skidoc22
New member
I had the pleasure today of shepherding my son Sam to the summit of Tabletop for the completion of his 46th peak. We were joined by his Mom, sister and our wonderful friends with whom we have shared many such adventures. Even his grandpa and a dear family friend came in to Marcy Dam to meet us for the hike out. It was a perfect hike on a perfect day in the Adirondacks. For any of you who got out for a walk in the woods today I'm sure you would agree.
There is nothing quite like helping your child achieve a milestone like this - especially having shared each mile together. Starting at age five on Cascade, and finishing at age twelve with a flurry of peaks over the past two months, it has been quite a trip. We all hope our children will come to appreciate the things we appreciate and love the things that we love. It doesn't always work out that way but when it does it is very gratifying. As a dad it rarely gets better than this.
For us this has been one of the best hiking seasons ever. We encountered dry trails, perfect temperatures and awesome views on virtually every hike we did. Dix, Nippletop, Pyramid and Gothics, and even the oft maligned Tabletop gave us the very best vistas they had to offer. We were spoiled by the blackberries and raspberries on the trails to Flowed lands, the Dix range and shoulder of Noonmark. Even the hawks and ospreys seemed to grace us with their presence at the most appropos times.
In the car on the way home, after a celebration on the mountain and then again at dinner in Lake Placid commemorating his achievement, I noticed a tinge of sadness on Sam's face. When I asked why, he denied feeling sad, but I think I know what he was feeling. It's like the feeling you get finishing a favorite book or series of books. You can read them again but they'll never again be new to you. With the finishing, you lose the mystery and special feeling of being somewhere or doing something you haven't done before. You've unlocked the magic and the secrets. But I am confident there will be many more achievements and many more chapters to read and write.
Well maybe this isn't a trip report after all. Maybe it's a reflection on pride, beauty, and even a touch of sadness at the conclusion of a special journey.
There is nothing quite like helping your child achieve a milestone like this - especially having shared each mile together. Starting at age five on Cascade, and finishing at age twelve with a flurry of peaks over the past two months, it has been quite a trip. We all hope our children will come to appreciate the things we appreciate and love the things that we love. It doesn't always work out that way but when it does it is very gratifying. As a dad it rarely gets better than this.
For us this has been one of the best hiking seasons ever. We encountered dry trails, perfect temperatures and awesome views on virtually every hike we did. Dix, Nippletop, Pyramid and Gothics, and even the oft maligned Tabletop gave us the very best vistas they had to offer. We were spoiled by the blackberries and raspberries on the trails to Flowed lands, the Dix range and shoulder of Noonmark. Even the hawks and ospreys seemed to grace us with their presence at the most appropos times.
In the car on the way home, after a celebration on the mountain and then again at dinner in Lake Placid commemorating his achievement, I noticed a tinge of sadness on Sam's face. When I asked why, he denied feeling sad, but I think I know what he was feeling. It's like the feeling you get finishing a favorite book or series of books. You can read them again but they'll never again be new to you. With the finishing, you lose the mystery and special feeling of being somewhere or doing something you haven't done before. You've unlocked the magic and the secrets. But I am confident there will be many more achievements and many more chapters to read and write.
Well maybe this isn't a trip report after all. Maybe it's a reflection on pride, beauty, and even a touch of sadness at the conclusion of a special journey.
