We were all a bit nervous because none of us had really been up there for an extended overnight trip this late in the season. We had also never brought a dog to climb high peaks before. We all discussed the necessities and what else we might need to bring due to the cold weather. Apparently, we focused too much on some things and not enough on others, as Jeff forgot to bring Justin's GPS, that he borrowed, that he always brings with us and helps us to locate trailheads and even gives us the directions that we need to get there in the first place.
Luckily, the two of them had climbed the Dix range before and were pretty sure of how to get there. I decided that I'd print some directions off Mapquest before we left just to be safe. When they couldn't exactly remember the directions half way there, we opted to follow the directions that I had printed off earlier. When we arrived at the Elk Lake Lodge, the guys expressed to me that this is not the place that they had started their trip the previous venture. We decided to consult the Adirondack High Peaks guide book that we had and to pull out the map to locate our position. After ten minutes of working together to locate ourselves and the trails we wanted to follow, we decided that we'd park the truck and hike in from this location. The guys were excited about following a different trail and it being a more unique experience for them this way.
After we geared up for our hike to hopefully establish our occupancy at one of the two lean-to's on the trail, we made our way and found ourselves a bit confused on the 4 mile hike. It was exciting, though. We weren't confused about directions or where we were headed, or even the agenda for the day, but we were all looking to each other for plans for the rest of the trip. I looked to Justin, as he has been hiking for much longer than I have, and it seemed as if the two of them were looking to me to have the plan as it was my idea in the first place, I guess. I found it surprising and I was proud that they would actually look to me to lead them. It seems ever since my Racquette Lake, 18 high peak excursion, that I have gained a lot of respect from them and the other guys we usually hike with. This was a big deal for me because I have always looked to Justin for acceptance as my future brother-in-law, and have always admired him for being a straight-forward, honest, first-in-line-to-help, man's man, kind of guy. I have a lot of respect for him, to say the least, and when he showed me that kind of respect and trust to lead him on this journey it felt great, even if I wasn't prepared for it. We all laughed about the whole thing, but I decided that I would take charge.
The first day, the same day we hiked in to the lean-to (yea we got one, thank god!), we also set up camp and hiked Dix Mountain. It was an awesome mountain, but the view at the summit was pretty much zero. You could only see about 5 feet in front of your face and you just stared into white. It was like holding a piece of paper an inch from your face. It was a bit disappointing, but still a good time even though it rained the entire time and we had to hike down in the dark.
We made it back to camp where we noticed we were lucky to get it as there must've been 12 tents set up behind it. I bet all of those people were hoping for a lean-to as well. We stripped out of our rain gear and wet clothes, butt cheeks all over the place, and hurried to get into some warm clothes and sleeping bags before any of our new neighbors caught the three of us with our pants down. We started to discuss what we wanted to do for the rest of the trip and we decided that we would try to do as much of the rest of the range on Saturday as we could and then hike out early Sunday morning. I told them that the rest of the trails were unmarked trails and that we should be alright as long as we kept our eyes open. They seemed a little reluctant, and I could tell that they were really wishing they had that GPS now. They finally agreed and told me that I had better get them out of here alive. I wasn't worried.
We woke up the next morning, of course to more rain, ate breakfast, and geared up. We headed to the area where the trailhead to Macomb mountain was said to be according to my book. I told them that I was pretty sure it was where the other lean-to was and we hiked to it. We were all set to head up this trail that I located, when we began talking to the other group of hikers who were staying at this lean-to and luckily, they told us the real location of this trailhead, about another 1/4 mile farther. Oops. That would've been bad. They looked at me with an 'Oh god' kind of look, but I told them it was an honest mistake and it'd be the only one of the day. We hiked on.
What an awesome sight. After hiking up a mostly wooded trail, we crossed a stream and came to the most magnificent rock slide I have ever seen. It would've been even better if you could see the whole thing without complete whiteness impairing our vision, but it was awesome none the less. Giant boulders, trickling water, and bare rock face up and down this side of the mountain. I have to say that this was the visual highlight of the trip. We also hiked South Dix Mountain on the trip, but of all the sights, this was the best.
I am usually all about the views and the nature, the time for reflection and the relaxation that I normally encounter on my trips, but this trip brought me something else. I bonded with my soon-to-be brother-in-law and we really go to know each other and had a great time. Because of the weather, most of our hiking time was cut short as it got dark quite early, and seemed to wear on some of us mentally which brought us back to camp early. We had some time to just hang out and talk and it was a benefit of hiking that I usually only experience with my girl. Although the weather was awful and the nights were cold, this trip was very rewarding for many other reasons and reasons I wouldn't trade.
However, I will be going back to hit these summits again and to finish the range. Oh, and I will make sure that it's a nice weather day. Not a day where icicles are hanging from tree branches and the view is nothing but whiteness.
We made it back to camp where we noticed we were lucky to get it as there must've been 12 tents set up behind it. I bet all of those people were hoping for a lean-to as well. We stripped out of our rain gear and wet clothes, butt cheeks all over the place, and hurried to get into some warm clothes and sleeping bags before any of our new neighbors caught the three of us with our pants down. We started to discuss what we wanted to do for the rest of the trip and we decided that we would try to do as much of the rest of the range on Saturday as we could and then hike out early Sunday morning. I told them that the rest of the trails were unmarked trails and that we should be alright as long as we kept our eyes open. They seemed a little reluctant, and I could tell that they were really wishing they had that GPS now. They finally agreed and told me that I had better get them out of here alive. I wasn't worried.
We woke up the next morning, of course to more rain, ate breakfast, and geared up. We headed to the area where the trailhead to Macomb mountain was said to be according to my book. I told them that I was pretty sure it was where the other lean-to was and we hiked to it. We were all set to head up this trail that I located, when we began talking to the other group of hikers who were staying at this lean-to and luckily, they told us the real location of this trailhead, about another 1/4 mile farther. Oops. That would've been bad. They looked at me with an 'Oh god' kind of look, but I told them it was an honest mistake and it'd be the only one of the day. We hiked on.
What an awesome sight. After hiking up a mostly wooded trail, we crossed a stream and came to the most magnificent rock slide I have ever seen. It would've been even better if you could see the whole thing without complete whiteness impairing our vision, but it was awesome none the less. Giant boulders, trickling water, and bare rock face up and down this side of the mountain. I have to say that this was the visual highlight of the trip. We also hiked South Dix Mountain on the trip, but of all the sights, this was the best.
I am usually all about the views and the nature, the time for reflection and the relaxation that I normally encounter on my trips, but this trip brought me something else. I bonded with my soon-to-be brother-in-law and we really go to know each other and had a great time. Because of the weather, most of our hiking time was cut short as it got dark quite early, and seemed to wear on some of us mentally which brought us back to camp early. We had some time to just hang out and talk and it was a benefit of hiking that I usually only experience with my girl. Although the weather was awful and the nights were cold, this trip was very rewarding for many other reasons and reasons I wouldn't trade.
However, I will be going back to hit these summits again and to finish the range. Oh, and I will make sure that it's a nice weather day. Not a day where icicles are hanging from tree branches and the view is nothing but whiteness.
You really seem to love hiking, and so do your buddies. Thats awesome that you took a dog with you and had an exciting weekend. Definitely always bring a gps with you in case of an accident of getting lost. When I went hiking in the spring there was still icicles and lots of snow in caverns. It was really cool to see all of it still preserved. Good luck on your hiking adventure.
ReplyDeleteOk before i even write about this post, as i was writing i saw the number of adirondack mtns you have climbed. My brother did the same he was gone for so long and he was camping the entire time, so he smelled awful when he came back haha. But anyways...impressive! Ok. So now onto your blog. I liked the part where you mentioned how you brought some things along and not others for the trip. As you continually mentioned in some way or another throughout, it clearly made your experience more difficult. But, in the end you gained a whole world of things because of it. Very good i enjoyed reading it a bunch.
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