A little thinking on a rainy NON HIKING day...damn!

This past summer and fall has been wonderful for me as far as getting up in to the high peaks and other parts of the Adirondacks which I love. I have become in better shape, I now have hiking buddies, one who is very gung-ho. They are all my age and have similar issues finding time to go hiking; I think that what I really need to do is begin to make friends with some of the ADK members. This is hard for me as I am a classic introvert. There are functions that our local Glens Fall Chapter has that I should just go to meet people, or just go on one of the organized hikes. But I seem to keep finding and excuse not to. I really don’t like the idea of going up with a group of 8 people that I have not met. I would rather go in a small group of three or four people.

I think that what I am going to do is volunteer for the local work ADK days, and go to the trail work seminar and the leave no trace course that the ADK offers in the spring. These situations are easier for me to meet people, than at a dinner or other function. Something about working next to someone that for me is easier to make a new friend.

To you people who are extraverts being shy really sucks the big one.

I also think that I need to organize my outings more . I am not saying right now that I wish to be a 46r, as if I do I have an obsessive tendency and I do not need to do that right now. With that said I think that I am going to be more efficient with my hiking to ...ummm see more interesting places…yes that’s it. I have 7 high peaks now (it doesn’t count that I hiked Algonquin twice this year) and I want to hike more. I also have 2 sections of the NPT done and I want to do more next year. I am not a winter hiker I think that I will concentrate my efforts this winter on keeping and getting in better shape and in the early spring to take care of the preserves and once mud season is done, hit the trails. All I need is that little thing time.

Being in the Season

When I graduated from college I took a job as a land surveyor. It started out as an outside job and that is just what I wanted as I was looking for that type of job. One of the features that I liked about working outside was I became more in tune with the environment: Really the seasons. I felt the bite of winter, the explosiveness of spring, the lushness of summer, and the abundance of fall. I lost that for a while.

Summer for me even when I was young always met work and I really didn’t like summers back then or up until 5 years ago. Summer met hard work in hot conditions whether it was in the field as a surveyor or in the inferno of a bread bakery that I worked at for ten years. I first was in a hurry for time to pass as most young people are because I and they seem to be in a hurry to pay their dues so they may attain an artificial goal that they have set for themselves. Then I would wish summer away as it was so hectic and hot. There is a point to this I promise please read on. I found myself watching the seasons go by faster and faster and now at middle age I would like them to slow a bit. I am sure that the feeling of time slipping by too fast is very common among people of our age.

Up until 5 years ago I would look forward to the cooler weather of September and could not wait for my favorite month to come, October so I could enjoy the cool weather, Halloween and all the stuff that goes with being in fall in the Northeast. Until 5 years ago I let this time be too busy, and all of a sudden it would be late October and our Halloween decorations were not put up and we hurried to decorate and then, poof it was Thanksgiving and I remember thinking to myself, “Next year I will enjoy the season more.” Next year came and went and I would repeat this phrase.

When I hit 40 I basically said enough of this crap! I am going to enjoy each an every season regardless of work and whatever became an obstacle in my enjoyment of the outside in the season. How did I do this one of you may ask?

I first took charge of physical self. I started watching what I ate and walked more. It was during these walks, once I was in better shape that I began to pay attention to the entire environment. I noticed the trees; the birds; animals; smells and a plethora of other outdoor stimulations that tickle the senses and made me aware of my surroundings. Besides my physical self I at this time seemed to work on my mental self with regards to immersing myself within my surroundings. One of the actions that I have taken for myself was to become a volunteer for the Lake George Land Conservancy as a Preserve Steward for a local land preserve. I would go up and do work on the trails, or just go up there for some exercise, I make sure that I go up there once a week. This has helped me immerse myself in the seasons again almost the same way I was in tune with my environment when I was a surveyor 15 years ago. I feel the seasons change because I now notice the strength of the sun when it shines on me or notice the different smells of the season. Each season has a smell and feeling to it. Something that outdoorsman, farmers, loggers and the like know and understand. I now, even when I take my Newfoundland for a walk in the neighborhood just simply immerse myself in the moment of the walk; to take in the seasonal sensations and not think about anything; to exist and observe in the moment. I think that this is just another way of living the old saying “Stop and smell the roses.” I would like to add to that stop and smell the roses before your life passes you by.

All I can say is that I am enjoying each season now for what it is. Even when I drive to work I will roll the windows down so I can get a hint of the smells that the world gives to me. That way I am enjoying the world much more.

Pooping in the woods...

Pooping and for the ladies peeing in the woods the wrong way I think is the reason the DEC is developing such stringent regulations on camping in the High Peaks to control the human impact on the Flowed Land Corridor. On a recent trip into the campsites around Uphill lean-to I found a lot of unburied toilet paper close to the campsite and even within the campsite proper. Come on people even a dog doesn’t crap or pee where it sleeps. With all the hiking I did this summer and the trail work that I did on the Lake George Land Conservancy’s preserves, I spent a good amount of time on the trails, and 98 percent of the litter I saw was tp.

If you are a newbie to the woods tp is biodegradable, but will be visible for months after it is dropped on the ground. Also, please do your business off the trail. You never know who will be walking around the corner.

I would like to put forth and idea. The hikers of the area will hate it but I think that this idea would be better than what the DEC seems to be doing in the Flowed Lands Corridor, namely limiting where you can camp.

The idea is to make hikers and campers take a hiking course to allow them to purchase a hiking license. This course would be similar to a hunter’s safety course and would be taught by the DEC or approved organizations like the ADK. There are many other items that could be taught that could actually save people lives. I also think that if hikers are more comfortable with the woods they will be a little more comfortable going off the trail to take care of their personal business.

Information that could be covered:
-Proper clothing
-being prepared
-proper gear
-how to poop in the woods
-bear safety
-using a map and compass
And many, many other topic that would be important for the new hikers

Wright and Algonquin

Today a friend and myself climbed Wright Peak and Algonquin in the Adirondacks. This was my second time up Algonquin this summer. My buddy hasn't climb Algonquin yet and the first time I climbed it we didn't have an opportunity to climb Wright so this time up I bagged that peak.

One of the things that I was a little concerned about was the tops of the High Peaks above 4500 feet were covered in new snow. We had the right cold weather gear but didn't have any creepers. Actually, there was a little ice on Algonquin, but the snow was only a couple of inches at the top. It did make the peak beautiful and it gave us the feel of the coming winter. Here are some pics.

The Flowed Lands from Algonquin

Lake Colden

Algonquin from Wright

The Heart Lake Vally in it's Fall splendor

Skylight!!!!

On Saturday the 20th of September my trail mates and myself went on a little adventure into the Flowed Lands to climb Skylight and Grey peaks in the Adirondack High Peaks. We went in at the Tahawus trailhead and planned on either staying at the Uphill lean-to or the Feldspar lean-to or in one of the campsites around these two shelters. The hike into Lake Colden was not bad, a sight steady climb, and the trail is in good shape. Near Lake Colden we passed a new Lean-to and a new designated campsite.

Lake Colden looking N, early the second day.

At this time we were noticing that all the lean-to's and campsites that we had passed were filled right up and it was at this time that I was a little worried about where we were going to stay.

Now the trail became difficult, especially with backpacks on. While difficult it was rewarding with some of the views that this route afforded us.

In fact some of the gorges were 150 feet deep in spots.

We made camp at a tent site just before the Feldspar lean-to. It was a bit off the trail and we had to move some logs to make room for our tents. We had our site set up, had lunch and headed off to climb Skylight with our light packs. Just before we reached the Four Corners we arrived at Lake Tear of the Clouds. At the outlet we found the cairin that marks the beginning of the trail to Grey Peak.

Outlet of Lake Tear of the Clouds

Skylight was just about .75 mi. ahead and we were on top of the summit before we knew it and we were greeted with spectacular views. Also, there were very few people as it seemed that Marcy had all the rest of the hikers in the region. (We found out from a ranger that most of the hikers actually went up Algonquin Mt.)

Redfield Mt???

Mt Marcy

Mt Colden and the Mac Intyre Range

When we were ready to leave we decided that we didn't have time to do Grey and headed to the camp as it was pushing 4 pm when we started off the mountain.

We arrived hungry and immediately began making dinner. During this time two parties walked up to our site and one asked if there was room and the other, well that SOB just marched right into our site and looked around and said "Well no room for us." and walked out. That pissed me off, but our more experienced hiker said that's the way it is here since the DEC is limiting where and how you can camp. In all that was the only little cloud to a literally cloudless day.

When we were getting ready to call it a night we noticed odd old scratches on the trees, which turned out to be bear claws as they climbed the tree for the bear bags. We use a bear canister. We slept, no incidents, but we slept lightly.

There were a lot of these marks on all the trees in the camp

The next day we hiked out and even though the trail up beat us up a little we had a great time. Another glorious adventure.

Day 4 The Hike Out

All that rain that we had didn't go anywhere before we hiked out. The trail was covered with water. The little dried up stream beds were now fill with 2 and 3 feet of water. My trail companions were very resourceful at keeping their feet dry. There were more industrious than a platoon of SEABEE's and could build a bridge out of thin air. After about 3 miles into our odyssey, I had enough with the high wire bridges and started to slog through the water and once my feet were wet I just marched in a straight line. Guide saw things my way and followed suit, but Trailblazer, must had walked an extra 3 miles to keep her feet out of water.

Even though the extra water made the travel more difficult, it also made the woods more beautiful. We stopped many times to gaze at the small waterfalls that were normally the providence of the spring runoff and not common in mid-August. We also stopped many times to see the huge trees, some 4 and 5 feet in diameter. I have never seen so many trees so large.

We made it out tired and footsore, but very happy. This 4 day trip into the heart of the Adirondacks was a very fulfilling experience for me. One that I will remember and repeat soon.

Day 3 17 Aug 2008 Spruce Lake

I woke up first to a beautiful morning. I really wish I had a fishing pole right at that moment as the lake was like glass and I knew it was full of hungry trout. We petty much had the same routine that we did the previous day, only I felt even better than the day before. We headed out to Spruce Lake along the NPT.

The weather was nice and the trail, though muddy at first dried out and we had an easy walk into Spruce Lake. The woods were as interesting and full of variety as the last two days and I really enjoyed the walk into the lake. Just before we reach the Spruce #3 lean-to we found a couple of boats chained to trees. We wondered how the hell some determined person got these in. We stopped and had lunch at Spruce #3, which was gorgous and would have made for a nice place to camp, but Guide and Trail Blazer wanted to go to Spruce # 1 at the S end of the lake, so we headed S. we made a quick visit to Spruce #2 to check it out and moved on to Spruce #1.

We were very disappointed when we reached Spruce #1 as the Lean-to was set far away from the lake and was built in an area that water would drain if it rained. You could tell by the way the ground looked. We had to make a decision here as we did not like the site but it was 9.5 mi from the trailhead, while not only would we have to back track ¾ mi, but we would have a 10.3 mi walk out and for my footsore companions there were not happy about either choice, but they thought it was best to go back to Spruce #2, which was a nice site, but the lean-to needed work as some of the floorboards have no support underneath. The decision proved to be the most correct one and is a reason why it is good to hike with experienced people.

We didn’t get much sleep that night as, just after dinner and right when we were settling down to a comfortable night in camp, we heard thunder and saw flashes of lightening. The first storm was the most violent and only lasted for 20 minutes, but we had straight-line winds, a lightening strike 150 feet away from the lean-to, ½ hail and torrential rain. We were dry and comfortable in our lean-to. We had a brief respite and we watched trout jumping just off shore. Oh I wish I had a damn pole. About 45 minutes later another round hit, but it was not as intense, but it rained for another 10 hours. We didn’t sleep much, but we were snug as a bug in a rug in our shelter.