****************
NOTE: At the end of this Introduction will follow full information about my High Uinta Mountains books, including the original one with index.
*********
Preface
Now let's get to what will be my 3rd book....
......but until the Fall only part of this chapter will be available.
CHECK IT OUT TO SEE THE ORDEAL I HAVE GONE THROUGH
TO GET THIS "IMPOSSIBLE DREAM" COMPLETED.
I'm likely not capable of actually portraying what I have gone through, but it has been my greatest.....
CHALLENGE to NOT GIVE UP....WITHOUT A FIGHT!
Gratefully the Lord has blessed me so far to do a lot more than I envisioned possible when for a time I couldn't walk...and other times after a couple of mini-strokes I began feeling like...
"THIS MUST BE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO DIE!"
But the Lord gave me new life, with the help of several guardian angels, and so
I look forward to seeing this inspiring for me book of miracle,
after miracle, after miracle
in the DIVINE CREATION which I
do my best to explain and show with wonderful
heavenly photographic represenation of
THE WONDERS OF THE DIVINE CREATIONS of NATURE!
El texto esta en ingles, pero LAS FOTOS EN ESPAÑOL!
*************************************
CHAPTER 1
A CRIPPLE'S CONTRIBUTION to HUMANITY BY
NEVER GIVING UP.......WITHOUT A GOOD FIGHT
and
SHARING THE WONDERMENT of NATURE
INTRODUCTION
This effort actually began as sort of a
PERSONAL JOURNAL
documenting my efforts to overcome being a cripple,
and building my faith
by focusing on what I have called
"VISIONS of NATURE"
from my years of exploring the High Uinta Mountains.
In that effort and sharing it I was thanked many times by grateful friends,
some who directly thanked the effort of sharing with saving their lives.
That experience had me deciding for my personal benefit to record this experience
that I would be able to enjoy during my twilight years with a big format printed book,
but also share with others to bless their lives.
So I begin by introducing the effort to any who might be interested
and pray it will be a blessing for you as it has been for me.
*****
I have to begin by reviewing just a little for those who are new to my story....
....otherwise my mini-hikes in the foothills will be laughable to real outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen.
Best to know,
"I am a recovering cripple,"
as more than 3 years ago...in 2020...after a botched back surgery,
my right leg died or went into deep sleep making it useless. Then with a fall or two I couldn't walk and was confined to bed.
As I laid there in bed the muscles in my legs began to disappear shockingly with just bone left reminding me of holocaust victims, so I went to work doing every kind of exercise I could think of lying in my bed.... beginning with isometrics all the time.
This was basically tightening the muscles of different body parts and holding each one for 10 to 30 seconds and then repeat, then on to the other leg, arms, abdomen, chest and entire body as I couldn't let happen to my body, because of disuse, what had happened to my right leg.
My main focus was on the dead leg, so importantly I would push hard with my legs on the cabinet at the foot of my bed, holding it, then again, and again trying to force the dead leg to wake up. Eventually one leg at a time....at least first trying to teach my dead right leg to stiffen so I would hopefully be able at least to stand up.
I figured it would get my circulation going better, help my blood pressure problem that at times was dangerously out of control, keep my muscles from atrophying and disappearing, prevent all my organs from also going to sleep, and of course
keep from losing all of my strength.
Then using my good left leg to help lift the dead or sleeping one as well as with my hands moving it through the movements to remind it what it was supposed to do....so I worked at forcing my dead leg to hopefully wake up and keep up with the rest of me.
In the middle of that giant struggle I had to be taken back to the clinic groaning continually with pain in a wheelchair loaned to me by my good friend Garth Norman, with Jesse, my son, pushing me. They were shocked exclaiming, "That's not what was supposed to happen!"
Then X-rays, and an MRI followed and then being wheeled again in the wheelchair.....with constant pain, to the hospital for an emergency surgery with my continual pain that moved me to the front of the line.....to get me out of there fast so as to not scare the other patients.
After the surgery Jesse took me home and he and Nephi, another son, literally carried me into my little house (I'll show you below). The procedure helped some, but it still took me more weeks of intensive exercises in bed in my tiny mobile home first achieving being able to maintain that leg stiff so it wouldn't collapse ....otherwise I would immediately fall as the leg had no strength....like it was actually dead. Then I finally got outside with walking canes and then a walker my daughter Mahana brought me. She also came daily to change my bandages, bring me treats, and always a more than welcome smile.
Jesse and Nephi were incredible during those difficult weeks and months doing things I couldn't quite do for myself yet..........some disgusting tasks, but never a complaint.
Jesse went to work while I was totally shut-in building a porch at my entrance with a ramp that had a railing that has been a blessing. He, Nephi and Mahana doing unending things to help, as well as Marcia "Nita," another daughter, helping with critical visits and special food I needed.....all being life savers.... for which I'm most grateful.
NOTE: By the way the two or three who visited me....were shocked to see my tiny 7'x11' home...a picture of which I'd best insert below for the rest of you. In my Mountains of the Maya book, I tell the story with some detail, how this all happened.
One visitor, prior to me becoming a cripple, was a wealthy friend who was embarrassed with what he was seeing, and with grim determination blurted out,
"How can you live this way?"
What he was really saying was likely, "Aren't you ashamed to live this way?" I tried my best to explain that a simple life is what I actually believed in, especially now being alone after having lived for 35 years among needy Mayans where he had visited us once and went through the Great Earthquake of 1976 that killed 25,000 Guatemalans.
I went on to explain that most of our 35 years there we purposely lived a simple life not out of reach for our Mayan students and employees if they accepted the Good Life Principles we taught and were willing to work hard for a better life. I should outline briefly what those principles were so you won't misunderstand:
1. Cleanliness in all aspects of living...using a special system we invented to convince them of the invisible world of microbes.
2. Proper well balanced nutrition...again convincing them of its importance with a special system we created.
3. Live in a healthy, cleanable house & homesite that would be mentally stimulating.
4. United families, parents loving children, children loving parents.
5. Education for all...young and old.
6. Hard work, but learn how to work more effectively with vocational education we offered to all interested.
7. Once achieving the Good Life, share with others.
It warms my heart now....most of them calling me Papa Cordell, as it worked pretty good and today they are property owners, live in their own healthy homes in their own community...and have smart phones, all being my friends on Facebook, so in many ways I achieved my objective as today they are all better off than me, which doesn't embarrass me in the least, rather gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling....that some of you might understand!
One of them Felix Rosales, from a remote village, just became the President of the new Coban LDS Temple!
The Valparaiso community today that I personally surveyed, measured, drove the stakes, organized legally, and helped each have property and their own home they worked and paid for. With some help from me they worked hard to build their own potable water system, and get electricity for their community.
Apparently I didn't convince my wealthy friend as I never heard from him again and he soon passed on.
IRONICALLY MY TINY HOME A GREAT BLESSING!
But, once my ordeal and challenge of becoming a cripple began, I must say that my simple
tiny home has been a blessing and key element of my survival
as when needing to sit up, slide down to the end of my bed to use a portable toilet Jesse got for me, stand up, get some food, or take sponge baths, and eventually a shower...no matter what... there was always something to grab onto to help pull me up, or move me along. And, having lost most of my balance....especially when closing my eyes to wash my face, or dry it, pull a t-shirt over my head, etc. I would instantly begin falling, but I couldn't really fall as in every direction close by there was a wall, a cabinet, or something to prevent a deadly fall.
I have lived in it since 2013, during the cold months parked alongside Jesse's home in American Fork and with all my glitches since 2020 pretty well permeantly parked at Jesse's place.
From it I have managed the Guatemalan Foundation at no cost
as a 50 year volunteer until retiring it on its
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY in 2017
which I celebrated alone
with a Hot-fudge sundae at McDonalds....
... and then I went to work writing a book about my
"Impossible Dream" in the Mountains of the Maya.
My tiny home has also been my office from which I managed my
HIGH UINTAS PROJECT,
writing a two volume book that came to be known as
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS....
....which has now been divided into two books as seen below available in paperback or hardcover on AMAZON.COM
Each about 370 pages in large format (8.5" x 11.5") with wonderful color reproduction of the more than 1,400 color photographs and topographical maps of each Trailhead area, as well as the history, the legends, and the survival stories and why many were lost, but also my 8 survival experiences and why I survived, as can all who pay attention and learn the lessons I share. Many lives have been saved with the guidance given for backpacking, and hiking and enjoyment enhanced.
The second book on the right is a guide for an incredible 856 mile auto-loop tour of the High Uinta Mountains. All those who have done this rave about the experience that shows the Uintas equal to or better than many National Parks.
Now a 3rd...this BOOK about the VISIONS of NATURE.
So, back to NEVER GIVING UP.....EASILY...
.... you've maybe heard too much, so let's change it a bit with:
NEVER GIVE UP.....WITHOUT A GOOD FIGHT!
I was forcing my dead right leg to keep up with the good left one.
Gradually it began to work, and I even learned to drive my car tucking the dead right leg back under my good one, and driving with my left leg.....grateful for an automatic transmission!
The funny part of that was on my first venture out with the car.
My boys, Nephi and Jesse, noticed the car was gone and began
worrying....A LOT....and waiting for me.
On my return THEY TOOK THE KEYS AWAY FROM ME,
like as though I was some rebellious, untrustworthy teenager! I finally showed them I could do it safely and got my keys back. Now, a few years later I'm back to driving normally with both legs as my efforts finally worked and
MY DEAD LEG CAME ALIVE!
A major part of that was when my good friend Paul Edmunds, one of my wonderful 400 customers from when I gratefully worked from 2009 to 2012 for LORIE PAULSON at Reams Supermarket in Springville.... ......but Paul gave me a "Luxury style walker," and in the summer of 2022 I began going on hikes..... gradually increasing the distance from American Fork, and months later finally getting up to
Lone Peak High School in Highland (9 or 10 miles roundtrip), and then....
I decided to do the HALF MARATHON DISTANCE (13.2 miles) all the way to Alpine and back. NOTE: From 1994 to 2007 I had done 14 consecutive half marathons in Guatemala's famous Coban International Half Marathon competing with the Kenyans and other international stars until reaching 72 and not able to make more trips to Guatemala to supervise Foundation projects because of lack of funds....so no more Half Marathons..... ....UNTIL 2022!
During the night before attempting to go all the way to Alpine and back,
I dreamed of doing again the International Half Marathon in Coban, Guatemala and ....
......I FINALLY BEAT THE KENYANS DOING IT WITH MY WALKER!
NOW BACK TO REALITY....
The next day...of MY HALF MARATHON WITH MY WALKER.... was a hot day the temperature getting up to 96 degrees, and I'll confess it took me all day.....at least 6-7 hours! On the return along the North County Boulevard (a divided highway) I was stopped by two police cars who said that they were getting 911 calls from motorists about...
... an old guy with a walker on the highway that
maybe needed saving!
Apparently I didn't look too good,
but I assured them I'd make it home alright.
Then two beautiful young ladies, one in a Mustang convertible, stopped to save me. It was her, in an attempt to get me into her car, who told me it was 96 degrees! WOW, was it sweet talking to them but.....
.... I was one strong 86 year old guy, thanked them and
finally made it home by myself with my virtue intact!
I was finally building muscle again, and then moved to the parks on grass with no aids,
learning to walk like a baby, in the beginning with the help of
my infant Guardian Angel, TED...
.....you'll see TED again below a few pictures when we get to the hills where we are inserted in the foothill montage of my 2023 efforts to
NEVER GIVE UP....WITHOUT A GOOD FIGHT!
Part of that was TED teaching me to fall like a baby so I wouldn't kill myself and
learning to get up again with no gadgets to help me!
NOTE:
With my misaligned spine you see below.....my spine surgeon told me a fall would kill me,
and gave me strict instructions to use trekking poles if hiking in the hills.
.......then to climbing stairs with a railing on the south side of the American Fork Fitness Center, where the stairs face south and the snow would melt quickly...... Always in the beginning with my little buddy TED!
I hope all you friends know Ted
is a fun figment of my
imagination who I haven't seen yet....but maybe he's
there as
I couldn't have made so much progress by
myself!
Eventually I graduated from the 7" stairs seen above to 11" stairs at the American Fork Amphitheater that even in the warm months I would often do every other day alternating with hikes in the foothills.
Then, when the weather was too cold in the winter
or snowing I discovered the.... .......INSTACARE 4 floor building..
...with a drinking fountain, restroom and soft chairs on every floor, as well as a snack bar near the pharmacy.....also of course with all the EMERGENCY SERVICES NECESSARY for an old guy maybe pushing himself too much!
WOW, WHAT A WONDERFUL BUNCH of FREE EXERCISE
MACHINES....ALL OF THEM THAT HAVE HELPED SAVE MY LIFE.....for an even
BETTER DAY IN THE FUTURE!
There I enjoyably and safely persisted with my preparations for
SPRING IN THE FOOTHILLS
and when Spring 2023 came, off to......
Behind the beautiful trees of Pleasant Grove we see
THE FOOTHILLS OF MOUNT TIMPANOGOS
coming alive with Spring and we see here
the fairly restricted area I mainly focused on during the summer of 2023. Below you see me all over using the previously hated trekking poles that I always said were for wimps!
NOW LOOK WHO THE WIMP IS ........
If he can't hike without trekking poles, he needs Ted, his guardian angel,
to take him by the hand to walk!
In this montage I show two of my 2023 triumphs getting to the VALLEY VIEW SPOT going up the front of the hills, rather than the easy, safe way going up the canyon and switchbacking to the SPOT as I did my first time in 2023
represented in this Chapter 1.
Chapter 2 will be built around going up the front of the mountain the "LONGEST but SAFEST WAY."
Chapter 3 will feature "THE HARDEST...and MOST DANGEROUS WAY but SHORTEST."
Chapters 4 and 5 will be built around other hikes up the canyon and switchbacking to "THE SPOT," spiced up by my every-other-day shorter trips just in the foothills I did all Spring, Summer and Fall to keep alive.
Chapter 6
will be built around my last hike to the VALLEY VIEW SPOT ending the year in style on December 31st going up the canyon and then at the SPOT waiting for sunset pictures with which the book will conclude. Once those photos were taken I had to head down as quickly as possible...all the way with no rest.... as I had to get through the dangerous stretches, like the "ROCK & ROLL" with enough light to do it safely, and then made it to the Trailhead by dark with my hands almost frozen to my trekking poles as I had not started that hike intending to do the SPOT, so had no gloves!
Here is the first in the series I took on December 31st with me peeking at the camera.....I kept it up until the sun was out of sight, then headed down...FAST...
....you know FAST for a recovering cripple!
All hikes with my Nikon camera and special 18mm x 400 mm lens producing over 5,000 photographs....likely the best collection in existence of the foothills of the Wasatch.....what's maybe missing I will do my best to get during the 2024 season.
I'll admit all my hikes are done carefully and VERY SLOWLY and SAFELY as a fall could kill me! Actually going slow—with the STALKING PACE, blesses me.......my physical complications and age bless me even more by forcing me to go even slower which makes possible SEEING the STUNNING WONDERMENT of
NATURE I want to share with all of you.
**************************
I will level with all that in my hikes I experience constant back pain.......and other complications of being in my 88th year...but all made not only bearable and possible but something I look forward to as I am blessed being able to recognize inspiring beauty and fascination...in flowers, plants, trees, insects, animals, reptiles and in the rocks, lichens and new, mosses & birds, as well as the skies with their incredible clouds and wonderful sunsets...so I never tire of doing this at least every other day in the hills and canyons—the other day on stairs. NOTE: By 2024 I have had to do the hike in the hills every day...when temperature was above freezing, and on a few bad days at Instacare.
—otherwise my blood pressure gets out of control scary, back pain worse and once 3-4 days of "resting" had both of my legs beginning to die with no feeling, brought on two mini-strokes and for the first time since 16 years old when I experienced an NDE and shouted
"I'm a dead man,"
I actually felt like it was the end and I asked myself,
"IS THIS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN ONE IS DYING?"!
But I learned my lesson that I have to keep moving
EVERY DAY or DIE!
So, in spite of the pain, I exercise daily.... every day in
FOOTHILLS OF MT. TIMPANOGOS!
THE PLAN
I began early in the Spring documenting with photos each plant as they spring
to life, then follow their development to blossoming, and continue to the unique
process of reproduction...some plants with spectacular systems I'll show you
with some...meaning....."the whole story" on a few, good detail on many and
magnificent conclusions on all.
I will show briefly that whole process for a lot of plants,
with more emphasis on extraordinary plants that quite literally are......
....STUNNINGLY SPECTACULAR and INSPIRING....
.....BUT HARDLY ANYONE NOTICES!
Perhaps because you're low on testosterone, don't have a long zoom lens
or you concentrate more on making long hikes fast like
MARATHON BACKPACKERS
....wanting to set a record or quickly get down to
ARBY'S..."where the meats are!"
NOTE: A good level of testosterone, for man or woman, will help you have
a better mood, and enhance your ability to recognize and appreciate beauty..
..yes in the opposite sex, but also in the
beautiful VISIONS of NATURE, and even in the
CHAOS OF NATURE!
So, if you don't recognize amazing beauty in what I'm going to show you,
you need a good dose of
ANDRO 400 Max, or equivalent!
Just in 2024 AMAZON now offers this effective product and
now an even more potent Booster
ONE MORE NOTE on THE PLAN
As the 8-9 month period (March to December) progresses there will be need of adding updates to some Visions of Nature with identifications, further evolution and developments, and with identification I'll be able to include medicinal & nutrition information, all of which will be included as I get it online, and then in the final BOOK.
*****************************
NOW to the "DIVINE VISIONS"
To begin, I must say that the foothills of Timpanogos and of the Wasatch Mountains, in many ways are
DESERT ENVIRONMENTS.
That gradually changes as you get into the canyons and their creeks, and get higher and higher. I will comment as much as necessary, expand when needed, but mostly let the photographs speak for themselves in what will actually be my THIRD BOOK....or my 5th including the two now on Amazon in late November!
It will be an online book, at
the end converted to an eBook with 6 chapters ...the last couple finished online after the
season is over with the evolution of most plants going to sleep with their last gasp of life in the foothills until next Spring.
I
will then convert that into a printable book version with page numbers, footnotes, references and Index.......the link to download it to your computer might cost a donation to access ..and if
you want it printed you can take it on a thumb drive to COPYTEC or your favorite printer, or maybe we'll get it on Amazon too.
The FINISHED ONLINE PRINT VERSION will be a large format version downloadable....quite expensive to print due to many hundreds of color photos. But at least one will be printed as
I'm old school and need that
ONE....FOR ME
to thumb through and be continually inspired when I........GET OLD needing to remember all the hundreds of awakening moments on my hundreds of therapy/hikes in the FOOTHILLS OF TIMPANOGOS!
NOTE: The color pictures will not be the tiny ones most reference books of recognized organizations have in their FIELD GUIDES to WILDFLOWERS. The final print version will be large format, 8.5" x 11.5" as are my other books. I might even try FOR ME 11" x 13" as is photographer Willie Holdman's wonderful book, TIMPANOGOS.
With that "FOR ME" it will likely occur to you that this whole effort is
actually selfishly FOR ME....to keep me alive... which is true as it actually began
for me like a personal photo/journal, but I sincerely hope
it will be enjoyed
by many and be life saving for a few others as
has been
the case with my HIGH UINTAS books, and with the ...
..MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA book that describes
saving thousands
with the potential of much more than that in the long run!
NOW
LET'S GO HAVE SOME FUN!
I WILL STOP HERE UNTIL THE BOOK IS FINISHED IN THE FALL
WHEN YOU WILL BE ADVISED HERE, LIKELY IN AN
EMAIL TO MY FRIENDS & ON FACEBOOK.
***********
NOW INFORMATION ABOUT MY
Books:
NOTE:
After the following will come information about my original book, with index.
HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS & LIGHWEIGHT BACKPACKING
and
GUIDE FOR 856 MILE AUTO-LOOP TOUR OF UINTAS
Available in paperback and in hard cover you see here. The hardcover version has better paper and excellent color reproduction like you see above. Go to: Amazon.com
Return to Home page for more info and glimpses of pages from the books and information to get original book online with page numbers and index.
Original printed book in 2 volumes, but also available online. Information on Home page and on my personal website.
*****************
The books tell the story of GOLD IN THE UINTAS including the direction how to find it, so.....
.....GOING FOR THE GOLD!
The story in brief.....
For many years it has been thought that Spanish priests Escalante and Dominguez were
"the first white people to visit the Uinta Basin and see at a distance the High Uinta Mountains."
But, history mentions they came north following
"the old Spanish trail,"
which means it was a trail that already existed made previously by Spanish explorers....right?
I relate the story in my HIGH UINTAS BOOK, regarding
GOLD IN THE UINTAS and THE LOST RHODES MINE,
how that happened as early as the mid 1500's
when Spaniards were the first white men to see the High Uintas!
For "the rest of the story" and quotes how to find the gold, and
even
pictures of whole mountains of it,
you'll have to get
MY BOOK, details how below:
THE HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS BOOK
Originally this book was a digital book available online for a small fee. Then a surprising number of friends wanted a printed version, which had to be done in two volumnes.
It has now been divided by the publisher into two books available on www.amazon.com as explained and shown in the beginning of this post. What is described below is the unique contents of both books that no other books on the High Uinta Mountains have.
*****************************
The first book, THE HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS, is the only book on the High Uintas that has up-to-date information about the lakes with color topographical maps showing the routes and distances to each lake, as well as being the only guide book that has HISTORY, LEGENDS, SURVIVAL STORIES of those who didn't make it and why, plus MY OWN 8 SURVIVAL STORIES & why I'm still around in my late 80's.
There is also an important chapter in the AUTO-TOUR book on...
.. LIGHTWEIGHT --JOYFUL & SAFE BACKPACKING ANYWHERE that first explores WHY WE EXPLORE,
and even a section on why one outdoor expert from the East
on a BYU Radio talk show called me a...
"BAD ASS BACKPACKER!"
The explanation about what to some might
sound "bad" and "vulgar" needing to be bleeped out by BYU,
but it is clarafied as "a good thing" for outdoor lovers!"
You'll have to decide for yourself....good, or bad?
Plus 15 Appendices also in the Auto-Tour book
with all kinds of additional information unique to this book,
like references to the
High Uinta Project in Backpacker Magazine
and
A full-page spread color photo & article from
The Salt Lake Tribune,
plus articles on:
Giardia,
Personal Locater Beacons, a
Tie Hacker Museum in Wyoming,
Another article about me in
Combat Handguns magazine,
The Legend of Big & Little Foot,
The Central Utah Project,
Visions of Nature,
A Mosaic of hundreds of High Uinta Friends,
High Altitude Sickness,
and a big section with all my secrets on the
AGING CHALLENGE,
with pictures below used in that story of my struggle to remain active and useful,
which likely will enhance your life too!
Just for health and longevity purposes
THE PURCHASE PRICE IS A STEAL!
&
Bill does have a lot more hair than me, but also too much other stuff!
Only the original book also has a 14 page index.
HOW to ACQUIRE THE BOOK
For either of the books below:
Above we see the hardcover version that has better paper and wonderful color reproduction. Both hardcover and paperback are large format 8.5" x 11.5". Go to Amazon for details.
If, for whatever reasons you still want the original as offered already, follow the instructions below.
To acquire a digital copy of the 730 page ebook, send me $30 and your email address to:Cordell M. Andersen
444 Elm St.
American Fork, Utah 84003
On receipt of your order I will immediately email you a link to download the book to your computer along with my permission to share the link with one other friend.
PRINT COPIES
For a print copy in two volumes as seen above the spiral version
is the most practical as pages will remain open.
The other version is mainly for libraries with a place
to list call numbers.
Every library in the U.S. should have this book as
there is no other book about the
HIGH UINTAS
or
SAFE, ENJOYABLE BACKPACKING ANYWHERE
that even comes close.
I do not personally handle orders for print copies anymore as I did in the beginning for about 60 more than willing to pay big bucks to get it, but now suggest my favorite printer below. Prices in the beginning were relatively low as I got a quantity discount for the 60 who were willing to pay almost anything, but prices have risen a lot, so you will have to talk to the printer....but for a single copy you can expect the cost to be around $200. They do excellent color reproduction with great paper.
Also they can do a black & white version that will cost about 1/3rd of what color will cost.
Of course you can get it done at your favorite printer by taking to the printer a thumb drive with the book. If you go to Office Max, remember my experience is that they printed all the pictures too dark, so give strict instructions to avoid that and get better color reproduction.
Best call COPYTEC.
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