Wright Mountain

[Eric]

This was a hike I was heading out on my own but all it took was a teaser call to Rik. It didn't take him long to decide to come to Wright Mtn. What a beautiful day. I will leave the morning events for Rik to tell because I know he can't wait. This was on the way from Corinth NY where we live. It was primarily cloudy and the sun did come out every once in a while. At the trail head Rik and I met with Neil and his wife Sylvia. The 4 of us headed out together until we came to the Wright Trail Head. The trail from the start was very well packed down, many people out today bare booting and weraing snow shoes. Neil, Sylvia, and Rik wore snow shoes. I put mine on at the at the break between Van Hovenberg trail and the left trail for Marcy Dam. The trail was well packed that you really can just make your own judgement whether to put on snow shoes or bare boot it. As we walked the trail you could see between the trees that the sun just make an appearence by the time we summited. We parted ways with Neil and his wife Sylvia at the trail head to Wright. Rik and I left our packs on a tree at the trail head and made our way to the summit. The sun was peaking out and left some great opportunities for some pictures. Algonquin was left open for pics as well. By the time we summited clouds covered up the views towards tabletop and Phelps. Views towards Heart Lake were clearly visable. No wind, the weather on top was great. We stayed on top for about 10-15 minutes waiting to see if the clouds would disapate but did not. On the way down I again donated a pair of snow baskets to the ADKs. This happened due to butt sliding all the way down the trail from Wright to the Wright trail head. The trail was so smooth, perfect for butt sliding.

[Rik]

My version:

My plan was for a day of rest after hiking the last three days but who needs rest? When Eric left a message I immediately thought he was calling about hiking but he wasn't. The debate had already started in my mind. It wasn't much of a debate. The only thing not going had on it's side was the blisters on both of my feet. Going easily trumped that with some moleskin. I don't usually blister and the only thing I can contribute it to was wearing my Tubbs snowshoes instead of my usual MSRs. I had hiked for years in the Tubbs before switching two years ago and the hike yesterday was pretty mellow but I can't think of any other reason for my blisters. I patched up the MSRs and called Eric back. So with moleskin in hand I headed out. Our usual pick up time is 5am but since we were doing a short hike we decided on 6am. When I came out a few minutes after six Eric greeted me with a "trying to steal a few extra minutes of sleep?" After a quick stop for coffee we sped down the road. Well for a minute we did. Then we got pulled over by the local sheriff patrol. It seems we had been doing 54mph in zone in which 40mph was the legal speed limit. The conversation went a little like this:
Officer: License and registration
Eric: (after several minutes of looking for registration) I thought the speed limit was 45mph here officer.
Officer: It's 40mph and you were going 54mph. Where are you heading this morning?
Eric: We are going hiking.
Officer: Where are you hiking?
Eric: Wright Peak
Officer: I noticed the (46er) stickers on your back window. (after dramatic pause) I'm working on climbing the 46.
Eric: Uh, how many do you have left?
Officer: I have seven left. All tough ones.
Rik: Uh, Allen right?
Officer: No, I did Allen last year. It was a long day. I still need to do all the Sewards except Seymour. Cliff and Redfield and a couple more. (another dramatic pause) Slow down ok guys? People live here and have complained about traffic going too fast.
Eric and Rik: Thanks officer!

The lesson kids is to display those 46er stickers proudly. Could save you a buck or two!

It looked like it was going to be a good day. Pulled into the lot right behind Neil and Sylvie. Nice hiking with them up to the junction to Wright. It was amazingly calm on Wright today. We could hear Neil over on the Algonquin trail it was so calm. We stood on the summit in the sun hoping clouds would break and reveal hidden high peaks. It looked like the MacIntyres were holding the clouds in as the major peaks were blocked but the views to the north and west was above much of the cloud cover. Pictures look cool. I'll try to post them in a day or two. Moleskin 1- Blisters 0.

[Eric]

That story was a bit dramatic Rik but accurate. What we should have done was invite the sheriff out on a hike. For the rocord I was about 50-100 feet before the 45mph sign and if Rik wasn't complaining about his blisters I would have been able to concentrate on driving.

Thank you to the Sheriff who was kind to not hand out a ticket :) and I will certainly be more aware of speeding which for the record is very rare.

[cantdog]

Well done on that routine traffic stop!

[Neil]

It was very cool watching you guys (and hearing those noisy MSR's) as you went up Wright. We had no views on Algonquin but on our way down we stopped 500 feet below the summit and could see Wallface, Lost Pond Peak, Street and I got a couple of great shots of the Wright slide so today's hike is now tax deductable. :twisted:

Here's a link to the pics I took (http://neil.webcentre.ca/outdoor%20pursuits/index.html) of you guys. I can e-mail the originals if you want.

[Rik]

It was very cool watching you guys (and hearing those noisy MSR's) as you went up Wright. We had no views on Algonquin but on our way down we stopped 500 feet below the summit and could see Wallface, Lost Pond Peak, Street and I got a couple of great shots of the Wright slide so today's hike is now tax deductable. :twisted:

Here's a link to the pics I took (http://neil.webcentre.ca/outdoor%20pursuits/index.html) of you guys. I can e-mail the originals if you want.

Those are great!

[hillman1]

For the record--my 46er sticker has never gotten me out of a ticket. It has made for some nice conversation, but the state boys around Ray Brook just don't seem to care that much. And the pictures are great!

[Mavs00]

Those pics are too funny........... It's cool watching people you know head up an adjoining peak. I remember watching a VFTT group's (Arm, Frodo, Post'r Boy and Chickadee) last year from the side of Algonquin. We ran into them back the junction (we'd also seem them on Algonquin's summit.

Never got out of a ticket, but some stranger did buy us free dessert at the LP Pub & Brewery while I was wearing my 46er shirt.

[TFR]

Those pics are too funny........... It's cool watching people you know head up an adjoining peak. I remember watching a VFTT group's (Arm, Frodo, Post'r Boy and Chickadee) last year from the side of Algonquin. We ran into them back the junction (we'd also seem them on Algonquin's summit.

Never got out of a ticket, but some stranger did buy us free dessert at the LP Pub & Brewery while I was wearing my 46er shirt.

The owner bought me a free pitcher of beer when I celebrated my Final 46 (Whiteface) there 2 years ago. I was with a large group of friends that had already consumed several pitchers of NY State's finest beer! :D :drink:

[Eric]

Those pics are great, i especially like the last one with clouds surrounding the mountain. Great day.

[Rik]

Here are some photos from this hike as well as a few other hikes over the last couple of months.

Photos (http://community.webshots.com/album/535961822MdkUUD)