Alex Walker - Nolan's 14 Attempt 10/5/24

[Gulf_Coast_Hiker]

He made Huron at 36 hours. Seems to be headed for LaPlata now, then presumably Elbert and Massive after that. Looks like he has a good chance as long as he is OK with climbing in the dark, still has some gas in the tank, and the weather holds. Best wishes on the last 3, Alex.

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

Thanks for the update, Sean. People like Alex (and many others here) are truly inspirational for us wannabe athletes!

[seannunn]

Looks like he summitted Elbert at 9:00am (50.5 hours), leaving him 9.5 hours to get to Massive. I can't remember but doesn't the Nolan's 14er challenge end by descending Massive to a trailhead?
In any case, go Alex!!!

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

[zootloopz]

Looks like he summitted Elbert at 9:00am (50.5 hours), leaving him 9.5 hours to get to Massive. I can't remember but doesn't the Nolan's 14er challenge end by descending Massive to a trailhead?
In any case, go Alex!!!

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

I believe it ends at the Fish Hatchery!

[bdloftin77]

And if we see him continuing after the hatchery, that means he's going for Holy Nolans!

[seannunn]

Just over 14000' on Massive at 12:42 (54+ hours in). Looks like he will be successful on the standard Nolan's 14ers barring something very unusual.

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

[bdloftin77]

Looks like he made it to the hatcheries. Congratulations on a successful Nolans traverse, Alex!!! You are a stud.

The time 55:55:05 is posted in his last comment on the tracking site. Pretty cool!!

I've done some peaks with this guy. He's kind and humble.. and let us take the lead most of the time so he wouldn't leave us in the dust!

[Gulf_Coast_Hiker]

Congrats, Alex!! Awesome accomplishment!!

[andreasansone]

Nice Alex! Great Job!

[bdloftin77]

And looks like he's continuing onward toward Holy Cross! Go, Alex, go!

According to his two strava activities plus today's tracking start and stop times, he took about 45:42ish not including sleep time (tracking said 55:55:05 total). That adds up with his tracking messages, indicating he was stopped about 10 hours and 13ish minutes. A strava user commented that he might well be the most rested Nolan finisher! But that rest might be crucial for today, as again it looks like he's heading toward Holy Cross.

Looks like the previous record for Holy Nolans was just under 72 hours north to south (possibly 10 min under, per the 14ers.com thread?) It took Andrew Hamilton, the previous/only record holder for Holy Nolans N-S, about 12 hours to go from Holy Cross to the fish hatchery. So if Alex can complete this last leg in under about 16 hours, he'll have beaten Hamilton's time! (albeit going S-N vs Hamilton's N-S route).

[mtnhigh358]

Hamilton and Sansone went S-N for holy Nolan’s, but their time looks slow, if Alex can just finish it seems he would have the
S-N record easily but looking at the fastest known time website, maybe it doesn’t matter south to north versus north to south

[bdloftin77]

Hamilton and Sansone went S-N for holy Nolan’s, but their time looks slow, if Alex can just finish it seems he would have the
S-N record easily but looking at the fastest known time website, maybe it doesn’t matter south to north versus north to south

Is the typical route across the shoulder of Galena and down to the East Homestake Creek Trail?

[andrewhamilton]

Hamilton and Sansone went S-N for holy Nolan’s, but their time looks slow, if Alex can just finish it seems he would have the
S-N record easily but looking at the fastest known time website, maybe it doesn’t matter south to north versus north to south

Is the typical route across the shoulder of Galena and down to the East Homestake Creek Trail?

First I just want to say wow to Alex Walker! He is moving strong and honestly just making it look so easy. Who knew that Nolan's could be so easy if you just slept for 4 hours every night? Anyway yeah he will be through the worst part of adding Holy Cross on before night, and his route really looks brilliant compared to the one I took. I don't know that there exists a "Typical" route, but I am pretty sure you will see him contour to the pass at 11750 ft that is North North East of his current position. Once there he can drop down to the trail that heads down from Lonesome Lake and knock off a lot of downhill/flat miles. The route he is taking looks to be a much better choice than I used in the past as it seems to avoid some nasty bushwhacking and cliffs on my route which was a little further west but worked its way to the same saddle.