bstewie
07-16-2011, 05:34 PM
After several different date changes, we finally headed to the Garden to climb Lower Wolfjaw! This is my 46th high peak so I was very excited. I woke up two hours before the alarm because I just couldn’t sleep! I left to pick up a hiking partner of mine, Jason. I did my first high peak with Jason and wanted him to come for the 46th. I then came back a got my wife, Lisa. My son was going to go as well as he and I have hiked around 15 high peaks together but because of an injury he couldn’t go.
We hit the Garden trail about 8:30 and worked our way across Johns Brooke. We actually kept a very relaxed pace! That’s different for me because I tend to get excited and hike very fast to get to the top. We casually hiked along exchanging stories of the different hikes we completed together. We talked about what we believed were the hardest we completed.
Before we knew it we were already at the intersection with the range trail. The excitement was building as we made our way up LWJ. On our way up we met several hikers coming down. Jason was quick to point out what we were about to celebrate and we exchanged congratulations.
As we reached the top, I had such a feeling of accomplishment. My first high peak was Phelps on January 24, 2009. At that time I decided I wanted to do all 46! With a very time consuming job, three teenage kids and other various responsibilities I knew it would be a goal that would take time. I set a goal of hiking all 46 before I turned 50. This would be 5 years. I reached the top of LWJ on July 15, 2011. It took me 2 ½ years!!
Reaching the peak, I surprised Jason and Lisa with plastic pilsner glasses (no glass allowed) and containers with 46er ale from the Brew Pub!! We poured beers and toasted to the support they and my family had given me during this quest. We took pictures and then sat looking at the incredible views on a beautiful day! We drank beer and ate chocolate! It was awesome!!
I won’t bore anyone with the trip back. Besides jumping in Johns Brooke to cool off, it was uneventful. Jason introduced me to anyone he could as the newest person to complete all 46. Every time he did I swelled with pride!!!
The tattoo is coming next!!
We hit the Garden trail about 8:30 and worked our way across Johns Brooke. We actually kept a very relaxed pace! That’s different for me because I tend to get excited and hike very fast to get to the top. We casually hiked along exchanging stories of the different hikes we completed together. We talked about what we believed were the hardest we completed.
Before we knew it we were already at the intersection with the range trail. The excitement was building as we made our way up LWJ. On our way up we met several hikers coming down. Jason was quick to point out what we were about to celebrate and we exchanged congratulations.
As we reached the top, I had such a feeling of accomplishment. My first high peak was Phelps on January 24, 2009. At that time I decided I wanted to do all 46! With a very time consuming job, three teenage kids and other various responsibilities I knew it would be a goal that would take time. I set a goal of hiking all 46 before I turned 50. This would be 5 years. I reached the top of LWJ on July 15, 2011. It took me 2 ½ years!!
Reaching the peak, I surprised Jason and Lisa with plastic pilsner glasses (no glass allowed) and containers with 46er ale from the Brew Pub!! We poured beers and toasted to the support they and my family had given me during this quest. We took pictures and then sat looking at the incredible views on a beautiful day! We drank beer and ate chocolate! It was awesome!!
I won’t bore anyone with the trip back. Besides jumping in Johns Brooke to cool off, it was uneventful. Jason introduced me to anyone he could as the newest person to complete all 46. Every time he did I swelled with pride!!!
The tattoo is coming next!!