A gathering on Redfirld & Cliff

[catdacker]

We arrived at the Loj at 6 am and were one of the first cars in the lot. We were the second group to sign in that day at 6:15 in the dark. Twenty minutes in it was light and we met the first group to sign in, 3 hikers headed to Marcy. We headed left and out to Marcy dam. We could here campers in the lean-tos but no hikers. We were passed here by a couple doing MaGrSk and just before the turn to Colden were were passed by our new best friends Sebastian and Patrice whose trail we would follow for a long time. We met 2 hikers near the Feldspar LT just starting a hike up Skykight. We reached the Uphill LT at 9;45 and had a nice break. There was a 2 snowshoe wide trail leading out behind the laen=to and off we went. We passed the turn to Cliff and the trail was broken already so we followed the trail up Redfield. We did this in summer so long ago it seemed fresh and new. We passed Seb and Pat on the their way down and they encouragaged us onward. It took an hour and a half up and 45 minutes down. We started up Cliff and at the early flat area we had lunch and looked at Cliff ahead of us. Off again we passed Seb and Pat just before the first false peak as they were descending. They assured us there were no more icy parts. We trudged on and finally ran into Primo who was hiking with Mudhook and Marie and another hiker. I don't remember a 200 foot drop to the real summit but we stopped hiking at the sign. It was 1:50 pm and we just had to walk back to the Loj. We took 1:10 up Cliff and 50 minutes down. When we got back to the trail we went left and down to Lake Colden. I thought we would pick up time by walking on Lake Colden but there was a broken trail and we wouldn't know where to rejoin the trail anyhow so we walked on trail till Avalanche Lake. We cut accross here and it was very nice. The trap dike is bad looking. We trudged on and hit the wall then the car at 6:45 and there were only a handfull of cars there. I think we hiked 20 miles in 12h 30m. It was great seeing other people out there on the trail. We have run into Mudhook all over the place. Did not attempt to drive from Lake Placid to the gathering but hope everyone had a great time. Thanks to all who broke out the fine trails before us. Mike & Ellen D.

[Jim C]

Nice job, Mike. I did that same hike a few weeks back and enjoyed it immersely. Avalanche Pass is really something beautiful. Would have liked to meet you at the Gathering - fun time, especially when Rik and Neil went for a dip in the river...

[Prino]

Well done Mike! Glad you made it safely back. We didn't make it over to Redfield as we wanted to get back for the party.

[mudhook]

Well done Mike! Glad you made it safely back. We didn't make it over to Redfield as we wanted to get back for the party.

Hey, I went on to Redfield and still made some of the party.:)
Nice meeting,skiing and hiking with everybody.
Mike and Ellen, made it back to S.Meadows by 6:30, skiing is the way to go for some of these.

[rockysummit]

Hey, great job Mike and Ellen. Definitely sounds like a trek, especially without skis! It would have been nice to see you at the gathering. I think there was a stronger Catskill presence this year!
-Tony

[catdacker]

Hi Tony, I thought I saw you at the Giant trailhead parking as we were driving by on Friday. Was that you?
Hi Jim, We followed your trip more or less. A little slower though.

[rockysummit]

Mike was it around 3PM? Mudhook and Doodles were there too for our start up Giant. I tried joining them on another after dark hike. They are getting pretty good at that!
-Tony

[Prino]

Hey, I went on to Redfield and still made some of the party.:)
Nice meeting,skiing and hiking with everybody.
Mike and Ellen, made it back to S.Meadows by 6:30, skiing is the way to go for some of these.

How could I forget that? :razz: Great weekend Jim! Fun skiing with you both days.

[catdacker]

Hi Tony, Yes, it was about 3 pm. We hike in the dark without planning it! Mike D.

[Maria]

Mike, it was great to meet you and Ellen on Saturday as well after seeing your name for quite a while! Congrats on a full day. Nice representation of Cats people up north this weekend.

[mtnhiker]

We were passed here by a couple doing MaGrSk

I think that may have been britdog and I. We chatted about your choice of peaks, walking across the lakes, and the expected 'no view' day. You made a good choice, Marcy was interesting with strongs winds and 25' visibility. Nice to meet you and congrats on Redfield and Cliff, that is a long day.

[catdacker]

Thanks Maria, It was nice to meet you too.
Mtnhiker, You were the first people to pass us after the parking area. We only saw 18 people all day. We know we will have to be out there again to do the hike you did. Hopefully on a sunny day. The days are getting longer. Thanks, Mike D.