My panorama 

Me Ash, Jim and Jake. 

October 14, 2004 Lyon Mountain

It is well past peak season up here, but no less beautiful. Jim Tourville invited me along with his friend Ashley to summit this foreboding fire tower mountain. The trail is 2.2 miles one way in what was dubbed in two trail guides as a "strenuous" hike.
Luckily for me, Ashley is just like me hiking and we kept a good pace as Jim and his dog Jake seemingly effortlessly breezed up the mountain.
.....
At 1.5 miles we hit the remains of a ranger cabin not unlike the Poko one. We stopped for water and pictures. Despite all our stops, we beat the time in the guide by thirty minutes. We came upon the summit unexpectedly, the tower just popped out of the woods. The view was amazing.
Despite missing steps and creaking boards, Jim and I ascended the rickety tower. The cab, however, was very sturdy. Jim took a digital took a short video with his digital camera and I took pictures.
The wind in the windowless cab sent chills through my sweat soaked body, and I quickly put on my fleece jacket. Ashley, who may be afraid of heights loaned me a neck warmer which looked stupid over just my ears.
...
I only slipped once on the way down, but Ashley took a couple of seaters. THe crunching leaves mased prevarious rocks and pot-holes. I almost rolled an ankle in one of these hidden traps.
Jim's mom (who is magnificent and I adore) had michigans and cold beer ready for us back in Ellenburg. It was a great hike with great company.

See, everyone is dissapointed. Derek (right) Sarah, Kendall, Jessie (back) Josh, Jimmy. 

October 12, 2004 Deer Leap Mountain Tounge Mt. Range

I'm sad to say this is the latest post - the first in my journal since August 2002. I can't buy that it's been a year, but it may have been.
Some actor friends visiting from NYC wanted to go hiking. Since it had rained all summer, they hadn't been able to go. Finally, not two weeks before the left, we made it out onto the trail for a hurried hike. I feel bad, this was my idea and there was no view. I knew that. Kind of disappointing- just like their washed out summer. Jimmy jim went with along, visiting back from Florida.
This short 1.6 mile hike was my third choice for the day's hike. THe first goal was the firetower on Black Mtn. Across the lake. But time restraints changed our destination to Tounge Mountain, then here to Deer Leap. ... Past peak, the leaves are still very beautiful. Derek and Sarah hadn't hiked all summer because of the rain. Everyone was dissapointed because of the lack of view, but everyone enjoyed being outside on a warm fall day.
Being so far north Jim left from there in his car and the remaining six of us piled into Jessie's car. The trip was followed by beer, baseball and wings.

August 9th, 2002 Arab Mountain, Piercefield NY

This was a new mountain for me, but not for Kendall. While living in Tupper Lake, just a few miles away, she had been up it several times. We brought her dogs, Ellie, a Doberman, and Max a mut. They were pretty excited to go somewhere. While I was putting on my boots, Kendall was wrapped up in leashes, the two dogs dragging her backwards.
We let Max off at the begining- he quickly shot off up the mountain and disappeared, leaving a think blanket of dust ot settle back down over us. We stood there, shocked at how fast he took off.
We caught back up with him, just up the trai and leashed him again.
Ellie, the more hyper of the tow, was much better than max. As we ascended through the neat rock formations on the suprisingly tame trail, she would advance past us and then returm, keeping a good eye on us. Max, who we again let off the leash, who blazed his own way through the brush, also got better, though he was a little adventurous.
The tower cab had windows made of plexi glass the first tower we'd been in that had been so fully restored.
Tupper Lake, Racquette Pond and the Racquette River were visible from the tower, as was Route 3 which wound towards Pierecefield. The Oval Wooden Dish factory was the most visible landmark.
Just before I got back to the car, Max emerged from the woods, but he was brown instead of black. He had found a stream and was dripping from iron or clay in the water. No way was he getting in my car. We stuffed him in the trunk (hatch back) and let him pop his head up through the space for the deck lid. He seemed to like it.

Vt from Poko 

Saturday, July 2?, 2002- Poko-Moonshine

I had to take another run at it- Even if Kendall had to work. That and Britt and I just had to get outside. It still wasn't easy.
The hike was very strenuous, we stopped countless times. Everytime I hike this mountain the air feels thick, and it's tough to breathe.... Flower bushes, which would drop petals followed us up the trail. The fire tower book says it gets easier half way up- it doesn't. We didn't go up the tower, the view was great from the top. The clouds formed a cieling over Vermont ant seemed to bubble from a rip in the sky.

Heart Lake and the Great Range from Mt. Jo. 

July 13, 2002 Mt. Jo- ADK Loj

This is one of my favorite hikes. This mountain has been a very important part of my life. When I was 15 and spent days soaked and frustrated during a class trip, everyone was waiting for the busses to take us home and a few of us headed up this mountain. It's the first I can honestly remember. A future girlfriend and a future friend were in that group. That trip introduced me to hiking as I know it- the pain, the payoff, that great bittersweet feeling when you're done and you're feeling fulfilled and a little sad during the trip home.
Mt. Jo is surrounded by the high peaks. Its short little trail is intersected by the trip to Indian Pass and its summit peers down on Heart Lake and up onto the faces of some of the greatest mountains in the Adirondacks. It is a magical place.
This particular trip I was alone. Sort of.
I was huffing and puffing my way up. Just as I broke through the woods to the summit I was met by Gretchen, a cute blonde guide from Pennsylvania hired by the ADK Mountain Club to talk to tourists. Another guy was up there with her, obviously interested in a view other than the mountains. 45 people had been to the summit on this day alone! Yah! And, according to Gretchen, that is a low number for such a beautiful day. Not exactly a place one goes to find privacy.
I stayed for a bit, enjoying the view, but there were just too many people around. Luckily for me though, a few of those annoying people found my sunglasses on their way down and had left them in the trail register for me. I wandered into the camp store- an understated giftshop- and bought a patch for my pack for Mt. Jo. Hey, people who have never been up there would probably think it was some kind of feat.

The shortest "hike" ever. 

April 27th, 2002 Belfry Mountain, Witherbee NY

This is barely a mountain, mostly because you drive up the whole thing. The trail is .5 miles ROUND TRIP! Britt, Kendall and I did this together. One more notch closer to that badge.
"The trail starts at a yellow gate and walks up a small hill. There a tiny station and a communications tower. The hike was only a walk. The views were nice and lunch was nice in the tower rig."

One of the pretties views from the TMR. What a day. 

Tuesday September 4, 2001- Tounge Mountain Range

*I'm an idiot, and forgot what order I am going in, so now I am going to start from the begining.
Check out the date. The only thing eventful that fall was that I was not going on my trip across the country, so instead I chose a solo overnight on the TMR. While I was lacing up two older fellas, John and John, life-long friends, got out of their car next to me. They had the same idea.
I wanted to be alone, so I shot off on the trail ahead of the Johns and quickly burned myself out. I stopped and sat down, pack and all, and passed out. I don't know how much longer afterwards, I was awakened by the Johns, coming at me. I hopped up again and started my hike. Here's a bit from the journal:
- Checkpoint one- first shelter between Brown Mountain and 5-mile Point Mountain.
I hope I was right about leaving the hardest part behind me. Trail was rather disheartening so far, doubts about the sanity and scope of my trip filtering in. I've never done something this long. Hope for smooth sailing here on out. Had "to the death" battle with big creepy fly. Tough sucker. Saw a wilting aster, fall is on its way.

Several hours later after pushing on because of a creepy couple and their dog seemed to want the privacy of the leanto on 5th Peak I had a affirming moment:

7pm- I take it all back. From the Junction South I have seen the most beautiful views. More than I ever imagined the sky cleared, beams of light like a hand reached from the sky and turned the water to gold. I heard the screech of an eagle and a pair of hawks eyed me before moving. Nothing compares to this.

Then I roughed it down a steep, dangerous trail looking for place to stay.

As soon as I got into the valley... I scouted out the closest flat land I could find. I threw the tent up, moved my gear inside and put up the bear line. After looking at the map for a few minutes I fell asleep.

Reinvigorated with my nap, I second guessed myself with that incline. I would have been in big trouble had I slipped. To boot- excuse the pun- my big toe was sticking out of one of my timberland boots. I had dinner and went back to sleep. Something huge was clearing its sinuses somewhere nearby, which kept me up in the middle of the night.

By 3:30 that afternoon I was on the dock at Montcalm Point. But not without some difficulty. Next time I will bring more water. I emptied out on the last up hill, and the afternoon sun was baking me. I stopped to take a break and these two yuppies flew by me with their cross country ski poles and I was sure gallons of water in their packs. I was too proud to ask for help.
I made it down to the point and drank treated lake water- happily. I had made it over the hardest part. The only thing left was the 5 miles out on pretty flat land. I had taken my knocks though.

So far I've rolled both ankles, have a bum knee, and my legs are shaky as hell... hope to God the old guys have water or are smart enough to turn around. I was miserable."

I should have stayed with the Johns, who I ran into at the point. They had hiked the crazy-steep shot down to 5 Mi Pt. to get water, and then back out. They were doing something I'd never heard of- sleeping in hammocks. They were light to carry and there were plenty of trees to string them between. I would have liked to stay, I had plenty of food, but I told everyone I was just staying over night. I didn't want rangers rousing me out of my tent because my mom was worried.
I trudged on, limping like crazy. I don't know what I was thinking, my car was way on the other side of the range, and it would be getting dark soon. I even got out my flashlight when it seemed like I would be hiking in the dark. Not 5 minutes later I emerged from the woods. Another couple that was just out for a walk had caught back up to me, and I asked them for a ride to my car. My victory dinner was spoiled because ATMs across the country were out, and I had no cash. My entry that night shows how beat up I was:
The TMR is just about the hardest thing I've ever done. I just made it out... I didn't get my big meal or even a beer in celebration of my accomplishments. I finished my water from Montcalm Point and drove home sore.... Next trip I have to steele myself for the challege coming up next rather than ignore the middle and focus on the end. The TMR is the most beautiful place I've ever been, rugged and wonderous.