Algonquin 06-19-12

[Gerard01]

The temps were in the low 60's. Start time: 5:15AM

Well, here it was. The big day. Algonquin.
I had waited a long time to take on the second tallest. After looking at many photos and videos of the mountain from other hikers, I knew I was in for a treat and a challenge. This would be my highest climb yet. However, the photos and videos that I had watched did not reveal what was really lying in wait for me. There was a point in the hike when I uttered John Belushi's famous phrase from Animal House, Holy Sh*t! Several times.....

Jack(Jack7957) and Ed(ADKFrenchLouie) joined me on the initial opening of the hike. Ed's friend Dave met us later due to a flat tire.

Jack drove in from Syracuse the day before. I woke at 3AM, Jack 4AM. We loaded the car and headed off to the Loj. Ed was already there waiting for us as we pulled into the PA. After some brief conversation, we headed down the VH Trail. I hiked the Wright Trail last year, so most of the hike was pretty much the same. We made some good time, reaching McIntyre Falls in about 2 1/2 hours.

We reached the Junction of Wright/Algonquin around 9:25AM. 1 hour and 45 min later. It took 4 hours and 10 min total to reach the junction. About the same time it took me last year. Now, the challenge was to reach the summit of Algonquin as early as possible.


I had thought the trail up to Algonquin was one long rock slab, but I soon found out that it was broken up into steep pitches.


As I looked up at what I had to climb, I started uttering the Holy Sh*t from Animal House. Suddenly, my heart dropped into my stomach. I turned to Ed and said, "We gotta climb that?"
Mama Baby Dad!

I lowered my head and began what would be one helluva climb up.

As always, people came hiking past us, making the climb look like a walk up a staircase. I wanted to poke my stick out and trip them...
Up and over stone slabs we went. Jack led the way. I in the middle, and Ed in back. One time I lost my balance and Ed was right there to catch me.

Friggan Steep climb!

The march was slow and tiring. I had to stop several times, and as checked my watch, I could see that any chance at tagging Iroquois was slipping away. The heat was intense and my clothing was soaked with sweat.

As we climbed, we saw Wright peak to our left. Ed told us that we will be near the summit when Wright was below us. We stopped to get some pictures as we went.






Ed kept reminding us to take a break as we needed and to keep drinking water.
Good idea.

I can't count how many breaks I needed.

As I looked up, I could see fast moving clouds. Behind me, Ed explained that was how fast the winds would be up there....

Yummy!!

Around 11:30AM we reached the yellow markers to the summit. The top was bathed in clouds. Was I going to see any views? Was I going to even reach Iroquois? I began to have my doubts. By now, I was moving as slow as a turtle. In fact, the turtle would have been winning at this point. Ed was a great coach. He kept encouraging me all the way.

"You're doing fine, Gerard."
"You're going to make it."

Finally, the summit was in sight.



It was getting close to 12PM, so Ed encouraged Jack to make for Iroquois. By this time, I had said to him that I doubt I was going to make it to Iroquois. It was apparent I was going to summit well after 12PM. By the time I rested and made my way over to Iroquois, it would well after 2PM. Ed figured we would be starting back around 4 or 4:30PM. Way too late. It would be dark by then, and even though we had headlamps, the idea of waltzing down the rocks in the dark did not make me feel good.

Soon, Jack was out of sight, and I trudged on. Ed was an encouraging voice all the way, but this was the first time I had been hiking that I did not have a thought in my head about turning back.

The wind began picking up and it was getting chilly. I should have put on my jacket, but I was bent on getting to the top. I started feeling a little sick. The years of Bronchitis and a few bouts of Pneumonia began to take its toll. I started coughing and feeling my lungs fill up with fluid. I got a little nauseous.

Oy! The last thing I needed was to start vomiting all over the place.
We finally reached a rock that sheltered us from the wind. It was just after 12PM. I dropped my pack and Ed took my camera to film me tagging the summit. After a few minutes, I gathered all my strength and made a dash for the summit. I tagged the summit about 12:15PM.

Whoo hoo!!! Number 9!!!

Unfortunately, there were no views as the summit was socked in by clouds. The wind was heavy, and I lost my hat once, but lucky it did not blow to far.




We ate lunch and chatted with the summit steward for a bit, before heading back down to the junction. The plan was to wait for Jack to return from Iroquois, and hope that Dave would show up. He had not met up with us yet, and Ed was worried about him.

As we headed down, Dave arrived. Ed was visibly relieved. he knew Dave would catch up to us no matter what. Dave had gotten a flat tire just as he left his house. He then headed to the top.

Ed and I made our way down that nasty series of rocks until we reached the junction. We drank some water and I made some repairs to my feet. Dave joined us soon after. He had not run into Jack, who was still near Iroquois.

Ed and Dave decided to head up to Wright. I was too shot to even think about it. Besides, if I had gone up Wright without Iroquois, it would have been like going on a cheap date with my sister, but we all know, I was out of gas and could not climb a mound of sand at this point. I welcomed the chance to rest for at least an hour.

Half an hour later, Jack came strolling down from Algonquin. He had reached Iroquois...congrats, Jack!
He had a bit of a challenge reaching the summit, but a summit steward helped him negotiate some small cliffs. He asked about the others, and I told them they went up to Wright. He could either head up an meet them, wait with me, or the two of us could start out and they would catch up. We opted to wait.

Several minutes later, Ed came down, minus Dave....
"He decided to take a nap."

We donned our packs and headed down.

We were not far, when Dave came bounding up behind us. A storm was in the area, so we had better hurry.

We reached the TH at 7:00PM.

I was disappointed in not getting Iroquois, but Algonquin was the main target. Iroquois would have been a nice second prize. Next time.

[vieWseeker]

so many Congrats G..... your determination is growing stronger every hike... keep it up!!

[DackerDan]

Great Gerard!

I was waiting with tense anticipation for your TR, I knew you would make it but how would the journey be. This is not an easy climb and should set you up for others in the future.

Your work hard and it paid off.

I am so sad you did not get the reward of the views this one offers, last year when I was up there we had a cool clear summer afternoon where you could see for miles. The late afternoon sun and the shadows on the mountains could not be captured in pictures. The way the Krumholz looks on the adjacent peaks is so different and interesting ... and ... the best place to see all that is Boundary on your way to Iroquois, so now you have something to look forward too, come back and get it!

D

[RockON]

G Man; Way to go! Congratulations on your preparation and determination.l I didn't have views when I climbed Algonquin either. My three sons were done when we reached the summit so I went out to Iroquois by my self only to be rewarded with less of a view than I had on Algonquin. Moral of the story is, pick a Saturday or a Sunday to go back and I'll join you.

[Little Rickie]

From one turtle to another, we shold hike together some time?

I plan on being up there 7/14. What do you need?

[Gerard01]

Originally Posted by Little Rickie

From one turtle to another, we shold hike together some time?

I plan on being up there 7/14. What do you need?

Unfortunately, I won't be up there on the 14th. I'm looking at being up there July 4th-6th.

[DackerDan]

Originally Posted by Gerard01

Unfortunately, I won't be up there on the 14th. I'm looking at being up there July 4th-6th.

We will be looking at the Sewards during that time however it will be an overnight. Other possible would be Dix & Hough which we had to miss last month but again - an overnight. We would consider a day hike if we don't have a good weather forecast for 2 days in a row.

[Altbark]

Congrats. You'll like Big Slide. Suggest a there and back over The Brothers. Al

[ADK French Louie]

Hey Gerard, the pleasure was all mine. Great job on a big mountain and I am still impressed with your enthusiam and your love of the ADKs. Nice trail report and pics.

[Gerard01]

Originally Posted by ADK French Louie

Hey Gerard, the pleasure was all mine. Great job on a big mountain and I am still impressed with your enthusiam and your love of the ADKs. Nice trail report and pics.

Thanks, Ed. It was a pleasure to have all of you along, especially, 46r's. It was an honor for me. I am glad I did not disappoint you all. Until we hike again.

[Jim Kennard]

Gerard,
Congratulations on summiting Algonquin. You got a big one tagged. I am confident that with your persistance and determination that you will obtain all of the 46 high peaks. Your journey is inspiring and one that I enjoy reading about your continued progress.
Many Cheers
Jim

[BOBN]

Gerard, Congrats on Algonquin .... Also on your Grit getting there. Keep Training and it will get easier (NEVER EASY). Haven't met Jack, but Ed and Dave are great hiking partners. I first hiked with Ed on 12-21-2010 and did Giant and RPR. I way overdressed, didn't take time to delayer, and dehydrated, I cramped up on RPR and had a long painful trip back over Giant and to the car. Ed + Barkeater were with me the whole way and encouraged me to come back for another hike. I have since done about 25 peaks with Ed and had the honor of hiking with him to Seymour this winter when he completed his official 46. Continue to improve your conditioning, I have Ed's saying of "Rest = Rust" on my exercise log and use the mountains as a motivating factor. Congrats again, Bob

[FlyingCow]

Congratulations Gerard!

Algonquin took me five tries to get. When I finally summited, it was completely socked in! It just means that you get to go back when you do Iroquois! You made a wise decision going back down after Algonquin. Adding Iroquois isn't particularly easy.

From one turtle to another, we shold hike together some time?

If there's a turtle trip coming up, I'm totally in.

[Pathgrinder]

Way to go Gerard! Congratulations!

[PA Ridgerunner]

Way to go, Gerard! You've worked hard and come a long way from that first climb up Cascade!

[Trail Boss]

Congratulations! Well done!

[HPHikingMoo]

Congratulations Gerald. I didn't get Wright or Iroquois last year either. Hoping to do it this year! One at a time.

[Gerard01]

Thanks for the cudos, folks. The credit goes to all of you who have cheered me on for the last two years. All of you gave me the will to move on to the next mountain. Some of you put up with my own brand of whining on the trail as I went. And there were plenty of those days. We've had a bunch of fun, and some trying times.

I look forward to more Trips, not only the 46, but the other peaks of the Adirondacks. Noonmark, RoosterComb, Blue, Owlhead, etc. They all are out there waiting for me to climb.

I am still humbled that many of you enjoy my trip reports. I have read some really well written TR's, that have put me right there on the trail. At one point, I had to slap the dust of the trail off my sleeves after reading one TR.

To all of you who have hiked with me, my hat is off to you.

Bud
Rob
Brian
Ed
Dave
Jack

To Dave and Terri, who have guided me along with encouraging talk. Also, Dave(Topogothics)who helped me turn a 30 pound day pack into something I could actually carry.

I am proud to be a part of this forum family. My new brothers and sisters of the peaks. To us all!

[rockbiter]

Great job, Gerard and Jack, sorry that I was so late...just try and get a tire fixed at 5AM...had a great time, as always with French Louie and meeting youz guyz...thought that I'd be sitting on Algonquin, taking my nap there, waiting for the three of you to get back from Iroquios....but I was way too pokie getting up there...so I missed the better half of the hike, but Gerard, you did great...and Ed...looking forward to next time....!
David S. rockbiter....chewin' up the high peaks

[Tmax]

Way to go Gerard! I told you you could do it!