It started innocently enough. It was time for the fall hike. The usual email was sent to the usual list of suspects. A couple of emails and quick conversations later, a day was selected. The emails went out to the fringe groups (anyone not a usual suspect).
And that’s when it got interesting.
Planning
In short order, the group was 4 committed and no less than 6 semi-committed. Not bad considering they haven’t had a group larger than 3 since April, 1999. And that group only managed to summit Mt. Jo after failing on Macomb (too much time spent arguing on the trail about whether or not to wear snowshoes or slide across the snow on stomachs [see the trip report here]).
It’s not clear where the planning activities got out of hand. Trying to analyze all the email messages, timelines and threads would be a challenge for the CIA. At the beginning, this much was clear:
Then the semi-committed started to state their desires and goals. Which, when looking back on some of them, is interesting since none had really climbed a mountain before. A sampling:
Based on the requests, the demand for GQ, and taking into consideration the number of first-timers with unknown abilities, Joe proposes a plan of attack:
This is where planning went to the dogs.
There must have been a hundred different counter-proposals. Most of which involved a hot tub. After several weeks of wrangling and well over a hundred emails, Joe suggested that Alan splurge and spend $5.95 for a map of the Adirondacks if he were going to continue to make suggestions to the itinerary. Trying to keep things in control, Mike convened a conference call with the primary trip planners, Alan, Joe and himself. The result: Go with Joe’s original proposal. Had you been in Joe’s office at the time you would have seen steam coming out of his ears.
Somewhere in here the group settled in on Doc Sherry, Alan, Mike and Joe with first-timers Liz, Jackie and Derrick. Most opted to stay at the Golden Arrow with their indoor hot tub. Joe & Sherry went cheap.
The Night Before
Joe had the opportunity to meet up with Mike, Teena and kids for dinner. Also along were Mike's friend, Scott, his wife Cat and baby Reese. Scott was unable to join the crew on the hike as planned but was enjoying the town.
What a flashback for Joe watching new parents handling kids in a restaurant. He just sat at the end of the table (soaked from the glass of water Reese had spilled 30 seconds after sitting down), smiled and offered tidbits of guidance. Like:
J: "Hey, Mike. Have you heard that crayons make great tools for shoveling ketchup into your mouth?"
M: "What?! No, I hadn't."
J: "Elizabeth has."
M: "Huh?" (turning to see Elizabeth with ketchup laden crayon going in mouth): "Aahhh!!"
Later the rest of the group managed to arrive in Placid and, through the miracle of cell phones, finalize plans. Most of which involved a hot tub.
A few even managed to get to the micro brew for some preliminary introductions.
The Hike
Everyone managed to get out of bed Saturday morning and meet, unexpectantly, at the mini mart for coffee. Caffeine seems to have become a necessary pre-hike staple for the older members of the group.
The forecast could have been better but at least the temperature was decent. The group left the Loj after being instructed in hiking’s prime directive: “Don’t feed Mikey.”
First-timer excitement probably explains why the group was in a good mood even as conditions deteriorated the higher they climbed. While the temperature was in the upper 50’s, the winds were picking up and the odds of getting a break in the clouds looked slim.
About half way the group stopped at the waterfall for a snack and water refills. The first-timers were introduced the finer points of hiking. Specifically, snacks of the experienced. Nothing healthy about most of it. Outside of the occasional piece of fruit or Power Bar there were enough Combos for a small army (thanks to Alan) and peanut butter M&M’s. Another rule of hiking, “You don’t diet on the trail.” Jackie, probably the most health-conscience among them, was looking at this bunch rather skeptically. Had she joined the right crowd for a first hike?
When they reached tree line the wind was formidable. The summit gusts were probably in the 60 mph range making standing up a little difficult for the lighter members of the group.
On the summit it didn’t take long for before plans of going on to Iroquois were summarily tossed. Quickly pictures were snapped all around. Not that there was much to see. Records of the ascent complete, everyone headed back to the Loj. They didn’t even stay for the traditional lunch on the summit.
Getting below tree line the group spread out on the trail. Lunch was consumed. Everyone was happy again. Except Mike and Derrick. Not satisfied with one peak, they decided to head for Wright where it was rumored that the winds were even stronger. Everyone else just smiled and wished them well. Someone had said something about a hot tub.
Breaking up at the junction to Wright the smarter half of the group headed down and tried to enjoy a couple of breaks in the clouds. There was just enough clearing to see the valley and Placid. Mike and Derrick began to sprint (yes, sprint) up the path to Wright.
Taking their time and enjoying the day, the smarter half of the group was later accosted several miles down the trail by Mike and a somewhat frazzled-looking Derrick as they trotted down the mountain. Except for Derrick’s condition, this was expected. Those that know Mike knew that he was going to go all out to see to it that the group did not leave him behind at the Loj. And he knew there were hot tub discussions.
Derrick’s condition was brought on by Mike’s swift pursuit of the group. He wasn’t out of breath. His expression was more like he had just missed getting run over by a truck. Seems Mike was pushing the safety envelope to catch the group. Again, nothing new.
To make matters worse, the wind was so strong on Wright that Derrick had to sit down and hang on to the rocks while Mike tried to advance to the summit on all fours between gusts. Neither made it.
The day ended with three new "1er's". Looking back, with the weather and winds what they were, Liz, Jackie and Derrick had “an adventure” that left them with a tale to tell much better than had the weather cooperated. Had it been nice this would have been just a walk in the woods. From the post-hike emails it seems they want another challenge. Joe is thinking he should get a guide's license and charge if they think he's going to take them up the complete 46. Although it would be worth doing for free if it means getting city-boy Alan to go backpacking. Talk about an adventure!
Oh, yeah. There was a hot tub at the end. Except for Joe and Sherry. They just flooded their cheap motel room with hot water and made bubbles the old fashioned way.
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| Prepared for the worst
the Adirondacks can throw at them. Almost.
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Alan "Dude! Don't forget we need time for a hot tub break at the end."
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Jackie & Doc Sherry "Are you really a doctor? I mean, look at what you guys are eating. You want some grapes?"
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| Mike "How did I pull water duty?"
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Sherry "These Combos taste so good out here."
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| Alan "Doc Sherry! Help! I think I got a Combo stuck in my throat."
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Mike & Derrick Mike: "Hey, Derrick! Look! I'm soaked and it's not even raining. This is how you start your journey to hypothermia." Derrick: "Uh, can't you die out here from that?" Mike: "Huh? Oh, its OK. We got Doc Sherry along." Sherry: "Sorry, Mike, you're gonna die." Mike: "&*%$ !! Anyone seen my dry shirt?"
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| Liz "Are these guys for real?"
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| Going up.
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On the Summit Editor's note: Joe's camera lens had fogged up on the summit and he got no decent summit photos. Others did get shots, though. Mike has collected them and agreed to burn CD's for all. Joe is planning to put some here. But Mike is withholding the collected photos for ransom. (Actually, he's had a rough time since the climb and has not been able to get the CD's burned.) Anyway, check back later to see the summit mayhem.
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On the Summit Look at the wind!
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On the Summit "Who's idea of fashion is that?"
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On the Summit "Oh my god! I've never seen one that big! And you said you're going to put it where?"
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On the Summit "Alan! Take your hands off those!!"
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On the Summit "Medic!"
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| The waterfall
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| End of day No worse for the wear they look almost as good as when they started. "To the hot tub!!"
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| Liz, Alan, & Jackie "How do we tell this guy to keep his hands off us?"
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Liz & Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, I have one word of advice for you. Handbags. Think lots and lots of designer handbags."
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Teena & Elizabeth.
"Next trip, Mike gets to watch Elizabeth and Nicholas while I pack a couple of Empire apples and climb them thar hills!" Note: to understand the Empire apples reference go here.
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