TBTS Presi Range Hike 6/17/06

[Tuco]

Lots of other possible reports so I’ll try and keep it short…

Went up Airline to catch the sunset and skipped Madison, Adams and Washington to give Rols and I a better chance at finishing. At Lake of the Clouds Rols decided to go down the Ammo- he has been (and likely still was) sick and the pounding was bothering his legs and feet also.

With an early start and skipping major summits only saw JayH and Giggy on the trail, besides Bob, Geri and MichaelJ at Lakes (and then Pierce) and then Dave Metsky at Pierce- thanks for the ice cream!

Amazing weather day again.

Nice to see some NJ folks again, (Jay and Carol), other familiar faces and new ones. Couldn’t get back to CMR to socialize, I was sleeping by 800 Saturday. Sorry to have missed the post hike festivities.

Thanks to Jay for coordinating this again - contribution amounts sound like they will be very good.

So Jay, what’s your next plan….

Pix here- and they are in reverse order until I can figure out this flickr thing….


http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroit9

 

[Jay H]

Nice to run into another ex-Jersey hiker too Saw your pictures, you folks should definitely check out those sunrise shots on Madison. Very nice! Reminded me of the sunrise on the DC on Rainier.

What's next? I have all summer to think about. Maybe we can reside Jay's Log-sided house in one day.. Some of the logs needs replacing...

Stay tuned, maybe something in the ADKs next time, though I know the Mahoosucs have been mentioned.

I'm kind of now trying to rank the traverses, the pressie traverse with Webster/Jackson vrs the Devil's Path... I definitely think the DP is harder than the pressie without W/J. The Webster/Jackson trail from Webster to Crawford Notch is a lot like the entire DP trail so imagine doing those 5 DP peaks on the Webster Jackson trail and with less of a ridge walk to recuperate... I dunno. I think I'm in better shape now than the DP which was my first really long dayhike, but it's hard for me to compare.. It's close though...

Jay

 

[Paradox]

Yes it was a great day, you have some great pictures. Sorry, I missed the chance to meet you, I have greatly enjoyed your posts. Just curious: Have you ever heard the interview with Eli Wallach discussing the numerous amusing events that occured during the filming of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"?

 

[Tuco]

Jay thanks. Yeah, rols said how about "Mash the Mahoosics", so funny you mention it.

I heard that after Pierce it gets pretty tough, but I just went down Crawford. I am definitely in better shape now than during the DP, but that still ain’t such great shape!

Paradox, thanks and same to you. I haven’t been able to see your pix due to computer issues at home. I did see 7summits pix. Nice dogs, was envious of their dip in the water.

Don’t think I have seen the Wallach interview. Is it recent or available anywhere?

 

[Jay H]

I dumped my head in the lake at LotC and Guy and I also dumped our heads in at Silver Cascades on the W/J trail.
Felt reaaaalllllllyyyy nice on a day like saturday. Skiguy tells me that Sunday was much worse, something like 72degrees sunday morning on the summit of Washington

After Pierce, you have to descend a bit to get to Mizpah hut and then it's a slow, gradual climb back to Jackson, but the trail is rugged in terms of it seems to be wet and full of roots/rocks, much like the Devil's Path.

Jay

 

[Paradox]

Suggestions for future fundraiser hikes: Dance across Dix, Slam Sandwich, Rambling Rangeley, Crossing Carter, Baldface Shave.

Tuco: It was an NPR radio interview, that I heard about six months ago.

 

[grouseking]

I'm very impressed with the pics, and the trip overall! I don't know how I'd ever be able to do an entire traverse. I think I will do it someday, but maybe it will be a two "dayer" at first.

grouseking

 

[spongebob]

Nice going Tuco.

Maybe for a hike we could do the whole Bigelow Range. You can call it "I'm just a Bigelow" or something off the Duece Bigelow thing.

Now the Great Range. I don't know "Home, Home on the Great Range, where the hikers and black bears go." Ok that is sad.


For me, I think the Devil's Path was harder (counting a Pierce end). First there is no P%ss me off Hill. (West Westkill or St Anne's Peak.) And there was a geek wearing devil horns to hang with, now that was emotionally draining. I did the Devil's Path at a faster pace, which might have something to do with it. But they are both quite comparable in difficulty. The constant views on the Presidentials make it easier to motivate. Now of course this is weather dependent.

In the end it doesn't really matter as both hikes rock.

 

[Tuco]

Hey Spongbob, that was an excellent video. I watched it a couple of times at work- was that your regular digital camera??

Its hard for me to compare the DP and this since I was in such poor shape at the DP. REmember, when you found me cowering in the bushes exhausted

Grouseking, I did skip 3 major summits to ensure completion. Not that I minded, that was enough for me- for now anyway .

Paradox, I'll have to look and see if I can find that again. Thanks.