Peak Bragging 2021 - Let's hear what you did!

[Tom Rankin]

Yes, it's that time again. What did you do this year that you want to brag about? It can be anything, as long as it was significant to YOU.

As I already posted a while back, I reached my 2,000th summit (on 599 unique peaks).

Laurie and I also earned our 100th patch (many of which are trivial). NY is patch happy!

NEXT!

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Is there are 100th patch patch?

I finished the grid, which some may have already noticed in the grid thread, and finally made it to Acadia National Park

Tim

 

[Tom Rankin]

Is there are 100th patch patch?

I finished the grid, which some may have already notice in the grid thread, and finally made it to Acadia National Park

Tim

You laugh, but there are at least 2 patches that are given out for earning other patches:

3-6-9 Challenge in the ADKs (comprised of 3 other patches)

The NorthEast 111/115 (ADK 46 / New England 4Ks / 2 4Ks in the Cats) - This one is not exactly 3 patches, but you get the idea.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Only half laughing... Jerry Rice holds (or held) the record for holding the most NFL records...

Tim
p.s. I only put the NEHH/NE67 winter patches on my pack since that includes the NH48 plus all three in summer... 6 patches represented by 2.

 

[Rhody Seth]

Is there are 100th patch patch?
I finished the grid, which some may have already notice in the grid thread, and finally made it to Acadia National Park

Congrats on your Grid finish!

No major accomplishments for me, just lots of satisfying long hikes and backpacking trips up to the Whites. I was hoping to finish round 3 of the NH48 but I ended 2021 with four more to go. I did run my longest run ever at Bubba's Backyard Ultra, completing 52 miles in 15 hours. Otherwise a pretty unmotivated year running wise but I'm hoping for a rebound in 2022!

 

[HH1]

Nothing to brag about. Zero NE peaks over two consecutive years due to COVID border closure, breaking my 40 year streak.

 

[Puma concolor]

Congrats to those who have checked in thus far.

In 2021, I spent all of my hiking time in New England - Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire - with not a single hike logged in my home state of NY. Mostly obscure prominence-based stuff … completed all of my remaining Northeast 2,000-foot prominence peaks and moved to within 5 peaks of completing the New England Fifty Finest. Interestingly, as far as I can tell, there is no patch for the Northeast P2K peaks, which is kind of funny given the reasonably low standard for patch-earning these days (hiking the “Vermont 5” 4K peaks and Catskill Fire Towers can now get you patches for example).

All the best for 2022.

 

[Grey J]

In 2020, I did not make it to NH due to Covid, breaking a streak of 25 straight years visiting the Granite state to hike. So, I was determined to start a new streak in 2021 and succeeded in getting there in late August with hopes of hiking every day and exploring some more 3K peaks that I mostly ignored in my long-term pursuit of the NH48 which I finally completed in 2015. However, both the cabin and the weather conspired to put a damper on my plans, and I was only able to do three hikes in the week I was there. A short-circuited sump pump blew a circuit which unfortunately controlled the fridge among other things. It took two days to clean out the rather disgusting refrigerator, diagnose the cause and then replace the pump. And then it rained. C'est la vie.

I was able to climb Smarts Mt solo where I met a number of NOBO thru-hikers and a couple of SOBOS. I had been meaning to get down there and do that one for years. I liked Lambert Ridge which I did coming and going. I also did Hedgehog (Albany) with my buddy (nice views) and then finished up by doing the Doubleheads solo. I certainly would have liked to do a couple more, but it was not to be. That cabin has been good to me for a long time, and I do not resent the fact that we had to devote as much time to its upkeep and continued usefulness. It has been a place of refuge for many years that I am grateful to have had access to.

I sure hope to return again this year, but I've been battling Guillain-Barre Syndrome for the last few months and need to do a lot of rehab before I can think about climbing again. I went from climbing 6000 feet of elevation over 3 days in August to using a wheelchair in late Sept. I was not helped by the fact that in diagnosing the GBS with a lumbar puncture, I was infected with a bacterial infection that led to septicemia and an epidural abscess that required back surgery. I spent 2.5 weeks in a rehab facility and had to learn to walk again. I have gone from wheelchair to walker to Frankenstein walk to a gait approaching normal but at present, I can only walk about a half a mile. Long way to go but I'm determined to make it back. Today, I climbed a flight of stairs. It's a start.

Happy Trails to you all.

 

[Tom Rankin]

low standard for patch-earning these days (hiking the “Vermont 5” 4K peaks and Catskill Fire Towers can now get you patches for example).

There have been numerous Catskill fire tower patches. Some were earned, some could be purchased w/o lifting a finger. The latest one now includes the Fire Tower at the Catskill Visitor Center, an arduous hike of 100 yards! ;-)

 

[Mike P.]

You laugh, but there are at least 2 patches that are given out for earning other patches:

3-6-9 Challenge in the ADKs (comprised of 3 other patches)

The NorthEast 111/115 (ADK 46 / New England 4Ks / 2 4Ks in the Cats) - This one is not exactly 3 patches, but you get the idea.

Is this four? I got two for New England, the New England one and the NH 48. I know there is a 46er patch, this year or next and there is a 111/115 patch right? I barely managed seven rank advancements, 36 merit badges and six year-round camper patches on my son's uniform (& moving some to a second uniform as from 11 to 17 he grew about 1 foot) I'm thinking the last thing I want to do is put lots of holes in my pack. As the only member of my household to never have taken a sewing class, with putting his Eagle on his shirt, I'm retired from patch sewing!

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Grey J - I hope you recover/rehab well!

Tim

 

[Mike P.]

I hit more peaks in 2021 than 2020 and the past couple of years but it's a low bar compared to 2015 or some past years. Did managed to still get a couple of new peaks done. (Can get hard for us when not being at favorites also for years too) In wrapping up my spreadsheets for the year, I did see is it was 15 years since a winter trip up Carrigain where the road was open and this December will be the 20th Anniversary of one of the earliest, large VFTT hikes, Moriah.

This year's hiking goals are more a result of missing out on the Annual Thanksgiving race in Manchester as waiting in a huge crowd seemed unwise but being able to keep some distance as a spectator. Also, one of the people on that I believe were on that 2002 VFTT and other hikes I still hike with. His goals for 2022 when he turns 70 is to do Washington. In 2021, my son and I did Washington, his first time. The 18-year-old XC and track participant lapped me, doing Monroe while waiting and still waiting a whole bunch. Being embarrassed by a fit 18-year-old is expected, I'll need to be in better shape for going next year to Washington and not having the same thing happen. I can no longer train for 5-8 weeks hard and not get injured. So lots of small goals, I haven't missed any small ones in the five or so weeks (came close at Christmas) and a slow increase in activity is planned heading to Spring.

So this year and next is not get hurt, weigh less, exercise more consistently hike more peaks, and get ready for Washington in 2022. Possibly finish the ADK and NE peaks (Emmons with a repeat of Donaldson and then Dial & Nippletop) or wait until next summer so I'll be 61 having been born in 61. That sounds better but that may depend onmy son's expected summer schedule.

 

[Mike P.]

Good Luck Grey J., you have a harder path than the rest of us!

 

[ChrisB]

I bagged the "Belknap 12" this year. Been hiking the Bels forever but never ventured over to some of the lesser peaks (and they are lesser).

Was fun to have this goal, however modest, during the Covid era and also to share it with wifey.

Grey J... sounds like you're climbing the biggest mountain you've ever tackled. God speed my friend.

 

[Daniel Eagan]

Because of Covid my wife and I were limited to a roughly 70-mile radius around NYC, so lots of Beacon, Taurus, Bear Mountain, Dunderberg, etc. No Breakneck because they closed the train station. Had a couple of out-of-town trips. Sherrill in the Catskills. Rain turned us back a mile from Wheeler summit in New Mexico. Jicarita was a new mountain for me, great trail and a long ridge above treeline.

With rental car prices I'm not sure we can afford to return to Maine and the Whites.

 

[Grey J]

Thank you Mike, Chris, and Tim and congrats Tim on your amazing accomplishment. Everyone listed in the thread on grid and other list finishers is an inspiration. Yes Chris, this is the toughest mountain I have ever climbed but I am on the way up now and I'm not turning back.

 

[Puma concolor]

Good luck, Grey J!

 

[Mike P.]

Because of Covid my wife and I were limited to a roughly 70-mile radius around NYC, so lots of Beacon, Taurus, Bear Mountain, Dunderberg, etc. No Breakneck because they closed the train station. Had a couple of out-of-town trips. Sherrill in the Catskills. Rain turned us back a mile from Wheeler summit in New Mexico. Jicarita was a new mountain for me, great trail and a long ridge above treeline.

With rental car prices I'm not sure we can afford to return to Maine and the Whites.

Any idea how long the road is up Bear Mt.? (Perkins Memorial Drive) May go in a week or so and was looking at walking up the road which I believe is closed for the winter.

 

[Daniel Eagan]

Any idea how long the road is up Bear Mt.? (Perkins Memorial Drive) May go in a week or so and was looking at walking up the road which I believe is closed for the winter.

This bicycle site says 4.5 miles (https://pjammcycling.com/climb/751.Bear%20Mountain) but it looks like they cut off the overlook section.

I've never actually walked up the road, we usually go up Major Welch and down the AT. They will both be extremely icy.

 

[Mike P.]

This bicycle site says 4.5 miles (https://pjammcycling.com/climb/751.Bear%20Mountain) but it looks like they cut off the overlook section.

I've never actually walked up the road, we usually go up Major Welch and down the AT. They will both be extremely icy.

Thanks, I've been twice, once up the AT and down the Major Welch (I think, the loop they say to do the other way) and up the road in the dark so I could see the sunrise. I'll bring the Micro's if needed.