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On the summit of Skylight looking towards Mount Marcy
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It was early July 2017 and we were packed in the car and heading north. I had been to New York a few times in my life, but never outside of the city. This time we were heading upstate. I was excited for a week of camping with my friend, but apprehensive about the uncertainty of a new area, new people, and new experiences. We had planned to hike one day while there as we had just started our hiking journey. On the agenda, a 17 mile loop including Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York state. No problem we thought.....if we only knew.
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The dream team at Marcy Dam
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The trip up was long, 10+ hours, but I slept, played on my phone, and talked about life with Dan. We eventually made it to the camp ground and unloaded. I met my new friends Dan and Jenn and their kids, was promptly titled "savage" by their son, and we settled in for the night with excitement and anticipation for our early start the next morning.
We headed out to the Adirondack Loj while it was still dark and got there about 6 am. We suited up with our camera gear, snacks, water, and hit the trail. 2 miles in we arrived at Marcy Dam as the sun beams burst over the mountain tops. Break one, we snapped some photos, took a selfie, and continued on our way. Our route was to take us up to a place called Lake Arnold. After a grueling trek uphill through boulders, roots, and mud, we arrived. What a beautiful place!! A small mountain lake with a gorgeous backdrop and cold water. We rested, snacked, and took more photos before heading out again.
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Lake Arnold
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Our next destination was a swamp we had read about but didn't exactly know what to expect. When we got there we saw what appeared to be floating logs in the clearest swamp water one could ever imagine. As I stepped out for the first time and the log moved, so did my bowels. I wasn't expecting that!! We crossed the logs while laughing, joking, and simply enjoying life. "What a great hike so far!!" I thought, "what's next!?!"
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Crossing the floating logs
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MISERY, absolute misery is what was next. Before we go further, let me tell you about the Adirondack Mountains. They suck! They suck the life out of you, they suck your energy, your stamina, your sanity, and then they suck you in for more. The routes and terrain is hard at best, miserable is a more accurate description. They beat you up, and kick you while you're down, and then beckon you to come back for more, which you do.
Back to our journey; about 24 miles later of our 17 total mile hike we came to a place called Lake Tear of the Cloud. This is the highest point of what eventually becomes the Hudson river, I know the Hudson from my trips to the city so this was an interesting place for me. We settled down for a break and a lunch of our new found favorite meal of Ramen noodles with tuna fish (don't knock it 'til you've tried it). After lunch we geared up and headed up the heard path that leads to our first summit. Along the way we encountered a rock with about a 15 foot drop down, this ain't no trail!! We scrambled down and continued up the mountain. Summit!! We made it, little did I know, this would become 1 of 46. More selfies and photos and back down the mountain. Off to our next destination.
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At the top of Gray Mountain; 1 of 46
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Four Corners is an intersection on the south side of Mount Marcy in between her and Skylight mountain. We were getting tired and decided to only carry our cameras up Skylight. We hid our packs and headed up. And up. And up. Rocks, boulders, roots, elves, you name, we climbed over it, until we finally saw the sign informing us we were in the Alpine zone. Alpine zone!?!?! Did we miss a turn and end up in Alaska? Nope! "Welcome to upstate New York southern boy" is what it should have read. The summit of Skylight was amazing; 2 of 46. The clouds were moving in so the views weren't that great but the exposed rock and alpine vegetation was beautiful it self. More pictures, more selfies, Dan got in his underwear to strike a yoga pose, and all was well in the world. Time to descend.
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Skylight Mountain; 2 of 46
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Pain, that was the story of this descent. You see, back in May I had hurt my knee on Old Rag Mountain back home, it was feeling better, until now. I struggled down the mountain and called for a break. I was 8 miles from the car, and in serious pain. I was running low on food, and would not force these guys to carry me out. You see, that's another thing about the Adirondacks, you can't give up out here. You have to pursue, you have to dig deep, you have to overcome. I took some Advil, stretched it out, and grabbed my pack. We still had a mountain to climb, literally and metaphorically. Begin the trek up Mount Marcy. Our original reasoning in selecting this particular hike. Up and up, back in to Alpine zone. Back above tree line, "we can see the top!! Oh wait, that's not it!". Up and up some more. We struggled up the mountain, it was tough, it was steep, we were tired.
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Mount Marcy summit; 3 of 46
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We finally reached the top; 3 of 46. Nothing but clouds, wind, and cold. I'm from Virginia, cold and July don't go in the same sentence, not the case up here. Cold and July go hand in hand. More selfies, a huge celebration, a group hug, and while standing on the top of New York state, I asked myself, "how the hell did I get here?". 22 months prior I tried to get sober, again. It had been a life long struggle, and finally at wits end, I decided to do whatever it took to get and stay sober. Part of that included doing things I had never done before. I never hiked, or climbed, or met new people. That's not me, or so I thought. 22 months prior I wanted to die, until I woke up one morning and wanted to live. I had climbed my own personal Mount Marcy prior to even hearing of Mount Marcy, but here I was on top of both of them, even if just for a moment. This is living, this is it, what's next!?!
We descended Mount Marcy, 7 miles to go to get back to the car. Wait, 7 miles!?!? We had already been out here for close to 10 hours, and we still have 7 miles to go!?! The descent was long, tiring, I was out of food, and my legs were melted Jello. Nothing left, but again, I had to make it out. We finally got back to the car around 9 pm. It was a long, exhausting, and rewarding day. We made it back to camp with the experience of a lifetime, countless stories, pictures, and though I didn't know it then, a new goal in life. Become a 46er.
So this is where the Adirondacks and I first meet. Our love affair has began. I currently sit at 17 of 46 in September 2018 with a finish goal of January 2020. I will write about my other 7 trips to upstate New York, as well as document my future ones too.
It's been a hell of a ride so far, so be sure to subscribe and follow along on this crazy journey life has taken me on.
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