Just a quick up date. Rick is now home, as of Monday night (July 9). He ended up being rescued off the trail last Friday and went to the hospital by ambulance to Durango, Co. He is okay, but has a slipped disk in his back and can barely walk let alone carry a backpack. Needless to say, he is disappointed. The doctor said he has to lay around for a couple of weeks and must continue to be careful. He can't sit up and we had a hard time trying to figure out how to get him home. Jay, our son who lives in Oklahoma ended up driving his mini van (so Rick could lay in the back) to Colorado to get him. We then drugged him up for a 2 hr. plane ride from Oklahoma City to Chicago. Leslie and I picked him up Monday afternoon. Wow, now that I have this in writing, I think we must be a little crazy. Ha! What an ordeal. We are happy to have him home, so we are not worrying so much. He hasn't given up on hiking, just has to let his body repair its self. Will post occasionally and give updates.