It had to happen someday. But Joe was not ready. Trips to Lake Placid usually meant rocking along the highways to Aerosmith, Johnny Winter (Edgar’s older brother) and maybe some Metallica. But Veggie Tunes!? Dinner was a moderately priced restaurant, exchanging stories with friends, and a visit to a local brewpub. But spaghetti, Sprite and talk of Girl Scout activities!? Daughter Alexis was ready for her first mountain.
Attempts to bring her to the Adirondacks had been cancelled for various reasons over the last couple of years. Finally bugs, weather and schedules all cooperated and she was off to the High Peaks.
Alexis and Joe arrived in Lake Placid Friday and walked from one end of town to the other in search of a pair of girl’s hiking shoes. The last store in town, literally, had a pair. They were set.
Cool temperatures greeted them Saturday morning. Alexis was ready but Joe sure had an awful lot of (heavy) stuff in his daypack for a short summer day hike. Extras of many of the usual things and many items he had never carried before. Things like boxes of Juicy Juice, Nerds and a pair of sneakers (not his size).
And so the climbing began. The pace was steady and there were plenty of rest stops. We’re not sure how long it would normally take Joe but at 10:00 a young Bulgarian woman caught up with them. She had been hiking for 30 minutes. Alexis and Joe? 2 hours. Joe revised his estimates.
About 30 minutes later they arrived at a rock outcropping providing the first real views. Alexis was sold. “Wow! Look at how high we are!” With newfound energy they were off to do the last half-mile.
Soon, however, the more than 2 and one half hours of climbing began to make this 7 year-old wonder when the trail was going to end. Those that remember Glynnis’ climb of Algonquin in May of ’94 can relate to what happened next. All of a sudden the summit came into view.
Alexis: “Dad, what’s that up there?”
Joe: “That’s the summit.”
“The what?”
“The top of the mountain.”
“Wow! Here, take my hiking stick.”
ZZOOOOMM! Off she went.
Needing help in just a couple of spots to navigate up some boulders, she set a breakneck pace. After catching her on the summit Joe suggested they have an early lunch and rest for a while.
Now this was more Joe’s idea of what a climb should be like. Unlike when he was trying to cover all 46, he was more content to just relax and take in the views. Unfortunately, Alexis would have none of that. After wolfing half a PB&J sandwich, some Nerds and other snacks, she began dragging Joe around the summit.
“Come on, Dad! There’s another mountain over there.”
“Actually, Alex, that’s just another part of this mountain.”
“Well! Come on!! We haven’t been over there yet.”
“Can I finish my sandwich, please?”
“Daaad!”
Shortly, Alexis announced she was going to climb all forty-six high peaks. Realizing that he was going to have to do them all again Joe buckled over, “Oh, no! I’m going to have to do them all again.” This sent a nearby climber into hysterics. When the climber calmed himself down he offered Joe his condolences.
Suddenly, Alexis became totally impatient waiting for Dad, yet again, and headed off the summit.
“Alex. Where are you going?”
“I’m going to climb up again.”
“What?!”
“I’m tired of waiting for you. I’m going down and I’ll be back in a little while.”
“Whoa! Wait a minute! Do you really want to climb some more?”
“Yeah! Come on, Daddy.” The other climber is in hysterics again.
“Would you rather climb that mountain over there?” Joe is pointing at nearby Porter Mt.
“Yeah!! Let’s go!”
So off they headed for Porter with one BIG difference. Now Alexis was a veteran climber. An expert after one peak. It took Joe at least 2.
The ridge trail to Porter was very muddy. Alexis demonstrated to Joe, many times, how to properly use a trekking pole while navigating bogs and how to keep from getting wet. She also began commenting about the weather.
A: “I wish it was cooler out here.”
J: “But this morning you thought it was too cold.”
A: (with the attitude of someone with years of experience), “Yeah, but you know how it is. After you get moving you just need to cool off some.”
J: “Huh?”
As they hiked over to Porter, more people began cross their path. Many had questions for Alexis.
“Is this your first time climbing a mountain?”
“Naw. I’ve done others and this one’s pretty easy.”
Put an image here of Joe with an open mouth and wide, surprised eyes.
“Really? What other mountains have you climbed?”
“That one, over there.” She proudly announces, pointing to Cascade.
On Porter, Alexis noticed that the trail continued off the other side.
“Hey, Dad. Look. We’re not there yet.”
“Huh?”
“The trail is over here. We’re not on the top yet.”
“Alex, look all around you. Is there any place higher than we are?”
“Uh, no.”
“Then I think we are on top.”
“Cool! Can we do another one?”
To himself, “Oh, boy. Am I in trouble.”
On the return trip, Alexis insisted on leading. Joe’s 21 years of climbing experience in the Adirondacks was all for naught when Alexis announced that they were on the wrong trail and going the wrong way. She insisted they turn around and begin climbing back up the mountain. If it hadn’t been for a particularly unique rock formation on the trail that Joe pointed out and Alexis remembered from the morning, they might still be going back and forth across the ridge looking for the right trail.
A little later they met up with a very nice woman and her 16 year old daughter. Mom had no pack but the daughter did. Mom spoke with Alexis about the usual things - red hair, age, etc. Then:
"So, when you get to be 16 you can carry all the stuff on your back and your dad can take it easy."
"Huh?!"
"Look, (pointing at her daughter) when she was your age, I carried everything up these mountains for her like your dad is doing today. Now that she is bigger it's her turn to carry all the food and clothes and stuff. Don't you want to help your dad when you get bigger?"
"What?! No way! He will always carry my stuff. He's my daddy!"
Oh well. It's going to be a long, hard 46 peaks.
Returning to the trailhead Alexis immediately wondered about dinner. Of course, on the trip up she had spotted the one McDonald’s with a Play Place within a 100-mile radius. She had made up HER mind where dinner would be. So, on the way home, as they went through Saranac Lake they stopped for dinner. While Joe is standing in line she’s jumping around in the ball pit. While Joe is eating dinner, she’s jumping in the ball pit. Where do they get the energy?
10 minutes from McDonalds, Alexis is fast asleep.
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| Anxious to get on the
trail.
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Lots of snack stops were a trip highlight and kept energy levels high.
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"Look, Dad. These tree roots look like steps."
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| "Can we do
that one after we do this one? Algonquin with its new Hurricane Floyd induced slides.
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"OK, Daddy. Look, this is the way to
use a hiking stick. First you..."
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| Almost there. "Alexis. Wait up!"
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On the summit of Cascade and another snack.
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| Back row, L to R: Mt.
Marcy, Mt. Colden, Algonquin Mtn. Front row: Alexis
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"OK, Alex. Remember
not to cut off my head this time"
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| Kid radar immediately alerts
them to the only puddle on the summit.
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| On the summit of
Porter Mtn. and another snack. Whiteface Mtn. in top left corner.
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| One last set of stairs
to the trailhead and still as happy as when she started.
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| "We ARE going to McDonalds!" |
