Tyler
07-20-2007, 12:23 AM
My 46r quest began on December 22nd, 2006. I had hiked in the West-Central region of the Adirondacks my entire life, but I never had been introduced to the High Peaks until that date. I immediately caught the hiking bug and have been hiking every chance I could.
My quest ended July 18th, 2007, on Colden, and this was my experience:
My family and I left the South Meadows parking area around 8:30am. For my Mom, Dad, and brothers Trey and Eric, this would be their first High Peak. This would be my sister Nikki's third. Our pace was slow, which was killing me on the inside, but I could bear it.
The first part of the hike was consistently wet, as it rained all morning. However, the trail to Marcy Dam was in great condition. There were no views from the dam, but I assured my family that Colden was only a couple miles from that spot. We pressed on to the Avalanche Lean-To and stopped for a bite to eat. I spent a night in that lean-to during January, so it was neat to go back there. (For the record, I assure you all that it was not me who engraved "TYLER" into that new lean-to. I am against the defacing of lean-to's, plus, I think it says "'06", and I was there in '07. Sorry, didn't want anyone to see that in the future and get mad.)
Moving on, my family and I went up via the Lake Arnold route. I remember the exact spot where I met Pin-Pin Jr. for the first time on this trail back in January. Unfortunately, I had no idea who he was at the time, I just thought he was a hiker with a rabbit. Now I know he's much more than that!
We stopped at Lake Arnold to take some cool pictures and then began the real climb up to Colden. The trail became very muddy after reaching Lake Arnold, and continued to be muddy in sections on the way up to Colden. Views were hard to come by, but at least by the time we reached the false summit, the rain had stopped. For a second we could discern Marcy, Gray, and Skylight through the clouds, but they soon disappeared and we were once again socked in. At least the rain stopped though!
As we neared the summit, I became very excited. I actually ran the last stretch because I could not restrain myself. I searched for the true summit when I heard the voice of Joe Bogardus, (JoeCedar). He had been sitting at the summit for over an hour waiting for me to arrive!
I met Joe while on the Dix Range on June 6th. Since then I had been on 13 of the 46 High Peaks with him, including our spectacular 8 High Peak, 14 hour long trip up the Great Range on the Summer Solstice. Joe has been a great inspiration for me throughout these past weeks.
As my family got to the summit, I stood near the location of the old bolt, making sure to wait for their arrival. We began the ceremonial countdown, "3...2...1...", and as I stepped on the summit, Joe handed me an envelope. I had not expected anything from him, so I was a bit shocked. I took the envelope, opened it, and inside was an official 46-R patch! My mother immediately began crying, and I also felt moved emotionally. That patch symbolized everything that I had worked for over the past 7 months. To actually hold that patch with your family right there, exactly at the moment when you become a 46r, is enough of a reason to cry as any. I worked so hard and so fast to achieve that patch, that finally everything slowed down a bit. I realized what I had accomplished, and I felt proud.
Thank you Joe for that memory, I will retain that moment forever.
My family and I stayed at the summit for over an hour, and the clouds began to break and we had a great view of the MacIntyre's, as well as a look down into Avalanche Pass. We headed down the steep side towards Lake Colden, taking care not to slip on the wet rocks.
We then went through Avalanche Pass, where I had never been before, and I was left absolutely breathless. That pass was amazing. The cliffs on each side, the trap dike, the Hitch up Matilda's, what an amazing place. Definitely one of my favorite geographical locations in the Adirondacks!
My family I continued out towards Marcy Dam, and I stopped to take some pictures with my 46-R patch and with Colden in the background. Then we simply hiked back out to our car at South Meadows. It turned into quite a nice day after summiting Colden! I hope this has inspired the rest of my family to become 46r's as well!
My 46r Quest lasted just under 7 months, and 4 of those months were spent at the University of Rochester.
I was a lucky hiker, it only rained during 6 of my 46 High Peak hikes. The first time it rained was when I was hiking up my 37th peak, Haystack with Joe Bogardus.
Also, I had the summits to myself on 38 out of 46 High Peaks! I was lucky to avoid the crowds! (not including those in my hiking parties, of course.)
I have been on each of the 46 only once, so now it's time to start round two! I would like to thank everyone involved in my 46r quest, and I would also like to thank all the information on hiking which I've gathered through websites such as this. Without the help, it may have taken me a lot longer to become a 46r. I absolutely love the Adirondacks, and I would do anything to assure the preservation of such a unique wilderness. Thank you all. I hope to meet more of you as I continue my Winter 46r quest and my other reg'lar walks and random scoots.
~ Tyler Socash
My quest ended July 18th, 2007, on Colden, and this was my experience:
My family and I left the South Meadows parking area around 8:30am. For my Mom, Dad, and brothers Trey and Eric, this would be their first High Peak. This would be my sister Nikki's third. Our pace was slow, which was killing me on the inside, but I could bear it.
The first part of the hike was consistently wet, as it rained all morning. However, the trail to Marcy Dam was in great condition. There were no views from the dam, but I assured my family that Colden was only a couple miles from that spot. We pressed on to the Avalanche Lean-To and stopped for a bite to eat. I spent a night in that lean-to during January, so it was neat to go back there. (For the record, I assure you all that it was not me who engraved "TYLER" into that new lean-to. I am against the defacing of lean-to's, plus, I think it says "'06", and I was there in '07. Sorry, didn't want anyone to see that in the future and get mad.)
Moving on, my family and I went up via the Lake Arnold route. I remember the exact spot where I met Pin-Pin Jr. for the first time on this trail back in January. Unfortunately, I had no idea who he was at the time, I just thought he was a hiker with a rabbit. Now I know he's much more than that!
We stopped at Lake Arnold to take some cool pictures and then began the real climb up to Colden. The trail became very muddy after reaching Lake Arnold, and continued to be muddy in sections on the way up to Colden. Views were hard to come by, but at least by the time we reached the false summit, the rain had stopped. For a second we could discern Marcy, Gray, and Skylight through the clouds, but they soon disappeared and we were once again socked in. At least the rain stopped though!
As we neared the summit, I became very excited. I actually ran the last stretch because I could not restrain myself. I searched for the true summit when I heard the voice of Joe Bogardus, (JoeCedar). He had been sitting at the summit for over an hour waiting for me to arrive!
I met Joe while on the Dix Range on June 6th. Since then I had been on 13 of the 46 High Peaks with him, including our spectacular 8 High Peak, 14 hour long trip up the Great Range on the Summer Solstice. Joe has been a great inspiration for me throughout these past weeks.
As my family got to the summit, I stood near the location of the old bolt, making sure to wait for their arrival. We began the ceremonial countdown, "3...2...1...", and as I stepped on the summit, Joe handed me an envelope. I had not expected anything from him, so I was a bit shocked. I took the envelope, opened it, and inside was an official 46-R patch! My mother immediately began crying, and I also felt moved emotionally. That patch symbolized everything that I had worked for over the past 7 months. To actually hold that patch with your family right there, exactly at the moment when you become a 46r, is enough of a reason to cry as any. I worked so hard and so fast to achieve that patch, that finally everything slowed down a bit. I realized what I had accomplished, and I felt proud.
Thank you Joe for that memory, I will retain that moment forever.
My family and I stayed at the summit for over an hour, and the clouds began to break and we had a great view of the MacIntyre's, as well as a look down into Avalanche Pass. We headed down the steep side towards Lake Colden, taking care not to slip on the wet rocks.
We then went through Avalanche Pass, where I had never been before, and I was left absolutely breathless. That pass was amazing. The cliffs on each side, the trap dike, the Hitch up Matilda's, what an amazing place. Definitely one of my favorite geographical locations in the Adirondacks!
My family I continued out towards Marcy Dam, and I stopped to take some pictures with my 46-R patch and with Colden in the background. Then we simply hiked back out to our car at South Meadows. It turned into quite a nice day after summiting Colden! I hope this has inspired the rest of my family to become 46r's as well!
My 46r Quest lasted just under 7 months, and 4 of those months were spent at the University of Rochester.
I was a lucky hiker, it only rained during 6 of my 46 High Peak hikes. The first time it rained was when I was hiking up my 37th peak, Haystack with Joe Bogardus.
Also, I had the summits to myself on 38 out of 46 High Peaks! I was lucky to avoid the crowds! (not including those in my hiking parties, of course.)
I have been on each of the 46 only once, so now it's time to start round two! I would like to thank everyone involved in my 46r quest, and I would also like to thank all the information on hiking which I've gathered through websites such as this. Without the help, it may have taken me a lot longer to become a 46r. I absolutely love the Adirondacks, and I would do anything to assure the preservation of such a unique wilderness. Thank you all. I hope to meet more of you as I continue my Winter 46r quest and my other reg'lar walks and random scoots.
~ Tyler Socash