others think it should be TH-to-TH. The possibility of summiting via the Mountaineer's Route, which is potentially much faster than the main trail, throws a further wrench into the works.

[andrewhamilton]

This should be interesting! Last year missy was on antero with her partner in something like 54:30. At the pace they were moving I thought they would for sure finish, but they had had enough and decided the head down.

It looks like this year she will be standing on top of antero at around 54. Something tells me nothing is stooping this year!

[Muskie5280]

What time do they need to be finished by? 6 PM?

[thebeave7]

This should be interesting! Last year missy was on antero with her partner in something like 54:30. At the pace they were moving I thought they would for sure finish, but they had had enough and decided the head down.
It looks like this year she will be standing on top of antero at around 54. Something tells me nothing is stooping this year!

I asked Missy last year and she said it was because she didn't know the routes between Antero and Tab, and it was too much mentally to consider. She knows them now i can guarantee you that
Yes, there 60h cuttoff time seems to be 6pm today.

I received this message from Eric Robinson who was part of the original Nolans crowd during its creation...
"Eric Robinson: As set forth by Fred Vance, the originator, finish time is from trailhead to trailhead. If you didn't finish the whole course, then your time is from trailhead to your last peak."

That makes a lot of sense to me, a finisher needs to be at the TH, but you still record all the summits if you hit Shavano in under 60h.

For the fellow number geeks out there, Missy and Anna are on almost the exact same schedule Brandon Worthington was when I joined him for his 2014 finish in 59h24min to the TH, if they keep cranking they got it...
Brandon's 2014 track points: http://trackleaders.com/nolans14i.php?n ... orthington" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eric Lee

[PhotoOmaha]

This is great to watch! Keep up the solid effort, very impressive. For those that have the knowledge, what is the hardest area for route finding while doing this attempt? I've hiked all these, but over the course of several years, just curious how hard it would be to link them together.

[thebeave7]

This is great to watch! Keep up the solid effort, very impressive. For those that have the knowledge, what is the hardest area for route finding while doing this attempt? I've hiked all these, but over the course of several years, just curious how hard it would be to link them together.

Without a doubt the most taxing and hardest route finding is Mt Princeton. The entire route used during the attempt from Maxwell Gulch to the Baldwin Gulch Rd is off trail. Lots of dense forest, talus, and off trail navigation.
The Pine Creek basin area, North side of Yale, South side of Huron all require a fair amount of route finding as well.

Eric

[PhotoOmaha]

This is great to watch! Keep up the solid effort, very impressive. For those that have the knowledge, what is the hardest area for route finding while doing this attempt? I've hiked all these, but over the course of several years, just curious how hard it would be to link them together.

Without a doubt the most taxing and hardest route finding is Mt Princeton. The entire route used during the attempt from Maxwell Gulch to the Baldwin Gulch Rd is off trail. Lots of dense forest, talus, and off trail navigation.
The Pine Creek basin area, North side of Yale, South side of Huron all require a fair amount of route finding as well.

Eric

Eric, thank you, really appreciate it. I can only imagine the frustration combined with the fatigue, would make the route finding really challenging. I get frustrated if I haven't seen a cairn every 10 feet!

[Broken Knee]

The ladies are going strong - I think about 1700' vert in the last hour.

[mjsherman]

Almost down in the valley! Looks like they have a good shot if they are feeling strong.

[pbakwin]

Taking a very direct route up Tab. That way is kind of crappy (loose), but certainly goes. Time wise it seems like they've got it!

[thebeave7]

Taking a very direct route up Tab. That way is kind of crappy (loose), but certainly goes. Time wise it seems like they've got it!

Agree Peter, we are having that discussion on Facebook right now, John Robinson, Eric Robinson, Ginny and I. They say that routes not bad, I like the direct gully to the Tab/Shav saddle, much more secure and there's even a climbers trail there.
They are currently 20min off Brandon's finish splits which put him at the TH in 59:24, so if they keep moving at this pace they are good, GO LADIES!

Eric

[JQDivide]

I'm guessing there are few to no naps during the Nolan's 14???

They look like they are doing great and will make the 60 hrs.