sleeping at the summit

tent on the rocky open summit of Hadley Mtn

my dad on the tower at sunset

I have climbed Hadley Mountain more times that I have kept track...in all of the seasons and with many different combinations of people.  It is close to home, is a great open summit as well as a relatively easy climb but early in the season it is enough of a challenge that it helps get you back in climbing shape.  On most of the hikes up Hadley my father is alongside of me and we have often talked about camping on the mountain for a night.  Just to say we did.  The weather looked too good to be true and so on a whim my father and I grabbed our equipment and a couple of freeze dried meals and headed up to Fire Tower Road.  At 5:10pm we signed into the trail head with hopes of making it to the top by 7:00pm with our "full packs".  Sunset was scheduled for 8:21pm.  Normally I wouldn't think it was such a great idea to climb this mountain with an additional 20+ pound pack on my back....but photographing and experiencing a sunset and sunrise in person on this mountain was motivating.  The beginnings of black fly season and their swarms kept me pushing ahead.  Strangely we made it to the summit in the same amount of time it usually takes us with just a day pack, which reassures me that my plan for a 4 night 26 mile July backpack is not too adventurous for this pair of hikers who have not maintained the level of fitness that is optimal for the rugged trails of the most remote high peaks.   At 6:30pm we had plenty of time to set up camp.  My father suggested setting up the tent below the summit near the observers cabin.  I on the other hand made the case for sleeping on the mountain should mean at the summit.  So a nice flat soft mossy area at the base of the tower was chosen for the site.  Dinner was quickly prepared in the new GSI Dualist cookware I got for Christmas.  We had coffee and chocolate chip cookies as the sun began to set while a comfortable breeze blew just enough to keep the bugs away. 

sunset

It was perfectly quiet; serene.  The sunset's beauty cannot be accurately captured by the camera...or at least by this operator of the camera.  No photograph can relay or evoke the same spiritual feeling that is produced by actually being in the moment.  It is the feeling that would be priceless if we could somehow bottle it and save it for later...when we can't break away from the real world and it's demands.   After a night of little sleeping and mostly listening the wind flap the parachute-like tent rain fly....seeing the sunrise over the misty fog between the rolling mountains to the east completed the awesomeness!  We packed up and started down the mountain at 6:30am...a 12 hour adventure.  

sunrise

Rock Pond near Indian Lake, NY

 Actually hiking on some snow for the first time this year.  I bare booted it...but most of the group wore snowshoes.  They would have been handy for the bushwack part of the trip we did.  I post holed for about half a mile but the destination was well worth the effort.  Total mileage was just under four. 

 Part of the Rock River as it flows into Rock Pond.

 Crossing Rock Pond with a look back at Blue Mountain. 

Spectacle Pond

Love this 3 mile round trip hike in Schroon Lake.  Did it twice in the month of February.  Once with the coworkers and once with my husband.  I am making a hiker out of him!  Totally planning to camp here as soon as it is warm enough.  I am thinking mid May. 

New Years Day on Tongue Mountain

 

My 3rd annual New Year's Day Hike with some awesome coworkers and their significant others.  We like to find a lean to, build a fire and eat heartily!!  This year's buffet included shrimp, hot beef stew, deviled eggs, cheese and pepperoni and beverages.  These people are not afraid to carry some heavy food and drink.  A couple of bottles of wine, some physician's assistant's recommended Yagermeister and several cans of beer made the trip.  Too long partying at the lean to contributed to our hike down the mountain in the dark and rain.  It was icy and slippery; my first time using my microspikes which are well worth the investment.  My father bought himself a pair the next day.  Nonetheless, it was a perfect start to 2012. 

#26 Lower Wolfjaw

Well, we are getting the first real snow storm of the season with only 3 weeks to go until the first day of spring! How appropriate with this strangly warm...snowless up until now...winter we have been having. I have been getting my map of the high peaks out at night already debating which mountains will be summitted in a july backpacking trip. Even the snow above 4,000 feet will be gone by then. We have 20 peaks to go and I would like to make a big dent in that number this season. My husband is likely to join my father and I on one of what I hope to be two summer backpack trips in the high peak region. I would like to take Reagan on that trip as well as an overnight at Spectacle Pond in Schroon Lake. Anyway, during this planning stage I realized that I have fallen behind in my reporting to the 46ers but reminded myself that all of my hikes are captured here on the blog. Oops, except for Lower Wolf Jaw. The lone hiked high peak of 2011. I cannot believe how the pace of life kept us from doing more than ONE peak. On July 4, 2011 we parked at a pull off of route 73 near the AMR but not having to cross their land. We hiked alongside Deer Creek on a very picturesque trail. Now when I say "we" I mean my father and I and my son Greg and his girlfriend Mikayla. I have figured out the carrot that will lead Greg up a few more high peaks. Lucky for me he has a very athletic and enthusiastic girlfriend who more than willingly agreed that it would be nice for her and Greg to come along. In much better shape, they hiked way ahead of us and had plenty of time to rest at the summit waiting for us and their lunch! At only about 9 miles it was a good hike to tackle as the first and only hike of the season. My father and I took it easy, rested quite a bit and drank plenty of gatorade. It was a hot one. We are now at 26. Greg has 4 and Mikayla 1. The hike was pretty uneventful, a nice return to the peaks and we were done early enough to eat at the Noonmark Diner for the first time.