masshysteria
Member
I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I experienced the greatest thrill on the 18th, when I summited Allen for my 46 ADK peak. My origional plan was to hike this solo, like I had done with most of my previous peaks. I wasn't sure my son Tom,(12yrs old) would want to do it. He told me he could, which meant the world to me, so plans were made. Two days before the hike, Tim Dubois let me know that he was going to do Allen with his family, and would I like company. Sure thing, sounds like a good time!
Tom and I arrive at the trailhead, where I met Bruce Anderson, who wanted to tag along. Bear in mind, I had never met any of these folks in person, Tim through his web site, and Bruce as my correspondant with the ADK 46ers.
Well let me tell you, I have never met a greater bunch of people! Tim, who you all know as Mavs00, has such a love of the mountains, and the knowledge to go with it. His web site is such a valuable source of information, and he has such a wonderful family!
There's Katie(ADKatie),who climbed this mountain with her hand in a protective guard. You'll recall she broke it a couple of weeks ago in a fall on Dix. She wasn't the least bit intimidated by the slippery red algae on the Allen Brook slide. "Damn the torpedoes" was her battle cry that day.
Kate and Tim's kids, Nick(13), and Ashley(11) were so very inspiring! Nick is such a strong hiker, and has a wonderful knowledge of the ADKs. He's a Star Scout, and I might add, he wore a Red Sox hat all the time we were hiking. Nick, don't be afraid to wear the colors in enemy territory.
Ashley is quite a sight to behold. How many 11 year olds are going to be 46ers? She set quite the pace on the way back, even giving Uncle Dan a nudge when he wasn't going fast enough.
Dan Dubois, Tim's brother, could have shaved 2 or 3 hours off of this climb, easily. I thought he was in his early 30's, so I was amazed to have him tell me that he just turned 40. Wow!
Then there's Bruce. I learned he was a former Massachusettsite, who transplanted to the ADKs. What a great sense of humor to go with his vast knowledge of the hills. I'm still chuckling about his "sub-par dinner" remark. And I might add that it has been an honor to have him as my 46er correspondant.
At the top, I was treated to a photo-op by Bruce 'Ansel Adams', as Tom and I gained the summit hand in hand. The Dubois family unfurled a small banner to commemerate the event, and I was given a beer to toast the accomplishment. I don't drink, but that sure did taste good!
Bruce would ask me on the way up if I was getting excited. At first I was concentrating more on not breaking my face on the slippery rocks of Allen slide, so it wasn't really happening. But when we gained the summit ridge, it hit! What a great feeling.
The point of the previous paragraphs was to point out the fact that up until a week ago, I had planned on doing Allen solo, returning to fill out my climb report, and that would be that. But this was something that I am so thankful I was able to share with my son Tom, and some very wonderful people who wanted to be with me! And for that, I say a very deep and heartfelt; Thank You!
There are some other people I need to express my gratitude to. First off, and most important, I want to thank God for giving us these beautiful mountains to climb, and for giving me the ability and the health at age 46, to climb these beasts.
I wish to thank my son Tom for being with me this day. That was so special, and I hope to be there when he does #46. My wife, Eileen ,for putting up with my absences during prime vacation time for the last 12 years. Not to mention the muddy, sweaty laundry that comes back from each excursion. My friend, Charlie Scott, who introduced me to the Adirondacks 12 years ago. He would have gotten his 46 with me, but diabetes has put that on a temporary hold.
I would like to thank all of the people who I have never met in person, but who have offered their help and advice through wonderful sites like VFTT, ADKForum, ADKhighpeaks, Adirondack Journeys, and so many others. People like Bruce, Tim, hikerdad, BobH, Spence, and so many others that I can't list here. All of you have my eternal thanks and gratitude. You are ALL a wonderful bunch of people!
I'm looking forward to meeting and working with the 46ers.I've seen the great things you have done in the mountains and it would be an honor to be in your ranks.
I've gone on way too long here but one final story. My son was very sore from the Allen hike. It's two days later, and he's still stiff. I was afraid that this would be the final blow, and that he would never hike again. Well he told me that he was so glad he went on the hike, and that he was proud of the old man. He REALLY wants to climb the 46, and he has his next peak mapped out. He wants to do Marcy. Should I tell him it would make sense to do Phelps and Tabletop with it, or let it go? I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
Tom and I arrive at the trailhead, where I met Bruce Anderson, who wanted to tag along. Bear in mind, I had never met any of these folks in person, Tim through his web site, and Bruce as my correspondant with the ADK 46ers.
Well let me tell you, I have never met a greater bunch of people! Tim, who you all know as Mavs00, has such a love of the mountains, and the knowledge to go with it. His web site is such a valuable source of information, and he has such a wonderful family!
There's Katie(ADKatie),who climbed this mountain with her hand in a protective guard. You'll recall she broke it a couple of weeks ago in a fall on Dix. She wasn't the least bit intimidated by the slippery red algae on the Allen Brook slide. "Damn the torpedoes" was her battle cry that day.
Kate and Tim's kids, Nick(13), and Ashley(11) were so very inspiring! Nick is such a strong hiker, and has a wonderful knowledge of the ADKs. He's a Star Scout, and I might add, he wore a Red Sox hat all the time we were hiking. Nick, don't be afraid to wear the colors in enemy territory.
Ashley is quite a sight to behold. How many 11 year olds are going to be 46ers? She set quite the pace on the way back, even giving Uncle Dan a nudge when he wasn't going fast enough.
Dan Dubois, Tim's brother, could have shaved 2 or 3 hours off of this climb, easily. I thought he was in his early 30's, so I was amazed to have him tell me that he just turned 40. Wow!
Then there's Bruce. I learned he was a former Massachusettsite, who transplanted to the ADKs. What a great sense of humor to go with his vast knowledge of the hills. I'm still chuckling about his "sub-par dinner" remark. And I might add that it has been an honor to have him as my 46er correspondant.
At the top, I was treated to a photo-op by Bruce 'Ansel Adams', as Tom and I gained the summit hand in hand. The Dubois family unfurled a small banner to commemerate the event, and I was given a beer to toast the accomplishment. I don't drink, but that sure did taste good!
Bruce would ask me on the way up if I was getting excited. At first I was concentrating more on not breaking my face on the slippery rocks of Allen slide, so it wasn't really happening. But when we gained the summit ridge, it hit! What a great feeling.
The point of the previous paragraphs was to point out the fact that up until a week ago, I had planned on doing Allen solo, returning to fill out my climb report, and that would be that. But this was something that I am so thankful I was able to share with my son Tom, and some very wonderful people who wanted to be with me! And for that, I say a very deep and heartfelt; Thank You!
There are some other people I need to express my gratitude to. First off, and most important, I want to thank God for giving us these beautiful mountains to climb, and for giving me the ability and the health at age 46, to climb these beasts.
I wish to thank my son Tom for being with me this day. That was so special, and I hope to be there when he does #46. My wife, Eileen ,for putting up with my absences during prime vacation time for the last 12 years. Not to mention the muddy, sweaty laundry that comes back from each excursion. My friend, Charlie Scott, who introduced me to the Adirondacks 12 years ago. He would have gotten his 46 with me, but diabetes has put that on a temporary hold.
I would like to thank all of the people who I have never met in person, but who have offered their help and advice through wonderful sites like VFTT, ADKForum, ADKhighpeaks, Adirondack Journeys, and so many others. People like Bruce, Tim, hikerdad, BobH, Spence, and so many others that I can't list here. All of you have my eternal thanks and gratitude. You are ALL a wonderful bunch of people!
I'm looking forward to meeting and working with the 46ers.I've seen the great things you have done in the mountains and it would be an honor to be in your ranks.
I've gone on way too long here but one final story. My son was very sore from the Allen hike. It's two days later, and he's still stiff. I was afraid that this would be the final blow, and that he would never hike again. Well he told me that he was so glad he went on the hike, and that he was proud of the old man. He REALLY wants to climb the 46, and he has his next peak mapped out. He wants to do Marcy. Should I tell him it would make sense to do Phelps and Tabletop with it, or let it go? I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
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