daxegraphix
New member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2004
- Messages
- 46
- Reaction score
- 2
As the trail report mentions, the woods were winter, the trail was not.
As you cross the ridge at Marble, bam, the winter starts. It was a long six months. I scooped up a handful of snow and bathed in it, then ate a bunch from a hemlock. Great to be back in winter.
I just wanted to say a word or two about Whiteface. The feeling of a wilderness experience just wasn't there for me. I had been up the mountain in the car with the kids one summer so I knew what to expect yesterday. In fact, that knowledge is what has kept me from hiking up the mountain all these years. Whenever I thought about doing the hike I cringed. The road, the buildings, the crowds.
I know that the road and the veteran's memorial at the top are significant and worthwhile rememberances of sacrifice and selflessness. I would never disparage those things. I just can't get used to seeing a road on an Adirondack peak. That's my problem and I'll get over it someday. I'm also aware of the economic importance of the Whiteface ski center, and I'm aware that weather research is of vital importance as well.
I just can't get used to seeing and hearing those things on an Adirondack peak either. The mountain is still the mountain and I did manage to find some rocks on the quiet western side to curl up in and enjoy some bivy time on the summit. But after an hour when I stood up those robot looking spyglass contraptions were peering down at me. Then came the walkway and the observatory and then the roar of the snow makers--I was yanked out of the wilderness and thrown back down into the world. And I did not like it. I felt bad for the mountain. The whole experience was like visiting wrongly imprisoned royalty. (Not something I do often)
Just like the rest of civilization, the road and summit buildings on Whiteface aren't going away any time soon. I do sincerely hope however, that no new peaks are imprisoned by progress.
As you cross the ridge at Marble, bam, the winter starts. It was a long six months. I scooped up a handful of snow and bathed in it, then ate a bunch from a hemlock. Great to be back in winter.
I just wanted to say a word or two about Whiteface. The feeling of a wilderness experience just wasn't there for me. I had been up the mountain in the car with the kids one summer so I knew what to expect yesterday. In fact, that knowledge is what has kept me from hiking up the mountain all these years. Whenever I thought about doing the hike I cringed. The road, the buildings, the crowds.
I know that the road and the veteran's memorial at the top are significant and worthwhile rememberances of sacrifice and selflessness. I would never disparage those things. I just can't get used to seeing a road on an Adirondack peak. That's my problem and I'll get over it someday. I'm also aware of the economic importance of the Whiteface ski center, and I'm aware that weather research is of vital importance as well.
I just can't get used to seeing and hearing those things on an Adirondack peak either. The mountain is still the mountain and I did manage to find some rocks on the quiet western side to curl up in and enjoy some bivy time on the summit. But after an hour when I stood up those robot looking spyglass contraptions were peering down at me. Then came the walkway and the observatory and then the roar of the snow makers--I was yanked out of the wilderness and thrown back down into the world. And I did not like it. I felt bad for the mountain. The whole experience was like visiting wrongly imprisoned royalty. (Not something I do often)
Just like the rest of civilization, the road and summit buildings on Whiteface aren't going away any time soon. I do sincerely hope however, that no new peaks are imprisoned by progress.