A
AlpineSummit
Guest
Well it’s too bad that it had to ever end. But the finish just couldn’t have been any more fun. A good mix of old and new friends, a superb mountain to visit, and even a fly-by made the event memorable and oh-so-sweeeeeet!
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=535
Our group was comprised of some 46’ers, a renegade 20 something’er who could care less about lists, a 2’er, and a mountain rookie who was seeking his first summit anywhere. What an initiation for him, Dix Mt.! Yea, he was conned big time, but he was game and made the most out of it. More on his adventures later.
The start was on the well maintained Round Pond trail, a gem of a path that lures one into thinking that the hike will be blissful and easy; but no, not Dix Mt. But it is a lovely walk for several miles, some of it alongside the lovely Boquet River and it passes thru beautiful birch forest before the climbing gets too serious. Our mountain rookie was having fun here on the slide & feeling his oats – the calm before the storm. (he he)
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=536
One group had started ahead of us with the intent of proceeding over to Hough where they would tag the summit & return for the celebration with the Mrs. Two other groups would start later, confident that they would overtake us along the way, which they did. Our initial group of 6 quickly dwindled to 5 as BIG Chuck had his racing shoes on and vanished…………
Mrs. Alpine, sporting a new Camelback, was jibber-jabbering away with anyone around her. She was walking easy and savoring the hike ~ Lovin’ every minute of it.
Eventually, the steep climbing started and all of the extra goodies in my pack became much heavier. But still, that route is fun. It’s just exhilarating to climb that long and very steep trail up into the sky. Finally we gained the ridge! and there we regrouped. The balsam was thick in the still air, the sun was begging to come out, there was much cloud movement, expectations were soaring! Our rookie was laboring and a little behind, but we were all excited as now the summit was reasonably close. The Mrs. had already accepted an early Congrats from PinPin who recognized her and was excited for her as he wished her well. And then, whoooosh,,,,,he was gone. His feet hardly touching the ground.
We picked up the pace just a bit now, not only for excitement’s sake; the Mrs. had a plane to catch!
Finally the trail broke out into the open and rounded off a bit - a welcome breather – on the north end of the summit. Hey, there’s BIG Chuck – lounging and waiting for the Mrs., he had not yet summitted. This spot was good enuff for him to hang out! The skies were full of clouds, both wispy and thick that blocked most views of surrounding peaks. And then suddenly there was a noise alien to the high summit; a single engine plane suddenly shot out of the thickest cloud around: our fly-by guy! Too cool, and right on time, - And taking pics from the air. After a couple of close passes, with a waggle of his wings he said adios and disappeared back into the clouds. Pretty darn cool.
Now most of us were gathered at the summit waiting for the Mrs. to appear. I cracked a frosty cold Coke in nervous excitement and watched. Oh wait, I see a dorky red hat coming now: There she is!
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=543
Walking the last few steps a little teary-eyed, she crossed under an arch of hiking poles and onto her 46th summit!
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=537
She was then presented with her official sign
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=540
Then, some homely dude jumped in to have his picture taken with her.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=541
Right about then, our mountain newbie made the summit to a rousing cheer and had himself a well deserved sandwich and rest. Kudos to Walt for grit & determination.
Finally a lone hiker approached with a special presentation for the newest Forty-Sixer! Now we were all in place. The summit celebrants, aka the Dix Dozen, lined up for a picture.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=544
Good lookin’ bunch, wouldn’t you say?
It was beautiful up there, but views were very limited. So we headed straight to our lunch, complete with extra goodies and crossed our fingers for a change in the cloud situation. We munched on shrimp, high-fived the new 1’er, and chatted in the windless, softly glowing cloudbank. Hopes were alternately raised & dashed for a clearing sky that never did quite get there, but it certainly tantalized us.
A couple of us took a walk towards yonder Beckhorn and snapped some pics.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=542
Serious summit loitering commenced and nobody seemed in any hurry to go anywhere. Eventually it became time to leave tho, as we had a party to host tonite. So the Mrs. took a last look around, gave an emotional ‘thank you’ to the Dix Dozen, and proclaimed it time to “bring it on home”.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=538
Pausing at the north end of the ridge, our buddy Lor captured this dramatic shot.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=539
The walk out was entirely joyous. I was all excited as I pointed out the brand new 46’er to any and everyone along our route. Once we hit the lean-to it was time to pump a little water and then boogie on out to the cars. This hike was in the bank now folks, mama is now an Adirondack Forty-Sixer!! Yea BABY…..
Off to home, where we arrived late, and the celebratory party commenced – wooHOO !! Our fly-by guy had already arrived, started the grill, and gotten things rolling. I don’t really remember much: people ate a lot, drank a little, and laughed & high-fived Mrs Alpine all nite. Then everyone left and just our 3 houseguests, myself, and the Mrs. got rather plowed on the deck under a sky full of stars and just watching the fire. We all savored a supreme Adirondack day that will go into the memory banks filed under AWESOME.
And Mrs. Alpine; she’ll tell you that her destination has been reached, but the journey continues…...
Happy Trails!!
AlpineSummit and the Mrs.
Keep On Climbing………
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=535
Our group was comprised of some 46’ers, a renegade 20 something’er who could care less about lists, a 2’er, and a mountain rookie who was seeking his first summit anywhere. What an initiation for him, Dix Mt.! Yea, he was conned big time, but he was game and made the most out of it. More on his adventures later.
The start was on the well maintained Round Pond trail, a gem of a path that lures one into thinking that the hike will be blissful and easy; but no, not Dix Mt. But it is a lovely walk for several miles, some of it alongside the lovely Boquet River and it passes thru beautiful birch forest before the climbing gets too serious. Our mountain rookie was having fun here on the slide & feeling his oats – the calm before the storm. (he he)
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=536
One group had started ahead of us with the intent of proceeding over to Hough where they would tag the summit & return for the celebration with the Mrs. Two other groups would start later, confident that they would overtake us along the way, which they did. Our initial group of 6 quickly dwindled to 5 as BIG Chuck had his racing shoes on and vanished…………
Mrs. Alpine, sporting a new Camelback, was jibber-jabbering away with anyone around her. She was walking easy and savoring the hike ~ Lovin’ every minute of it.
Eventually, the steep climbing started and all of the extra goodies in my pack became much heavier. But still, that route is fun. It’s just exhilarating to climb that long and very steep trail up into the sky. Finally we gained the ridge! and there we regrouped. The balsam was thick in the still air, the sun was begging to come out, there was much cloud movement, expectations were soaring! Our rookie was laboring and a little behind, but we were all excited as now the summit was reasonably close. The Mrs. had already accepted an early Congrats from PinPin who recognized her and was excited for her as he wished her well. And then, whoooosh,,,,,he was gone. His feet hardly touching the ground.
We picked up the pace just a bit now, not only for excitement’s sake; the Mrs. had a plane to catch!
Finally the trail broke out into the open and rounded off a bit - a welcome breather – on the north end of the summit. Hey, there’s BIG Chuck – lounging and waiting for the Mrs., he had not yet summitted. This spot was good enuff for him to hang out! The skies were full of clouds, both wispy and thick that blocked most views of surrounding peaks. And then suddenly there was a noise alien to the high summit; a single engine plane suddenly shot out of the thickest cloud around: our fly-by guy! Too cool, and right on time, - And taking pics from the air. After a couple of close passes, with a waggle of his wings he said adios and disappeared back into the clouds. Pretty darn cool.
Now most of us were gathered at the summit waiting for the Mrs. to appear. I cracked a frosty cold Coke in nervous excitement and watched. Oh wait, I see a dorky red hat coming now: There she is!
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=543
Walking the last few steps a little teary-eyed, she crossed under an arch of hiking poles and onto her 46th summit!
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=537
She was then presented with her official sign
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=540
Then, some homely dude jumped in to have his picture taken with her.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=541
Right about then, our mountain newbie made the summit to a rousing cheer and had himself a well deserved sandwich and rest. Kudos to Walt for grit & determination.
Finally a lone hiker approached with a special presentation for the newest Forty-Sixer! Now we were all in place. The summit celebrants, aka the Dix Dozen, lined up for a picture.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=544
Good lookin’ bunch, wouldn’t you say?
It was beautiful up there, but views were very limited. So we headed straight to our lunch, complete with extra goodies and crossed our fingers for a change in the cloud situation. We munched on shrimp, high-fived the new 1’er, and chatted in the windless, softly glowing cloudbank. Hopes were alternately raised & dashed for a clearing sky that never did quite get there, but it certainly tantalized us.
A couple of us took a walk towards yonder Beckhorn and snapped some pics.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=542
Serious summit loitering commenced and nobody seemed in any hurry to go anywhere. Eventually it became time to leave tho, as we had a party to host tonite. So the Mrs. took a last look around, gave an emotional ‘thank you’ to the Dix Dozen, and proclaimed it time to “bring it on home”.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=538
Pausing at the north end of the ridge, our buddy Lor captured this dramatic shot.
http://groups.msn.com/dacks/thedacks.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=539
The walk out was entirely joyous. I was all excited as I pointed out the brand new 46’er to any and everyone along our route. Once we hit the lean-to it was time to pump a little water and then boogie on out to the cars. This hike was in the bank now folks, mama is now an Adirondack Forty-Sixer!! Yea BABY…..
Off to home, where we arrived late, and the celebratory party commenced – wooHOO !! Our fly-by guy had already arrived, started the grill, and gotten things rolling. I don’t really remember much: people ate a lot, drank a little, and laughed & high-fived Mrs Alpine all nite. Then everyone left and just our 3 houseguests, myself, and the Mrs. got rather plowed on the deck under a sky full of stars and just watching the fire. We all savored a supreme Adirondack day that will go into the memory banks filed under AWESOME.
And Mrs. Alpine; she’ll tell you that her destination has been reached, but the journey continues…...
Happy Trails!!
AlpineSummit and the Mrs.
Keep On Climbing………
