Buffalogal
New member
I had a really busy week. I was determined to finish the last 5 of the 46 because I had invited a bunch of friends and family to join me for the finale on Whiteface on Saturday the 27. The pressure was on.
On Wednesday the 24th, I returned to the Sewards to finish the range. Last fall, we day-hiked Seymour, and returned later for the other three, but ran out of time after climbing Donaldson and Emmons from the Caulkins Brook Trail. So a third trip was necessary, and for the third time, our efforts were unrewarded - no views, swirling clouds, and rain. As a result, I really have no affection for the Sewards. Those peaks are tough.
On Thursday the 25th, we did the Santanonis. I was really anxious about this trip - the legendary mud, the swamp, Times Square. I was concerned about having the time to finish the hike, and I thank all those who responded to my query about a reasonable starting time. I intended to start the hike at 6 am, but didn't actually get underway until 7. The total hike took just under 14 hours, so we hiked out the last 45 minutes or so (from about 8 to 8:45 pm) under head lamps. I found the estimated times to be accurate (3 hours round trip to Couchie, 2 hours to Santanoni, and a half-hour to Panther). It took us 2 hours to reach the herd path and two more hours to reach Times Square. It took us about 3 hours and 15 minutes to descend. We encountered a solo man who also did the range that day (at a much faster pace) and a group of women from Plattsburgh doing Couchie. If any of you are VFTT-ers, thanks for the advice and encouragement! The day could not have been lovelier. The skies were clear, the views were spectacular, and the legendary mud was no problem. The map of Times Square from the Adirondack Journey website is indispensable. After this hike, I felt like I had run a marathon. I was extremely proud of my hiking partner, my 13-year-old daughter Sarah, whose drive and determination never cease to amaze me. After all my trepidation, we really loved the Santanonis!
Finally, on Saturday the 27th, we climbed Whiteface. I had decided a few years ago to finish on Whiteface so that other non-hiking friends and family could join me to celebrate on the summit. Our group of 18 hikers was spread out over the Wilmington Trail in 4 sub-groups. I was really happy that my husband Jeff was able to join me. Our daughter Sarah was there of course, and our 10-year-old Emily also came along. Emily doesn't have the greatest hiking history, and I feared that I made a mistake by letting her hike with us. She was physically unprepared for the hike, and I had some emotional hand-holding to do at a time when I just wanted to get to the summit and celebrate. We (Jeff, Emily and I) finally made it, nearly five hours later, to the cheers of family and friends who waited for us and watched as we climbed the last rocky approach to the summit. I was really proud of Emily, and happy she was with me. My mother had driven to the summit with my 15-year -old daughter Alison (who will have nothing to do with mountains). We had champagne and truffles, and I felt like the "Queen for a Day" when word started spreading that there was a 46-er up there. I was congratulated by other hikers who told me they were at 7 or 15 or 20, and even tourists who had driven up Whiteface and appreciated the significance of my effort.
So now the quest has ended. It started when I climbed Esther in October 1980, and I was able to finish the 46 peaks before my 46th birthday (just barely). I thank everyone who joined me on Saturday, especially Jeff, Sarah and Emily, my sister Susan, Andrea, Gwyn and Jane, with whom I have shared many summits. To those who hiked with me for the first time on Saturday, I hope we enjoy other peaks together. While I may have completed a list, it feels like the journey will continue.
On Wednesday the 24th, I returned to the Sewards to finish the range. Last fall, we day-hiked Seymour, and returned later for the other three, but ran out of time after climbing Donaldson and Emmons from the Caulkins Brook Trail. So a third trip was necessary, and for the third time, our efforts were unrewarded - no views, swirling clouds, and rain. As a result, I really have no affection for the Sewards. Those peaks are tough.
On Thursday the 25th, we did the Santanonis. I was really anxious about this trip - the legendary mud, the swamp, Times Square. I was concerned about having the time to finish the hike, and I thank all those who responded to my query about a reasonable starting time. I intended to start the hike at 6 am, but didn't actually get underway until 7. The total hike took just under 14 hours, so we hiked out the last 45 minutes or so (from about 8 to 8:45 pm) under head lamps. I found the estimated times to be accurate (3 hours round trip to Couchie, 2 hours to Santanoni, and a half-hour to Panther). It took us 2 hours to reach the herd path and two more hours to reach Times Square. It took us about 3 hours and 15 minutes to descend. We encountered a solo man who also did the range that day (at a much faster pace) and a group of women from Plattsburgh doing Couchie. If any of you are VFTT-ers, thanks for the advice and encouragement! The day could not have been lovelier. The skies were clear, the views were spectacular, and the legendary mud was no problem. The map of Times Square from the Adirondack Journey website is indispensable. After this hike, I felt like I had run a marathon. I was extremely proud of my hiking partner, my 13-year-old daughter Sarah, whose drive and determination never cease to amaze me. After all my trepidation, we really loved the Santanonis!
Finally, on Saturday the 27th, we climbed Whiteface. I had decided a few years ago to finish on Whiteface so that other non-hiking friends and family could join me to celebrate on the summit. Our group of 18 hikers was spread out over the Wilmington Trail in 4 sub-groups. I was really happy that my husband Jeff was able to join me. Our daughter Sarah was there of course, and our 10-year-old Emily also came along. Emily doesn't have the greatest hiking history, and I feared that I made a mistake by letting her hike with us. She was physically unprepared for the hike, and I had some emotional hand-holding to do at a time when I just wanted to get to the summit and celebrate. We (Jeff, Emily and I) finally made it, nearly five hours later, to the cheers of family and friends who waited for us and watched as we climbed the last rocky approach to the summit. I was really proud of Emily, and happy she was with me. My mother had driven to the summit with my 15-year -old daughter Alison (who will have nothing to do with mountains). We had champagne and truffles, and I felt like the "Queen for a Day" when word started spreading that there was a 46-er up there. I was congratulated by other hikers who told me they were at 7 or 15 or 20, and even tourists who had driven up Whiteface and appreciated the significance of my effort.
So now the quest has ended. It started when I climbed Esther in October 1980, and I was able to finish the 46 peaks before my 46th birthday (just barely). I thank everyone who joined me on Saturday, especially Jeff, Sarah and Emily, my sister Susan, Andrea, Gwyn and Jane, with whom I have shared many summits. To those who hiked with me for the first time on Saturday, I hope we enjoy other peaks together. While I may have completed a list, it feels like the journey will continue.
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