AkRon Ron
07-14-2010, 07:28 PM
The usual cast of characters was present... Me (Ron), Adam, Andy, Cody and a couple of tag-a-longs JB and GB.
7/11/10 - Left Akron, NY at 1:00AM arriving for breakfast at the Lumberjack Inn Rest in Tupper Lake just before 7A. Quick meal and off to the Corey's Trailhead (which was nearly full getting the last two spots). Hit the trail at 8:10AM and hiked to the Blueberry Lean-to. The lean-to was vacant but since we brought the tents decided to set up camp around it. On our way by 11:30AM to hike (climb?) Seymour. Reached the herd path at 12:10PM. On the way in we talked to some other folks who advised the climb would be muddy. Asked if it compared to the Santanoni's they said they hadn't been there but it was muddy here. We figured what the heck, can't be that bad...guess what, it's MUDDY! Encountered some awfully steep rock, root, blow down and just plain miserable sections on the way to the summit. Arrived at 2:30PM, checked out some pretty good views and decided to take a nap before the trip back to the camp. The weather was good all day with just some haze and no rain. The forecast for today and tomorrow (Monday 7/12) had been nice with 0% rain (yea, right!). Back at camp by 5:30PM, made dinner, had a camp fire and were in our tents by 8:15PM.
7/12/10 - Everybody up by 4:30AM (except the boys, let them sleep in a little while breakfast was made). On the trail at 5:30AM. Stopped to top off our water at 6:45AM and reached the summit of Seward at 9:15AM. Hot, humid and steep is all I can say. Some quick summit photos and off to Donaldson. Hot, humid and steep down the backside too! Up on Donaldson at 10:40AM, brief rest and off to Emmons. Did I mention it was hot humid and steep? So far we'd had good views of Long Lake, Tupper Lake and the Central High Peaks (interesting from this vantage). The weather was just as predicted, clear with no rain (so far). Tagged Emmons spending very little time and headed back to Donaldson. Ran into a group of teenagers seemingly running the trail (nice to be young isn't it?). Back on Donaldson and enroute to Seward came across a second group of teenagers (again running). They were part of the first group we had encountered, just behind some. Up and over Donaldson we were soon again standing on Seward at about 1:30PM. There we met a couple who had just reached the summit. No sooner had we exchanged pleasantries and it started to rain. Sweating profusely (well, some of us) it felt good, almost a sleet believe it or not! The rain only lasted a few minutes and it seemed that donning the rain gear and pack covers was a waste of time. Off came the gear and twenty minutes later it poured, soaking everybody and everything. Oh well, that's the way it goes. Onward and downward we went arriving at our soaking wet camp at 5ish. A quick snack break, pack the gear and we were headed back to the trailhead. Along the way we ran into the second group of teenagers we encountered earlier in the day. They had taken a wrong turn coming off of Seward and wound up on the horse trail and walked all the way to Corey's Rd and then were headed back to the Ward Brook Lean-to. They seemed a little excited (and confused) but we assured them they were on the right trail for their destination. We also made sure they had enough water to make it back, obtained a name in case we encountered anyone looking for them, wished them luck and parted ways.
NOTE** When ascending Seward, near the summit you will encounter an intersection at a very large rock outcrop (almost a wall). The trail to the summit goes left and apparently a right will take you somewhere you might not want to be. Consequently, on the descent be aware of the right turn along the rock wall. We damn near made the same mistake ourselves but caught the mishap in moments, not hours.
Back to the trek out... the rain had stopped but the flies were getting worse. I generally bring up the rear (I set a slower pace than the rest) and when we stopped for a break was besieged by the deer flies. Once we started again I was determined to keep going all the way to the trailhead. Sure enough the group stopped and I kept motoring on. Within a 1/10th of a mile from the trailhead I hear foot steps behind me. It's Adam (and Cody with cast on his broken wrist from a soccer injury), running to catch up to me, 11 year old boys, full packs, soaking wet, having just hiked 25 +/- miles! These kids are incredible and are 41/46; guess it's time to write to the 46r's!
This is fun!
7/11/10 - Left Akron, NY at 1:00AM arriving for breakfast at the Lumberjack Inn Rest in Tupper Lake just before 7A. Quick meal and off to the Corey's Trailhead (which was nearly full getting the last two spots). Hit the trail at 8:10AM and hiked to the Blueberry Lean-to. The lean-to was vacant but since we brought the tents decided to set up camp around it. On our way by 11:30AM to hike (climb?) Seymour. Reached the herd path at 12:10PM. On the way in we talked to some other folks who advised the climb would be muddy. Asked if it compared to the Santanoni's they said they hadn't been there but it was muddy here. We figured what the heck, can't be that bad...guess what, it's MUDDY! Encountered some awfully steep rock, root, blow down and just plain miserable sections on the way to the summit. Arrived at 2:30PM, checked out some pretty good views and decided to take a nap before the trip back to the camp. The weather was good all day with just some haze and no rain. The forecast for today and tomorrow (Monday 7/12) had been nice with 0% rain (yea, right!). Back at camp by 5:30PM, made dinner, had a camp fire and were in our tents by 8:15PM.
7/12/10 - Everybody up by 4:30AM (except the boys, let them sleep in a little while breakfast was made). On the trail at 5:30AM. Stopped to top off our water at 6:45AM and reached the summit of Seward at 9:15AM. Hot, humid and steep is all I can say. Some quick summit photos and off to Donaldson. Hot, humid and steep down the backside too! Up on Donaldson at 10:40AM, brief rest and off to Emmons. Did I mention it was hot humid and steep? So far we'd had good views of Long Lake, Tupper Lake and the Central High Peaks (interesting from this vantage). The weather was just as predicted, clear with no rain (so far). Tagged Emmons spending very little time and headed back to Donaldson. Ran into a group of teenagers seemingly running the trail (nice to be young isn't it?). Back on Donaldson and enroute to Seward came across a second group of teenagers (again running). They were part of the first group we had encountered, just behind some. Up and over Donaldson we were soon again standing on Seward at about 1:30PM. There we met a couple who had just reached the summit. No sooner had we exchanged pleasantries and it started to rain. Sweating profusely (well, some of us) it felt good, almost a sleet believe it or not! The rain only lasted a few minutes and it seemed that donning the rain gear and pack covers was a waste of time. Off came the gear and twenty minutes later it poured, soaking everybody and everything. Oh well, that's the way it goes. Onward and downward we went arriving at our soaking wet camp at 5ish. A quick snack break, pack the gear and we were headed back to the trailhead. Along the way we ran into the second group of teenagers we encountered earlier in the day. They had taken a wrong turn coming off of Seward and wound up on the horse trail and walked all the way to Corey's Rd and then were headed back to the Ward Brook Lean-to. They seemed a little excited (and confused) but we assured them they were on the right trail for their destination. We also made sure they had enough water to make it back, obtained a name in case we encountered anyone looking for them, wished them luck and parted ways.
NOTE** When ascending Seward, near the summit you will encounter an intersection at a very large rock outcrop (almost a wall). The trail to the summit goes left and apparently a right will take you somewhere you might not want to be. Consequently, on the descent be aware of the right turn along the rock wall. We damn near made the same mistake ourselves but caught the mishap in moments, not hours.
Back to the trek out... the rain had stopped but the flies were getting worse. I generally bring up the rear (I set a slower pace than the rest) and when we stopped for a break was besieged by the deer flies. Once we started again I was determined to keep going all the way to the trailhead. Sure enough the group stopped and I kept motoring on. Within a 1/10th of a mile from the trailhead I hear foot steps behind me. It's Adam (and Cody with cast on his broken wrist from a soccer injury), running to catch up to me, 11 year old boys, full packs, soaking wet, having just hiked 25 +/- miles! These kids are incredible and are 41/46; guess it's time to write to the 46r's!
This is fun!