Adirondack Mountains, NY

11:01 AM

The sign at the trail head said it was close to a 2,000 feet ascent. It would be 4.8 miles round trip. The guide book also said the end would provide one of the most picturesque views of the High Peaks. After yesterday’s manly breakfast, we found a parking spot and loaded up our packs. I had two protein bars, a bottle of water, my camera, a hat, and a jacket. My Millerenium shirt soon found its way into the pack as well. The start of the hike was gradual and the ground was muddy in a lot of places from all of the rain the northeast had been getting. I did my best to keep the New Balance’s clean. All of the breakfasts and dinners and drinks began to sweat out of me. I hadn’t been to the gym in over a week and we had lived it up. The long sleeve T was off and soon we were all huffing and puffing as we stopped for a drink. We wondered how many other hikers were out until 3 AM.

I am not a supremely experienced hiker and the Cascade trail was much easier than that of the Precipice in Acadia National Park, but it was no walk in the park either. We scaled large boulders and hopped from stone to stone. Large steps were the most strenuous, as you planted a leg high and drove up with your knee and thigh. I could feel the burn each time. This was a much prettier gym. The four of us traded off spots in the lead. It was not a race by any means, but we moved quickly. The view lingered ahead. As we huffed and puffed many other hikers were on their way down. They were more jovial and friendly than we were. A “How’s it going?” was followed by them getting a scent of four sweaty guys passing them as we forged on to our goal. Passing us were families with young kids and couples in their 70′s. I was winded, but if they did it, so was I.

I may have been the first to ask the opposite flow of traffic how close we were. When they responded “A third of the way,” that was not what any of us wanted to hear. The birds chirped and wind blew the tress above us. The trail was blanketed by the tress and we didn’t have a lot of sun, but the packs on our back caused a lot of sweat. Petzy had a camel back and the rest of us bottled it. We kept rising, wondering when we’d get to the top of the mountain. We’d see an opening after a rise and think we were there, but it would just be more trail. A real smart kid or one who thought he was real smart told us we were .6 miles away. We laughed to each other and took him at his word. We were getting closer.

As the climb continued, my philosophical mind began to wander. Sean and I were in the back and I said that hiking is like life. You keep moving forward, thinking you’ve found what you’re looking for, but it just keeps going. It’s all about little goals until you get to the top. But once you’re there, then you have to get back down.

The hike continued. The sun began to peak through the trees more and more. I did my best to follow Mike, but he is much taller than I am. His strides were hard to match and I found myself missing spots. I eventually took my focus off his feet and onto my own trail. Geez, more philosophy.

Soon, we enjoyed what the passerby’s were saying. “You’re almost there.” And “It’s worth it.” Our space sped up. The rocks became larger. We hopped up and found ourselves in a clearing. The sun hit us and we got out our water. Above us was the final climb up a large boulder trail to the top of the mountain. The view was already spectacular, but we hadn’t come this far to sit at almost the top. We shot up, following the painted yellow rectangles. The wind was incredibly strong at the top. Strong enough where you had to plant yourself to avoid getting caught in it and propelled to an edge you don’t want to go over. The locals we met and the guidebook were right. This was beautiful. We had a 360 degree view of the mountain chain. The four of us high fived each other. The hike was so worth it.

The hazy clouds were low, but we could see peak after peak. At the top, it didn’t take us long to find a spot on the side of the mountain shielded from the wind. I am no weatherman, but I felt like I was doing a live report where the reporter was whipped all around. The rock wall secluded us and the sun shone bright upon our face. The cameras were out in full force and we got some beauties.

A what we guessed to be European couple in their 70′s were close to us. They had their shoes off and ate the lunch they had packed. Two guys in their 40′s or 50′s talked about business and investments. The four of us didn’t say much. We didn’t have to. The sights spoke for themselves.

Sean was the first to lie down and rest his head on his backpack. I soon followed. A bird sat at the top of a tree below us and chirped a sweet melody. I shut my eyes and let the sun hit me. Peace. We stayed at the top of the mountain for about an hour, getting views from all angles. More people arrived. The wind blew a Red Sox hat right into Petzy’s pack. He saved someone a trip to Lake Placid’s, Where you’d get that Hat? Mother Nature is as powerful as any drug that can be made. If you just let yourself feel it, the outdoors can do wonders for the psyche, soul, and mind.

Out trip had been incredible and this was the perfect way to top it off. As I said, hiking is like life. You just have to keep on going and adapting.

 

 

Back

7/2/2006

Rochester, NY

11:20 PM

We made it back to Rochester tonight. Fatigue to the umpteenth degree. I’ve slept in a bed once since we left. Journals and pix tomorrow. Time to unpack and crash. Then work and get prepared for my brother, sister in law and nieces’ arrival as well as the 4th of July.