Yes, I signed up for an 18 mile hike in the middle of freakin' no-man's-land. Nobody in their right mind would be out here unless they were working on their 46. Seriously.
Our adventure began the night before around 6:30pm...Brian and I car-camped at the 1st UpperWorks trailhead parking lot. Chip and Siobhan met us there shortly after. We set up our chairs, stove, lantern, and cooler. After appetizers (chips, finger rolls, and a shrimp ring), we dined on Bertolli Shrimp Scampi--very delicious and full of fat (which will come in handy the next day). After supper, we cleaned up and made some Jiffy Pop popcorn for dessert. Around 9pm, we decided to call it a night and crawled into our vehicles to get some sleep. Some of us slept better than others--I was not in that group. Anyhoo, we got our "wake-up knock" on the window at 4am. I was scrambling half-awake in the back of the Blazer trying to find my UnderArmour underwear---one very important piece of equipment I can't do without! Finally dressed, I donned my headlamp and cooked breakfast (bacon, eggs and hashbrowns) while Brian made lunches. The other half of our hiking party (Bob&Nancy, Linda and Bud) arrived at 4:30am and were anxious to head out. We finished eating, packing our packs, and attending to last minute necessities and were at the sign in box at exactly 5am.
We headed up the gravel road for about a mile and a half and took a right at the intersection. We kept a good steady pace and stopped at this spot below for a quick break--not sure what the name of the brook is. Oh well, farther up, I think we crossed the same brook. Rock-hopping with short legs is always a little sketchy so I had to be doubly sure I could nail my landings in certain spots. We picked up the trail only to lose it due to recent beaver activity in a nearby swamp. Bob and Brian managed to find the herd path and we were off again.
I think that's Chip headed up a very tame rock scramble, so tame in fact, it doesn't even deserve to be called a scramble.
It's the middle of June and Brian found ice!
Now this, this would be a gnarly rock scramble! Actually about 20 feet beyond this, there was a similar slab with a knotted rope for hikers to go up. We chose to take the more eroded and muddier path.
Made it to Santanoni Peak at 9:30am! Santanoni was the Native American version of Saint Anthony. Oddly enough, the day of this hike--June 13th--was the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua. Cool. Anyhoo, about 10 to 15 minutes after this was taken, my foot slipped and I jammed my left knee on a rock. I mean JAMMED! Right square on the knee cap. I could feel the blood drain from my head and immediately felt nauseous. I thought I was going to pass out. I composed myself, bent my knee to make sure it wasn't broken and tried to catch up to Brian and Chip to inform them of my misfortune. I still felt queasy and felt I could complete the hike, but boy-o-boy, was that knee sore.
A poor old weathered tree
Time Square---that's where we're headed. Time Square is just beyond the small rock below the summit in this picture. It's actually a flat area surrounded by trees--a nice little resting spot. We had lunch, recharged a bit and headed out to Couchsachraga (the lowest of the High Peaks). Unfortunately, we had to leave Bud at Time Square because he was having terrible leg cramps.
Ahhh, the wilderness...views from the trail headed up to Santanoni Peak
It's the middle of June and Brian found ice!
Now this, this would be a gnarly rock scramble! Actually about 20 feet beyond this, there was a similar slab with a knotted rope for hikers to go up. We chose to take the more eroded and muddier path.
Made it to Santanoni Peak at 9:30am! Santanoni was the Native American version of Saint Anthony. Oddly enough, the day of this hike--June 13th--was the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua. Cool. Anyhoo, about 10 to 15 minutes after this was taken, my foot slipped and I jammed my left knee on a rock. I mean JAMMED! Right square on the knee cap. I could feel the blood drain from my head and immediately felt nauseous. I thought I was going to pass out. I composed myself, bent my knee to make sure it wasn't broken and tried to catch up to Brian and Chip to inform them of my misfortune. I still felt queasy and felt I could complete the hike, but boy-o-boy, was that knee sore.
A poor old weathered tree
Time Square---that's where we're headed. Time Square is just beyond the small rock below the summit in this picture. It's actually a flat area surrounded by trees--a nice little resting spot. We had lunch, recharged a bit and headed out to Couchsachraga (the lowest of the High Peaks). Unfortunately, we had to leave Bud at Time Square because he was having terrible leg cramps.
This is the small rock in the previous picture.
And there is Couchsachraga or Couchie, as some call it. It means "dismal wilderness"--no explanation needed. It took 2 hours to get there and two hours to get back. No offense Couchie, but that was not a pleasant experience.
Nearing the summit of Couchie
Us ladies on the summit of Couchie--Me, Nancy, Linda and Siobhan
OMG, where did my boobies go...seriously! The downside of sports bras--they either make your flatter than you really are OR they give you a uni-boob...take your pick.
Me and my man--thanks Scooter for the helping hand. What a way to celebrate my 1st anniversary of High Peaks hiking.
After an exhausting 2 hour haul back to Time Square in a drizzling rain, we headed to "Herald Square"--a smaller version of Time Square 200 yards away. Panther Peak was our final summit of the day. I wasn't sure what to expect terrain-wise, it was only .3 of a mile away. Turned out it had 2 really steep spots, leveled out and then boom, there you are at the top. It was still drizzly, so we started down to pick up our packs and head out. Bud had a good long rest and was able to summit Panther while we did Couchie, so he did get 2 out of 3. Bud is 69 years old btw!
We took the Bradly Pond Trail down to the main trail. Several words come to mind when I think of this trail and none of them are nice. Think....slippery roots, knee crunching, ankle twisting, wet, muddy, steep...I could go on. I somehow managed to dislodge my contact lens and in the process of putting it back, I dropped it on a rock. Crap. Having only one good eye really messes with my depth perception, so I had to stop and try to pop in a spare lens in the rain. Good times.
We stopped for a nice 15 minute break near the pond. Everybody changed their socks and stuffed their faces, or was that stuffed their socks and changed their faces.....darn it, I can't remember! Anyhoo, Nancy said we were about 2.5 hours from the trailhead...yay! It was 6pm at this point so we tried not to stop again unless it was for a pee-break.
Us ladies on the summit of Couchie--Me, Nancy, Linda and Siobhan
OMG, where did my boobies go...seriously! The downside of sports bras--they either make your flatter than you really are OR they give you a uni-boob...take your pick.
Me and my man--thanks Scooter for the helping hand. What a way to celebrate my 1st anniversary of High Peaks hiking.
After an exhausting 2 hour haul back to Time Square in a drizzling rain, we headed to "Herald Square"--a smaller version of Time Square 200 yards away. Panther Peak was our final summit of the day. I wasn't sure what to expect terrain-wise, it was only .3 of a mile away. Turned out it had 2 really steep spots, leveled out and then boom, there you are at the top. It was still drizzly, so we started down to pick up our packs and head out. Bud had a good long rest and was able to summit Panther while we did Couchie, so he did get 2 out of 3. Bud is 69 years old btw!
We took the Bradly Pond Trail down to the main trail. Several words come to mind when I think of this trail and none of them are nice. Think....slippery roots, knee crunching, ankle twisting, wet, muddy, steep...I could go on. I somehow managed to dislodge my contact lens and in the process of putting it back, I dropped it on a rock. Crap. Having only one good eye really messes with my depth perception, so I had to stop and try to pop in a spare lens in the rain. Good times.
This picture was taken in the area of the cliffs as we headed toward Bradley Pond. Water was dripping down on my head.
We stopped for a nice 15 minute break near the pond. Everybody changed their socks and stuffed their faces, or was that stuffed their socks and changed their faces.....darn it, I can't remember! Anyhoo, Nancy said we were about 2.5 hours from the trailhead...yay! It was 6pm at this point so we tried not to stop again unless it was for a pee-break.
A rock cairn leading us out
Crossing the second bridge going out (or the first bridge if your going in) approximately 7:30pm.
The brook with no name
Crossing the second bridge going out (or the first bridge if your going in) approximately 7:30pm.
We reached the trailhead at 8:20pm---muddy, sore, exhausted, smelly, and hungry. What a great day! Glad to be in the company of a great bunch of people and happy to spend some quality time with my hubby....26 down, 20 to go!!
1 comment:
LOL you crack me up Jeanne! and your right...nobody in their right mind! LOL but you do get fabulous pics girl!
Post a Comment