ADK 46er Hike #2 2012 Columbus Day Weekend

We spent the long holiday weekend climbing mountains in the cold with wet boots. The frog tog outfit kept my body dry and warm but it had mud all over it by the time the weekend was over. Plastic bags used as water barriers did not keep socks or feet dry. Inside the lean-to, we had a clothes line covered with wet socks by the time the weekend was over. Using trees to hold onto to avoid the deep puddles actually caused tendinitis in my hand. While this is likely to be our messiest hike, we met great people and even broke bread with some.

October 5, 2012

Like the crazy kids that we are, we started hiking in just before midnight. The path was slippery, a stream most of the way, with a mix of snow and slush falling from the sky. Headlamps lit the falling snowflakes in front of our faces, providing a slightly surreal feeling. I quickly snapped out of that surrealism when I slipped on a pyramid shaped rock and fell on my shin, gashing it open. But at least I saved the "royal jewels"! Around 4:30am we arrived at the lean-to near Bradley Pond to find it occupied. After searching for a place to set-up camp, and discovering all the best spots were already taken, we finally settled on a cramped space next to a large rock and a tree trunk.

October 6, 2012

After a few hours sleep we woke and began preparing for our climb. Breakfast was shared with a family of mice, gross! Katie kept the mice at-bay while I cooked breakfast. We ended up eating while standing and had to constantly scare the mice away from our eggs & oatmeal. They know where the good stuff is at! Quick little buggers!

Katie had done her research on the internet and printed out maps which others had made and posted online to show where the trails are. The ADK community does a great job helping to maintain the trails, and to report on the conditions of the trails recently hiked. From the lean-to head south to Times Square, then west to Bradley Pond, walk over the beaver dam while holding onto the tress to find the path. The path to Herald Square follows a brook for much of the journey. Once at Herald Square you have 3 options, north to Panther Mountain, west to Couchsachraga Mountain (Couchi), or south to Santanoni Mountain.

Heading south from Herald Square it opens up to a valley where you can see across to Santanoni. The clouds were passing by quickly. The ice and frost on the trees built up sideways from the branches. It was windy and cold, how could anything survive up here during the winter? After going through the valley and over a few false summits to top of Santanoni, we met 3 young adults who were able to direct us to the "express trail" down the mountain. The sun would soon be setting, and we would be traveling down a different path than we had climbed up. I took to looking at the compass, the surrounding valleys and hills, and the map every five minutes! Probably too much but there was no way we were getting lost. It required headlamps, but we made it back safe to camp.

October 7, 2012

Another night in the tent, another morning warming up boots with the stove. We filled our bellies with warm oatmeal and eggs, and again made our way up the brook. This time at Herald Square we headed west for Couchi. At the top of Couchi we met two gentleman who were putting up a new sign. Apparently folks sometimes steal the signs from the tops of peaks and they need to be replaced. The older gentleman this was his 27th trip to the top of Couchi!!!

After heading back from Couchi, at Herald Square we went north to Panther Mountain. This is a short hike but the top was covered in large water pools making it difficult to get to the peak.

Once getting past the pools to the top of Panther, we struck a couple cool poses, then headed back to camp. This time we found the lean-to empty and open for grabs. We quickly took claim and moved into the lean-to, not expecting anyone to show. But shortly after new guests arrived... This time though, the guests were not pesky mice. They were a friendly family fresh into the woods who were carrying Italian bread from Schenectady! Even better is they were were willing to break bread with us. The company and the bread were wonderful!

October 8, 2012

The hike out was amazing. The air remained crisp but warmed a little as the sun came out with blue skies. The many beautiful colors of autumn were in peak form with a mix in the trees and on the ground. Katie had a field day taking pictures.