The watch alarm starts buzzing at 6:30am. Temperature says a balmy 53 degrees. The day that Heather and I have awaited for a few weeks has arrived. I was the first out of the tent and started boiling water for our breakfast. We took some time the previous night to make sure our day packs were packed as they should and our clothes for the day were ready to go. This proved to be a shrewd move and a time-saver. By the time we got all geared up and had a hearty oatmeal breakfast we left camp around 7:30am.After signing the trail register we made our way down the trail feeling strong and ready for the day. The weath
er was absolutely perfect. Not a cloud in they sky. Its about 1 mile to the first junction and this mile is a very well groomed and easy trail. We didn't see anyone else yet which surprised me. Last time we made our way to Phelps Mt. on this section of trail, we passed or were passed by many groups of day hikers and backpackers. We made our way to the junction, Marcy dam was to the left and Algonquin to the right. Heading to the right, the trail surface pretty much immediately changed from soft earth to strewn rocks. We also started a slow ascent from around 890 ft. in elevation. We had a vertical rise of 4220 ft. or so ahead of us , but I just kept that information to myself.About a 1/4 of a mile into this section of the trail we passed a couple with a dog. He was carrying a large backpack, with a tent and sleeping pads, she looked like she had a day-pack and was moving rather slowly. We stopped and chatted with them. They were going to s
ummit Algonquin and then head down to Lake Colden and stay near the ranger station as long as the woman could make it. The woman appeared to be in good shape but who knows. We bid them good luck and continued our ascent. The trail became steep in sections about 1 1/2 miles from the Marcy Dam junction. Our pace was slowed and the lactic acid was really building at some points along with labored breathing. I felt like we had prepared ourselves fairly well for this trek, yet we started struggling a bit. At this point my left knee was beginning to feel rather tight with a twinge of pain once in a while. This really worried me because we had so much climbing left to do. Around 2 miles up from the junction we passed by two older ladies sitting and taking a breather. They commented that we were making a good pace and to keep it up. A little encouragement is always nice to keep things going.
ummit Algonquin and then head down to Lake Colden and stay near the ranger station as long as the woman could make it. The woman appeared to be in good shape but who knows. We bid them good luck and continued our ascent. The trail became steep in sections about 1 1/2 miles from the Marcy Dam junction. Our pace was slowed and the lactic acid was really building at some points along with labored breathing. I felt like we had prepared ourselves fairly well for this trek, yet we started struggling a bit. At this point my left knee was beginning to feel rather tight with a twinge of pain once in a while. This really worried me because we had so much climbing left to do. Around 2 miles up from the junction we passed by two older ladies sitting and taking a breather. They commented that we were making a good pace and to keep it up. A little encouragement is always nice to keep things going. We passed
another junction for the trail to Wright Peak. I had read that it was a good idea to head up the .7 miles to Wright peak first because the views weren't as impressive and most likely it would be skipped when coming back from Algonquin. We had decided that it was more important to hit Algonquin and Iroquois and attempt Wright peak if we had time. The next section of the trail became very steep at points and we really had to dig in. The two older ladies ( I will call them Meg and Peg from here on out) actually passed us while we were resting and we passed them again as well. We finally reached tree-line and followed the well marked trail of cairns and yellow paint-marks to the summit. At this point we both were very tired and had a hard time catching our breath. Our legs were on fire and the altitude may have had a slight effect on our oxygen in-take. We made the summit around 11:30am and relaxed but not too much. We both agreed that was the longest and toughest climb we had done at this point.
another junction for the trail to Wright Peak. I had read that it was a good idea to head up the .7 miles to Wright peak first because the views weren't as impressive and most likely it would be skipped when coming back from Algonquin. We had decided that it was more important to hit Algonquin and Iroquois and attempt Wright peak if we had time. The next section of the trail became very steep at points and we really had to dig in. The two older ladies ( I will call them Meg and Peg from here on out) actually passed us while we were resting and we passed them again as well. We finally reached tree-line and followed the well marked trail of cairns and yellow paint-marks to the summit. At this point we both were very tired and had a hard time catching our breath. Our legs were on fire and the altitude may have had a slight effect on our oxygen in-take. We made the summit around 11:30am and relaxed but not too much. We both agreed that was the longest and toughest climb we had done at this point.To the south of us we could see Iroquois and Boundary peaks. I looked a
round to find someone to take a good summit photo of Heather and I and Meg and Peg were up at the top finally and we both took photos of each other. They asked if we were continuing on to Iroquois peaks and we told them we were and they could tag along. We made our way down the south side of Algonquin and followed the many cairn's to a junction in the trail. To the east was the trail down to Lake Colden and continuing on was the herd path to Iroquois. It was our first time on a herd path and this one was no picnic.
A herd path is essentially an unmarked trail that gets some maintenance but its nothing like the trails we are used to. As soon as we entered the trail we were pretty much assaulted by cripple bush on both sides of us. The trail was literally a foot wide in some spots, our skin was getting scraped and scratched. After making our way through this nightmare we started ascending to the top of Boundary peak. Before we entered the awful trail, Meg and Peg got ahead of us because I had to change from my shorts to pants to avoid destroying my legs. As we climbed down Bound
ary we could see them ascending Iroquois but it appeared to me that they weren't taking the right path. I saw them both climbing on some major open rocks, Peg was literally ascending between two rocks around 3 feet apart and 10 feet high using her hands and legs. There was no way this as
cent could be that dangerous and technical. We made our way through some awful cripple bush again and through some nasty mud. We started ascending and I saw what they did wrong. There was a small cairn but they needed to go around it and they didn't. We made our way to one more rise where we needed to climb using our hands and feet. This one was the last push to the summit of Iroquois. I dropped my pack and muscled my way up the rock face grabbing onto a small handhold, I was thankful I was doing chin ups in my workouts. With much encouragement Heather was able to drag herself up and we celebrated another summit with a hug and a kiss. This was number 5 of the 46 high peaks and we were quite thrilled.
So now began the difficult part. We had to make our way back down Iroquois, back up and over Boundary peaks and back up the South face of Algonquin. Going down a mountain is 3 times as difficult on your muscles and joints as it is going up. It just doesn't feel that way. When we made it back up to
Algonquin both of us were suffering from very sore knees. Our knees were simply shutting down and the tendons and muscles seemed swollen and irritated. Making our way down Algonquin is when the problems truly started. Both of us were experiencing serious discomfort to the point where our progress was becoming very slow. Peg and Meg meanwhile made it down Algonquin and then to Wright Peak. These ladies were just a couple of machines. On the top of Iroquois they told us their ages, 69 and 60 years old. We were both completely shocked and awe-struck by the shape of these woman and their persistence. We met back up with them on the descent down Algonquin.
Heather and I had to really fight through the constant pain during the descent. Time was of the essence and we had to reach the easier paths at least before the sun went down. We took as much ibuprofen as we could but it didn't seem to help. Each step became agony but we encouraged and consoled each other. It was easily the worst amount of pain I have ever felt yet we had no choice but to fight through it. I had vowed to research why this was happening to us and how we could train to prevent it from ever happening again. We certainly pushed ourselves beyond our limits and more than most people that had climbed that day, but it burned me up that a 69 and 60 year old woman kicked our butts.
After what seemed like an eternity we made it down near the first junction and only had a mile left. Heathers legs and knees were completely locking up and I offered to take her pack since she was worse than I was. The load off made a big difference for her and she was ab
le to quicken her pace and barrel through it with me. When we arrived at the trail-head we heard and saw quite an amazing site. There was a young man dressed in full Scottish clothing playing a bag pipe walking towards us. It was an extremely moving moment and a fitting end to a most trying and difficult, yet rewarding day. It reminded me of the movie "Braveheart" and all I could think of was his emotional speech before battle...."... they will never take .... OUR FREEDOM!!". So empowering to know that Heather and I have the freedom and the drive to take on such an adventurous task. I have never been so proud in my life.
round to find someone to take a good summit photo of Heather and I and Meg and Peg were up at the top finally and we both took photos of each other. They asked if we were continuing on to Iroquois peaks and we told them we were and they could tag along. We made our way down the south side of Algonquin and followed the many cairn's to a junction in the trail. To the east was the trail down to Lake Colden and continuing on was the herd path to Iroquois. It was our first time on a herd path and this one was no picnic.A herd path is essentially an unmarked trail that gets some maintenance but its nothing like the trails we are used to. As soon as we entered the trail we were pretty much assaulted by cripple bush on both sides of us. The trail was literally a foot wide in some spots, our skin was getting scraped and scratched. After making our way through this nightmare we started ascending to the top of Boundary peak. Before we entered the awful trail, Meg and Peg got ahead of us because I had to change from my shorts to pants to avoid destroying my legs. As we climbed down Bound
ary we could see them ascending Iroquois but it appeared to me that they weren't taking the right path. I saw them both climbing on some major open rocks, Peg was literally ascending between two rocks around 3 feet apart and 10 feet high using her hands and legs. There was no way this as
cent could be that dangerous and technical. We made our way through some awful cripple bush again and through some nasty mud. We started ascending and I saw what they did wrong. There was a small cairn but they needed to go around it and they didn't. We made our way to one more rise where we needed to climb using our hands and feet. This one was the last push to the summit of Iroquois. I dropped my pack and muscled my way up the rock face grabbing onto a small handhold, I was thankful I was doing chin ups in my workouts. With much encouragement Heather was able to drag herself up and we celebrated another summit with a hug and a kiss. This was number 5 of the 46 high peaks and we were quite thrilled.So now began the difficult part. We had to make our way back down Iroquois, back up and over Boundary peaks and back up the South face of Algonquin. Going down a mountain is 3 times as difficult on your muscles and joints as it is going up. It just doesn't feel that way. When we made it back up to
Algonquin both of us were suffering from very sore knees. Our knees were simply shutting down and the tendons and muscles seemed swollen and irritated. Making our way down Algonquin is when the problems truly started. Both of us were experiencing serious discomfort to the point where our progress was becoming very slow. Peg and Meg meanwhile made it down Algonquin and then to Wright Peak. These ladies were just a couple of machines. On the top of Iroquois they told us their ages, 69 and 60 years old. We were both completely shocked and awe-struck by the shape of these woman and their persistence. We met back up with them on the descent down Algonquin.Heather and I had to really fight through the constant pain during the descent. Time was of the essence and we had to reach the easier paths at least before the sun went down. We took as much ibuprofen as we could but it didn't seem to help. Each step became agony but we encouraged and consoled each other. It was easily the worst amount of pain I have ever felt yet we had no choice but to fight through it. I had vowed to research why this was happening to us and how we could train to prevent it from ever happening again. We certainly pushed ourselves beyond our limits and more than most people that had climbed that day, but it burned me up that a 69 and 60 year old woman kicked our butts.
After what seemed like an eternity we made it down near the first junction and only had a mile left. Heathers legs and knees were completely locking up and I offered to take her pack since she was worse than I was. The load off made a big difference for her and she was ab
le to quicken her pace and barrel through it with me. When we arrived at the trail-head we heard and saw quite an amazing site. There was a young man dressed in full Scottish clothing playing a bag pipe walking towards us. It was an extremely moving moment and a fitting end to a most trying and difficult, yet rewarding day. It reminded me of the movie "Braveheart" and all I could think of was his emotional speech before battle...."... they will never take .... OUR FREEDOM!!". So empowering to know that Heather and I have the freedom and the drive to take on such an adventurous task. I have never been so proud in my life.
2 comments:
Mike- Great stuff. Makes me miss the daks! Good to see you two are getting after it. I assume the blackflies are long dead by now. Looking forward to a winter climb??? Perhaps the trap dike on Mt Colden? Huh... whatdoyasay???
Keep it up! Jeff (and Elizabeth)
We had a bit of blackflies but not a huge deal. Winter climb? We are having enough trouble climbing these mountains in the summer...lol Ill keep a fire warm for ya though while you go off and freeze :)
Post a Comment