1ADAM12
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- Apr 7, 2004
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Bad boy Allen……Where do I begin? Friday July 27th Seth and I took a half day at work and began our long journey to the high peaks. Once we got to the Northway we gave ADKDREMN a call to find out he was not far in front of us. We finally met up with him just north of the Saratoga exits. Since Andy did not know where Lake Harris was we led the way.
Once we arrived at the campground it started to rain pretty heavily (figures). We set our tents up in the rain and it suddenly stopped when our tents were set up (figures). Then I tried to start a fire and then it started raining again (figures). We decided to pack up and head into Long Lake for some food since it did not look like we would be making mountain pies for dinner.
We arrived at the Blarney Stone and started out with a pitcher of UBU mmmmmmmmmmmm. Then we ordered some food. I must say they have the best fish fry I have ever had and I have had some pretty good fish before. We then had another pitcher and then headed back to camp and called it a night before we had to wake at 4am.
4am came very early but we all agreed on getting an early start. I have heard stories of people taking anywhere from 10-14 hours. So we definitely wanted to make sure we were out in the daylight. The weather forecast predicted rain for most of the day but to our surprise it only rained for a short moment in the afternoon. We arrived at the trailhead around 4:30am and there was one other car and two large vans. When we pulled in we woke the guy in the car that I never saw when we pulled in. Andy asked if we woke him up and he said yeah. We apologized and he did not seem to care. The guy asked if we posted on VFTT and I said I did. He is like are you Adam? I said yeah and you are? He replied I am Steve. So what’s your screen name and he replies I am just a lurker. So Steve hiked with us as well.
I let Steve know that we were slower hikers as he was a good ten years younger than us and he said today he just cared about having company rather than being fast. So that was cool and he stuck out the entire hike with us. It took us about 2 hours to reach the junction of where you can go to Marcy or Allen. Off we went to Allen and it took us about 2 more hours to reach the waterfall at the base of the Allen Slide. I forgot to mention that all the grass on the way in was soaked from the previous night’s rain and we were all soaked through by the time we reached the waterfall. At least it was not raining!
Now it was time to tackle the steep ascent! We had heard many of stories from forum members about the slick conditions and they were not lying. All four of us had no incidents on the way up but that was soon to change for the descent down. Anyways, it took us about 2 hours to reach the summit. On the way up we had some views of Redfield but that was about it. About three quarters of the way up it started to rain but it was a light rain and very refreshing. This made things very slick for the remainder of our trip. Once on the summit we all ate lunch and took some pictures. I think out of all the peaks I have been on this was the shortest summit time. I bet we stayed about 20 minutes.
Once we started down Seth and I lost site of Andy and Steve. They were much faster on the descent than we were. So Seth and I stuck together taking turns taking the lead to see who would fall first so we knew what spots to avoid. I fell 3 times on the way down and one with a pretty hard fall. I was lucky not to break my arm as I landed on it extremely hard. All I heard Seth say are you ok. I think after a few obscenities I said I was fine and I said don’t step there……lol. Shortly after that I had another fall where I almost took out a rotted tree. On the other side of the rotted tree was a 15 foot fall to the small stream flowing down the slide. That would have been bad. Seth took a few falls as well and one of his could have been serious as well but we were both very lucky.
Near the bottom of the slide we could see the waterfall and Andy and Steve we relaxing waiting for us. About 20 more feet to go and I took another spill and I hear Andy start laughing. It was minor and stupid on my part. I was not paying attention and I just went down. I asked the other guys if they fell and they both said two times a piece. The descent took us another two hours!
We filtered some more water and started our long slog back to the car. As we approached the open fields the sun came out and just in time to bake us for the slog out (figures). The three guys got a head of me a bit and when I approached the gravel pit they were hiding in the shade. I joined them for about a 10 minute rest and then we were on our way again. When we approached the open field areas we gorged ourselves on raspberries and blueberries. They were ripe and we ate them. So if your going in there enjoy them. They are plentiful. The whole time I was thinking we might see a bear but we never did.
On the way out we took a few more 10 minute breaks and our paced slowed. One very cool highlight on the way out as the skies cleared (figures) we could see the fire tower on the summit of Adam’s. I definitely have to climb that peak when I have time after the 46.
When we arrived at the parking lot I let out a yell with relief. Steve and all of us said goodbye and off he went. Steve if you’re reading this it was really nice hiking with you and we enjoyed your company as well. This whole trip took us just over 12 hours with about 45 minutes of breaks.
Seth, Andy and I headed back to camp and luckily for us the rain held out and we were able to gorge ourselves on hotdogs and mountain pies over an open fire. We had a huge fire going and I look over and Andy is passed out in his chair. I even tossed my sweatshirt at him he stayed asleep. When he woke he asked how did this get here and Seth and I just laughed. We all finally turned in for the night after a very long day.
We all woke up at about 7:30 this morning and packed up. The skies were blue as blue could be (figures) and the sun was out. Man I sure wish I was there for another day. Andy headed home and Seth and I headed into Long Lake to get some gas and I got my daughter a T-shirt for a souvenir. Shortly after that we were heading home as well.
What a great weekend and its always nice hiking with Andy. I met him just about a year ago and have hiked with him 3 times now and it’s always a pleasure. I look forward to seeing him for the Grace Climb. Allen makes number 44 for me with only Rocky Peak and Giant left. WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALLEN PICTURES
Once we arrived at the campground it started to rain pretty heavily (figures). We set our tents up in the rain and it suddenly stopped when our tents were set up (figures). Then I tried to start a fire and then it started raining again (figures). We decided to pack up and head into Long Lake for some food since it did not look like we would be making mountain pies for dinner.
We arrived at the Blarney Stone and started out with a pitcher of UBU mmmmmmmmmmmm. Then we ordered some food. I must say they have the best fish fry I have ever had and I have had some pretty good fish before. We then had another pitcher and then headed back to camp and called it a night before we had to wake at 4am.
4am came very early but we all agreed on getting an early start. I have heard stories of people taking anywhere from 10-14 hours. So we definitely wanted to make sure we were out in the daylight. The weather forecast predicted rain for most of the day but to our surprise it only rained for a short moment in the afternoon. We arrived at the trailhead around 4:30am and there was one other car and two large vans. When we pulled in we woke the guy in the car that I never saw when we pulled in. Andy asked if we woke him up and he said yeah. We apologized and he did not seem to care. The guy asked if we posted on VFTT and I said I did. He is like are you Adam? I said yeah and you are? He replied I am Steve. So what’s your screen name and he replies I am just a lurker. So Steve hiked with us as well.
I let Steve know that we were slower hikers as he was a good ten years younger than us and he said today he just cared about having company rather than being fast. So that was cool and he stuck out the entire hike with us. It took us about 2 hours to reach the junction of where you can go to Marcy or Allen. Off we went to Allen and it took us about 2 more hours to reach the waterfall at the base of the Allen Slide. I forgot to mention that all the grass on the way in was soaked from the previous night’s rain and we were all soaked through by the time we reached the waterfall. At least it was not raining!
Now it was time to tackle the steep ascent! We had heard many of stories from forum members about the slick conditions and they were not lying. All four of us had no incidents on the way up but that was soon to change for the descent down. Anyways, it took us about 2 hours to reach the summit. On the way up we had some views of Redfield but that was about it. About three quarters of the way up it started to rain but it was a light rain and very refreshing. This made things very slick for the remainder of our trip. Once on the summit we all ate lunch and took some pictures. I think out of all the peaks I have been on this was the shortest summit time. I bet we stayed about 20 minutes.
Once we started down Seth and I lost site of Andy and Steve. They were much faster on the descent than we were. So Seth and I stuck together taking turns taking the lead to see who would fall first so we knew what spots to avoid. I fell 3 times on the way down and one with a pretty hard fall. I was lucky not to break my arm as I landed on it extremely hard. All I heard Seth say are you ok. I think after a few obscenities I said I was fine and I said don’t step there……lol. Shortly after that I had another fall where I almost took out a rotted tree. On the other side of the rotted tree was a 15 foot fall to the small stream flowing down the slide. That would have been bad. Seth took a few falls as well and one of his could have been serious as well but we were both very lucky.
Near the bottom of the slide we could see the waterfall and Andy and Steve we relaxing waiting for us. About 20 more feet to go and I took another spill and I hear Andy start laughing. It was minor and stupid on my part. I was not paying attention and I just went down. I asked the other guys if they fell and they both said two times a piece. The descent took us another two hours!
We filtered some more water and started our long slog back to the car. As we approached the open fields the sun came out and just in time to bake us for the slog out (figures). The three guys got a head of me a bit and when I approached the gravel pit they were hiding in the shade. I joined them for about a 10 minute rest and then we were on our way again. When we approached the open field areas we gorged ourselves on raspberries and blueberries. They were ripe and we ate them. So if your going in there enjoy them. They are plentiful. The whole time I was thinking we might see a bear but we never did.
On the way out we took a few more 10 minute breaks and our paced slowed. One very cool highlight on the way out as the skies cleared (figures) we could see the fire tower on the summit of Adam’s. I definitely have to climb that peak when I have time after the 46.
When we arrived at the parking lot I let out a yell with relief. Steve and all of us said goodbye and off he went. Steve if you’re reading this it was really nice hiking with you and we enjoyed your company as well. This whole trip took us just over 12 hours with about 45 minutes of breaks.
Seth, Andy and I headed back to camp and luckily for us the rain held out and we were able to gorge ourselves on hotdogs and mountain pies over an open fire. We had a huge fire going and I look over and Andy is passed out in his chair. I even tossed my sweatshirt at him he stayed asleep. When he woke he asked how did this get here and Seth and I just laughed. We all finally turned in for the night after a very long day.
We all woke up at about 7:30 this morning and packed up. The skies were blue as blue could be (figures) and the sun was out. Man I sure wish I was there for another day. Andy headed home and Seth and I headed into Long Lake to get some gas and I got my daughter a T-shirt for a souvenir. Shortly after that we were heading home as well.
What a great weekend and its always nice hiking with Andy. I met him just about a year ago and have hiked with him 3 times now and it’s always a pleasure. I look forward to seeing him for the Grace Climb. Allen makes number 44 for me with only Rocky Peak and Giant left. WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALLEN PICTURES
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Long way and you just flat out run your energy low coming out. I liked it because it was so much different than other ADK hikes.
