TMax
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- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
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As many of the readers here are aware, I've had some difficulty with Big Slide
. Here's a brief background...
Attempt #1, Nov 2005, Topofgothics and I get to within .3 of a mile from the summit and turn back because I have "bonked" (trip report)
Attempt #2, March 2006, On a VFTT trip to Camp Peggy-O I take a nasty fall on the way to the summit and crack my elbow (trip report)
July 2006, the night before my planned solo trek of Big Slide I wind up in the emergency room
Aug 2006, a bunch of us sitting at the trailhead in pouring rain...I decide I don't want to break a leg and decide to wait for better weather....
OK, there's the lead-up, here's the finale!!!
WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY FOR A FINISH
Hikethe115, Mcorsar and I spend a cold night at roaring brook Friday night (9-29-06). We meet HarryK, Bonnie, and Luis at the parking area and carpool up to the Garden. In drives my son Andrew (22 years old and on his first hike ever!) and his friend Brian. A bunch of us sat with gear while others drove cars to Marcy Field and took the shuttle back up. I was very disappointed that I hadn't heard from Guinness so HarryK and I checked out the parking lot for his vehicle, no luck. We had expected Ajtiv and his kids but no sign of them either. Started up about 9:00 a.m. in perfect fall conditions...a bright blue sunny sky, warming temps, and peak foliage. The hike up was absolutely gorgeous - each viewpoint going over the Brothers was better than the last. We set a leisurely pace with plenty of stops letting my son develop his hiking legs. He started out trying to keep up with HarryK but quickly learned to slow things up! Up at the second brother we met a very large group who had camped out the night before. Feeling a little "closed in" I quickly took off for the third brother where I sat to wait for the rest of the crew. I guess they thought I'd been swallowed up by the Big Slide curse when they lost sight of me. Sorry... When Andrew saw the view over to Big Slide he responded with language usually reserved for friends, not a mother! (He thought the summit should be closer.) The trek over to the trail junction was wet and muddy and I took the "sweep" of the group - playing mother hen. We climbed that last .3 of a mile with my son gaining appreciation for what we all do out there as he safely navigated the somewhat difficult terrain. Again, I was so grateful for the beauty of the day that made the climb easier and more enjoyable for him. As we got closer, people on their way down started to ask "who's finishing?" Word was out! At the summit, folks made a big deal when I arrived with lots of cheers and crossed hiking poles to walk under. There was a large crowd on the summit that continued to grow. After several minutes I happened to notice- out of the corner of my eye- a familiar face...Guinness! What a welcome and pleasant surprise. He had been waiting on the summit for quite a while! Lots of 46er ale and sparkling grape juice was passed around as pictures were taken. Hikethe115 gave me some incredible vegan cookies and a photoshop picture from Arm that had me on the summit of Big Slide in full winter regalia. He was making sure I made it to the top this time. With the beauty of the day, more and more people arrived on the summit and we counted somewhere in the neighborhood of 50. Eventually, Ajtiv showed up with his kids...another welcome arrival. The crowd added to the fun of the day and we hung out in perfect conditions for a long time. Eventually we decided we should head down and pretty soon after the clouds started to move in and the temps started to drop a little. We moved more quickly, hoping to beat the rain should it make an appearance. HarryK decided it was his mission to cover me with mud while trying to sabotage my finish by encouraging me to fall...with friends like that...... We stopped for a bit on one of the brothers (are there really only three???) when the sun peeked out again and it appeared as if the fall colors had deepened just over the course of the day. The rest of the trip out was pleasant with good conversation and lots of laughter. Some folks shuttled to their cars and we made plans to meet at the Lake Placid Pub and Brew for celebration. A couple of drinks and then over to the Caribbean Cowboy for dinner. More drinks while we waited for a table. In between one story about waking up naked on the beach and looking for clothing and another about waking up between two unknown others in a strange bed we had lots of laughs and a great time. Thank you everyone for such a great finish!!
. Here's a brief background...Attempt #1, Nov 2005, Topofgothics and I get to within .3 of a mile from the summit and turn back because I have "bonked" (trip report)
Attempt #2, March 2006, On a VFTT trip to Camp Peggy-O I take a nasty fall on the way to the summit and crack my elbow (trip report)
July 2006, the night before my planned solo trek of Big Slide I wind up in the emergency room
Aug 2006, a bunch of us sitting at the trailhead in pouring rain...I decide I don't want to break a leg and decide to wait for better weather....
OK, there's the lead-up, here's the finale!!!
WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY FOR A FINISH
Hikethe115, Mcorsar and I spend a cold night at roaring brook Friday night (9-29-06). We meet HarryK, Bonnie, and Luis at the parking area and carpool up to the Garden. In drives my son Andrew (22 years old and on his first hike ever!) and his friend Brian. A bunch of us sat with gear while others drove cars to Marcy Field and took the shuttle back up. I was very disappointed that I hadn't heard from Guinness so HarryK and I checked out the parking lot for his vehicle, no luck. We had expected Ajtiv and his kids but no sign of them either. Started up about 9:00 a.m. in perfect fall conditions...a bright blue sunny sky, warming temps, and peak foliage
. The hike up was absolutely gorgeous - each viewpoint going over the Brothers was better than the last. We set a leisurely pace with plenty of stops letting my son develop his hiking legs. He started out trying to keep up with HarryK but quickly learned to slow things up! Up at the second brother we met a very large group who had camped out the night before. Feeling a little "closed in" I quickly took off for the third brother where I sat to wait for the rest of the crew. I guess they thought I'd been swallowed up by the Big Slide curse when they lost sight of me. Sorry... When Andrew saw the view over to Big Slide he responded with language usually reserved for friends, not a mother! (He thought the summit should be closer.) The trek over to the trail junction was wet and muddy and I took the "sweep" of the group - playing mother hen. We climbed that last .3 of a mile with my son gaining appreciation for what we all do out there as he safely navigated the somewhat difficult terrain. Again, I was so grateful for the beauty of the day that made the climb easier and more enjoyable for him. As we got closer, people on their way down started to ask "who's finishing?" Word was out! At the summit, folks made a big deal when I arrived with lots of cheers and crossed hiking poles to walk under. There was a large crowd on the summit that continued to grow. After several minutes I happened to notice- out of the corner of my eye- a familiar face...Guinness! What a welcome and pleasant surprise. He had been waiting on the summit for quite a while! Lots of 46er ale and sparkling grape juice was passed around as pictures were taken. Hikethe115 gave me some incredible vegan cookies and a photoshop picture from Arm that had me on the summit of Big Slide in full winter regalia. He was making sure I made it to the top this time. With the beauty of the day, more and more people arrived on the summit and we counted somewhere in the neighborhood of 50. Eventually, Ajtiv showed up with his kids...another welcome arrival. The crowd added to the fun of the day and we hung out in perfect conditions for a long time. Eventually we decided we should head down and pretty soon after the clouds started to move in and the temps started to drop a little. We moved more quickly, hoping to beat the rain should it make an appearance. HarryK decided it was his mission to cover me with mud while trying to sabotage my finish by encouraging me to fall...with friends like that...... We stopped for a bit on one of the brothers (are there really only three???) when the sun peeked out again and it appeared as if the fall colors had deepened just over the course of the day. The rest of the trip out was pleasant with good conversation and lots of laughter. Some folks shuttled to their cars and we made plans to meet at the Lake Placid Pub and Brew for celebration. A couple of drinks and then over to the Caribbean Cowboy for dinner. More drinks while we waited for a table. In between one story about waking up naked on the beach and looking for clothing and another about waking up between two unknown others in a strange bed we had lots of laughs and a great time. Thank you everyone for such a great finish!!
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