Rough Day on Wright 4-7-10

JMoore · 04-09-2010, 10:02 AM

After getting our first taste of the 46 last fall, the boys (10 &12) and I have been thinking about getting back to the high peaks all winter and bagging another 46. We've spent the winter, gathering gear, reading books and maps and exercising!

The boys were on spring break this week and we wanted to try Wright and Algonquin. So after watching the weather we decided the best day looked like the Wednesday, so I took the day off and we traveled to Lake Placid Tuesday night. My wife also decided to join us.

We had hoped for an earlier start, but we spent some time looking for a geocache on the the Adirdondack Loj Road. (5 Canadians Gruff) Finally found it! Tough one. So we didn't get started until 9 - 9-30AM. It had rained hard the night before and the trail was pretty muddy and the snow had been softened up. We made good time initially but eventually, the snow and ice slowed us down. I had read trail reports prior to going about the hard packed snow so we didn't bring snow shoes and just bare-booted it. (first mistake) Our snow shoes are the full sized ones, so I'm not sure how they would have worked anyway. So we often had to work our way around the slick icey patches and would occassionaly "post hole" in the soft snow.

We got to the waterfall, just past the camping area on the Algonquin, trail when my wife decided she had had enough. My GPS told me it was only .5 miles to the summit of Wright, so we decided to drop our packs with her, the boys and I take a few essentials and push toward the summit. From there the trail turned really steep and icey, but we made good time to the trail junction. There we met three other hikers. Two had just been to Algonquin and told us about how windy it was and were headed back to the Loj. The third, headed up the trail with us to the summit of Wright. About this time the weather had started to turn. All day it had been bright, sunny and in the 50's. But it had quickly become overcast and started to spit. By the time we reached the tree line it was quite windy. About 100 yards from the summit it got really bad, the wind was howling and sleet and rain were hitting us side ways! We quickly hit the summit and headed down. We had to often slide down on our bottoms to avoid being blown over! At one point one of my Jack Russels crawled in a cravasse and didn't want to come out! I didn't catch the guys name, but the hiker that went with us to the summit was a big help. He stayed with us until we safely reached the tree line. He had a 46'r patch (with winter rocker). Thanks for your help!

We finally got back to my wife, we were soaked to the bone! But having the right clothes help. After a bit of hiking, we dried out quickly and got back to the Loj around 5:30. We'll have to get Algonquin another time. Despite the rough weather, we had a great time, learned alot and are already talking about our next high peak.

Here's my photo album

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p...ight%204-7-10/

And a few photos.

AlpineLamb · 04-09-2010, 10:40 AM

A nice family adventure

SoloJoe · 04-09-2010, 11:02 AM

Terrific report, cool photos.

I was battling the storm on Skylight while you guys were on Wright. What a day, huh?

Morning gorgeous, afternoon frightful. I'm sorry we didn't cross paths, as I didn't see anyone out there for the better part of two days. Congrats on bagging the peak.

JMoore · 04-09-2010, 11:13 AM

Yeah, crazy day! Later I felt if we had got to the peak either an hour later or earlier we would have missed the storm as we saw sunshine before and after! Seems like the moutain saved the worse for us right as we hit the summit and tried to blow us off! lolol

vieWseeker · 04-09-2010, 12:55 PM

fantastic time with your boys learning about the Weather changes so quickly there..Love the pics..thanks and I hope for sunny skies next trip for you...

SummitHat · 04-09-2010, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the trip report! Wright gets some shredding winds. The first time we went up in 2002 we met hikers scrambling down who had been literally blown off balance above the tree line. Being guys, we went up anyway.

Happy adventuring to you and your family!

RockON · 04-09-2010, 07:51 PM

Nice job! You had success because you were prepared.There is nothing I enjoy more than hiking with my sons. When you go back for Algonquin, you can shoot back up Wright. I am sure the boys would enjoy seeking the plane wreckage.

JMoore · 04-10-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockON

Nice job! You had success because you were prepared.There is nothing I enjoy more than hiking with my sons. When you go back for Algonquin, you can shoot back up Wright. I am sure the boys would enjoy seeking the plane wreckage.

Yeah, one reason we chose Wright was that the boys wanted to look for wreckage. We'll definitely look again, when we go back for Algonquin.

Having good boots, socks, liners, pants, etc. made a big difference in comfort. I'm also learning how to use my Garmin GPSMap 60 CSx and 24K Topo maps. It makes you feel much better knowing where you are and how much further to go. While I have in the correct waypoints for trail junctions and peaks, I still need to figure out how the route function works.

And yes, hiking with the boys is great. I want to do as much as I can while they still tolerate the "old man"! lol

04-09-2010, 10:02 AM	#1
JMoore 15/46 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 175	Rough Day on Wright 4-7-10 After getting our first taste of the 46 last fall, the boys (10 &12) and I have been thinking about getting back to the high peaks all winter and bagging another 46. We've spent the winter, gathering gear, reading books and maps and exercising! The boys were on spring break this week and we wanted to try Wright and Algonquin. So after watching the weather we decided the best day looked like the Wednesday, so I took the day off and we traveled to Lake Placid Tuesday night. My wife also decided to join us. We had hoped for an earlier start, but we spent some time looking for a geocache on the the Adirdondack Loj Road. (5 Canadians Gruff) Finally found it! Tough one. So we didn't get started until 9 - 9-30AM. It had rained hard the night before and the trail was pretty muddy and the snow had been softened up. We made good time initially but eventually, the snow and ice slowed us down. I had read trail reports prior to going about the hard packed snow so we didn't bring snow shoes and just bare-booted it. (first mistake) Our snow shoes are the full sized ones, so I'm not sure how they would have worked anyway. So we often had to work our way around the slick icey patches and would occassionaly "post hole" in the soft snow. We got to the waterfall, just past the camping area on the Algonquin, trail when my wife decided she had had enough. My GPS told me it was only .5 miles to the summit of Wright, so we decided to drop our packs with her, the boys and I take a few essentials and push toward the summit. From there the trail turned really steep and icey, but we made good time to the trail junction. There we met three other hikers. Two had just been to Algonquin and told us about how windy it was and were headed back to the Loj. The third, headed up the trail with us to the summit of Wright. About this time the weather had started to turn. All day it had been bright, sunny and in the 50's. But it had quickly become overcast and started to spit. By the time we reached the tree line it was quite windy. About 100 yards from the summit it got really bad, the wind was howling and sleet and rain were hitting us side ways! We quickly hit the summit and headed down. We had to often slide down on our bottoms to avoid being blown over! At one point one of my Jack Russels crawled in a cravasse and didn't want to come out! I didn't catch the guys name, but the hiker that went with us to the summit was a big help. He stayed with us until we safely reached the tree line. He had a 46'r patch (with winter rocker). Thanks for your help! We finally got back to my wife, we were soaked to the bone! But having the right clothes help. After a bit of hiking, we dried out quickly and got back to the Loj around 5:30. We'll have to get Algonquin another time. Despite the rough weather, we had a great time, learned alot and are already talking about our next high peak. Here's my photo album http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p...ight%204-7-10/ And a few photos. __________________ Look, I understand too little too late, I realize there are things you say and do. You can never take back, But what would you be if you didn't even try. You have to try. So after a lot of thought, I'd like to reconsider. Please. If it's not too late. Make it a cheeseburger. - Lyle Lovett

04-09-2010, 10:40 AM	#2
AlpineLamb "her sister" Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Essex County NY Posts: 797	A nice family adventure __________________ Think outside...no box required !

04-09-2010, 11:13 AM	#4
JMoore 15/46 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 175	Yeah, crazy day! Later I felt if we had got to the peak either an hour later or earlier we would have missed the storm as we saw sunshine before and after! Seems like the moutain saved the worse for us right as we hit the summit and tried to blow us off! lolol __________________ Look, I understand too little too late, I realize there are things you say and do. You can never take back, But what would you be if you didn't even try. You have to try. So after a lot of thought, I'd like to reconsider. Please. If it's not too late. Make it a cheeseburger. - Lyle Lovett

04-09-2010, 12:55 PM	#5
vieWseeker Winter46er Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fulton, NY: On Wright Posts: 3,265	fantastic time with your boys learning about the Weather changes so quickly there..Love the pics..thanks and I hope for sunny skies next trip for you... __________________ ADK 46-R #6750W CL-50 - #51 CATSKILLS- 9/39 Hiking photos

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04-09-2010, 11:02 AM	#3
SoloJoe Positive Thinking Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 361	Terrific report, cool photos. I was battling the storm on Skylight while you guys were on Wright. What a day, huh? Morning gorgeous, afternoon frightful. I'm sorry we didn't cross paths, as I didn't see anyone out there for the better part of two days. Congrats on bagging the peak.

04-09-2010, 07:31 PM	#6
SummitHat That was fun Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Cold North Posts: 947	Thanks for the trip report! Wright gets some shredding winds. The first time we went up in 2002 we met hikers scrambling down who had been literally blown off balance above the tree line. Being guys, we went up anyway. Happy adventuring to you and your family!

04-09-2010, 07:51 PM	#7
RockON Slowlowist Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 797	Nice job! You had success because you were prepared.There is nothing I enjoy more than hiking with my sons. When you go back for Algonquin, you can shoot back up Wright. I am sure the boys would enjoy seeking the plane wreckage.

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