ANOTHER 46th on Allen, 8/21/2010

AdkWalrus · 08-24-2010, 11:46 PM

This one's been a long time coming -- 24 years, to be exact, from when I climbed Haystack in 1986 at the age of eight. It's been a crazy journey since then, right through four years of summer camp where I often wasn't sure if I really even enjoyed this. Eventually the bug took hold and I slowly worked my way through the 27 I had left after finishing my camping days in 1993... I convinced a lot of different friends to accompany me on these trips over the last ten-plus years, a few of whom I scared off, and some of whom decided to come back for more. No one was more intrepid than my wife, who was introduced to the High Peaks with a Basin-Saddleback-Gothics-Sawteeth marathon when we were in college, hated me that day, and then joined me for 10 of the 22 I had left after that, as well as many other re-climbs in between. We were lucky enough that she could join me for this one, and for not having done any major hikes since our kids were born three years ago, she probably kept up as well if not better than she had on any of our previous hikes. I am truly blessed.

We arrived at the trailhead at 6:45am, having hoped for a start between 6 and 6:30, but being a little held up in our departure. We were then further stymied by the bizarre problem of our car refusing to be locked! After several minutes of being convinced that the remote was sandwiched in the wrong spot in my pack (and not wanting to undo everything to get at it, I kept moving the pack down the trail...), we discovered that the second remote was in the pocket on the passenger side door, and the car wasn't letting us lock it in! Crazy!

That problem solved, we finally set off for good at 7am. We had good weather all day, though a bit cloudier than I might have wished -- then again, with the long meadow section in the middle, it's probably just as well we didn't have the sun baking down on us. We made great time to the herdpath turn-off, heading past the "ALLEN" sign at 8:45. Just over an hour later, we were crossing Skylight Brook, and ten minutes after that we arrived at the falls on Allen Brook.

The climb up the brook bed was about as advertised: steep, slippery, and ultimately not all that bad. I lost my balance completely once in each direction, but a couple of tiny blood blisters and one minor bruise are all I have to show for it. Not bad at all.

I really enjoyed the final stretch from the top of the slide to the summit, and not just because I knew what was coming. It's a beautiful area in there.

I let everyone go ahead of me at this point so they could meet me on the summit, and within minutes (11:43am to be precise) I was there. 46 at last! A bit emotional, of course, though not so much as on Rocky Peak Ridge last month, as it turned out. That might have had something to do with there being around 20 people on the summit during the course of our time there. Absolutely wild to see all these people together smack in the middle of nowhere. I should note here that there were two other fellows on the summit at the time who were also finishing that day. Congratulations to them, and doubly so since they had just done all three Santanonis the day before!

Also, no pine marten to report, I am afraid, perhaps due to two of the hikers there having a dog with them. Apparently, a marten knows when it just isn't his day.

We took our time on the summit enjoying the views and eating lunch, and then headed down at 12:30, running into some more folks who were on their way up. The climb down the slide and brook went their usual careful pace, with the mantra "nose over toes" being paramount.

We pretty much took our time the rest of the way, stopping for half an hour at the Opalescent to rest and refill hydration units. At this point, we were met by Trail Boss, taking the long road back from Redfield (#45) to scout out the way to Allen, his planned 46th. Popular mountain to finish on this year! Trail Boss accompanied us the rest of the way out, making for good conversation and an even pleasanter walk than it might have been otherwise. We arrived back at the East River Trailhead at 5:50pm (10h50m, including stops) and I signed us out before we headed to the hotel for showers and then on to Lake Placid for dinner at the Pub and Brewery, 46er Pale Ale in hand! An absolutely thrilling day and one I will never forget.

While I'm here, I want to give a few special shout-outs to some people who helped make this possible. First, to Tim and Neil and everyone else here who has been so helpful and encouraging over the last few years. This site more than any other helps keep the Adirondacks a part of my daily routine, and since I cannot be there more than a couple weeks and weekends a year, that is a service that is beyond priceless. Neil, Tim, thanks again, and keep up the good work.

Second, to my good high school friend Sue and her husband, with whom I reconnected on Facebook just a couple of years ago, which has already led to several memorable adventures. They are experienced hikers and climbers in the Whites, but prior to Donaldson, Emmons, and Seymour in May of 2009, they hadn't climbed any 46ers. They've since climbed Marshall and Allen with me, and I think I owe them big time at this point. I think everyone here can appreciate the selflessness and pure joy of hiking that goes into starting the 46 with that quintet! My friends, here's to many more on both sides of Vermont in the years to come.

And last but not least, again to my wife, not just for her almost-always-smiling presence on so many hikes, but also for the ones she had to miss these last few years while staying home with the kids. I'm extraordinarily lucky to have someone who understands how important this is to me, and I'm grateful every time. It was a real treat to have her back out there this weekend, and I hope this marks the end of her temporary exile from hiking. She's the best.

With that, some pictures.

MarineSteve · 08-25-2010, 12:14 AM

Congrats and bravo! A 24 year odyssey. Wow. That's cool. You brought back a memory for me. My first trip in the high peaks with my wife: Gothics, Armstrong, & the Wolfjaws - beautiful weather, awesome views, rain, mudpits, darkness, animals, running the lake road between thunderstorms on the way out - yes, intrepid indeed. Congrats again and take care.

Steve

SummitHat · 08-25-2010, 01:43 AM

Well done Adam!

To reach this milestone on a life's journey with your wife and friends along - you are indeed truly blessed!

Reading your trip report it was easy to sense the excitement. Nice summit photo with the group all smiles. The pic on the Lake Jimmy bridge shows everyone was in great spirits on this momentous day, even after the long walk.

Enjoy many more high points in the years to come!

vieWseeker · 08-25-2010, 06:26 AM

Bravo x 2 adam... Its a great feeling right!!!

billandjudy · 08-25-2010, 06:45 AM

Congrats on a long journey!

1ADAM12 · 08-25-2010, 06:56 AM

Big congrats!

adkdremn · 08-25-2010, 07:50 AM

Congrats Adam....welcome to the club!

PA Ridgerunner · 08-25-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adkdremn

Congrats Adam....welcome to the club!

Hey Andy, feels good to be able to say that, huh?

Let me add my congratulations as well, Adam. So nice that your wife was there with you...and that you acknowledged her so in your TR. Good stuff!

randomscooter · 08-25-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdkWalrus

This one's been a long time coming -- 24 years, to be exact, from when I climbed Haystack in 1986 at the age of eight. It's been a crazy journey since then, right through four years of summer camp where I often wasn't sure if I really even enjoyed this. Eventually the bug took hold ...

You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdkWalrus

I let everyone go ahead of me at this point so they could meet me on the summit, and within minutes (11:43am to be precise) I was there. 46 at last!

Welcome to the collective.

Trail Boss · 08-25-2010, 09:21 AM

Congratulations Adam!

A great trip report and I'm honored to have played a very tiny part in your crowning achievement. I enjoyed the company of you, your wife, and friends; the last few miles melted away. Once again, congratulations on realizing your dream and I hope we meet again sometime in the future.

Rookie · 08-25-2010, 10:06 AM

Congratulations Adam ! Well done !

...I'm extraordinarily lucky to have someone who understands how important this is to me, and I'm grateful every time...

Great acknowledgement and sentiments ! You got yourself a "keeper" !

procook131 · 08-25-2010, 10:24 AM

I was really hoping you would write something up, and it was a really nice story! Your wife is a keeper for sure!

Quite a time split, but at least you had time to really look forward to each and every hike in front of you. Job well done sir, and thanks for sharing!!!

mink · 08-25-2010, 11:14 AM

Congratulations!

Chewi00 · 08-25-2010, 11:35 AM

Congrats! I love these finishing trip reports, each one gives me a little more juice for the long hauls that await many of us on the way to our goal.

AdkWalrus · 08-25-2010, 01:21 PM

Thanks everyone for your kind words. It's been a pleasure sharing this adventure with you in the virtual world, and perhaps I'll share some of the ongoing adventure with more of you in the real world in the years to come.

Writing my TR late last night, I omitted one important person from my thanks at the end: my mother's cousin John R. Henry II, 46er #286 who passed away 12 years ago. Prior to this weekend, John had been the only 46er in our family. As I approached and crossed the halfway point in the mid-90s, I began to have conversations with John about our hiking experiences every time we got together around the holidays. Most of those conversations featured an exchange like this:

John: Which mountain did you climb first?
Me: Haystack.
John: Good! That's where I started, too. And that means you have to finish on Allen like I did.

By the time John and I were having these discussions, he had already stopped hiking due to illness, but his enthusiasm for the mountains never dimmed. I actually called John from my dorm room the night I got back from climbing numbers 23 and 24 to tell him I had passed halfway. Unfortunately, I did not climb any more new 46ers while John was alive. He passed in 1998, and when I climbed my #25 that fall, I wrote a memorial to him in the canister log book on Tabletop's summit. I vowed at that time that not only would I finish the 46, I would finish on Allen like John had wanted me to. It was a real thrill to fulfill my promise this weekend. John, you are, and always will be, missed.

Highonlife · 08-25-2010, 05:52 PM

Congratulations...

turkeybob · 08-25-2010, 11:18 PM

CONGRATS--WHAT A WAY TO FINISH--ISN'T THAT A GREAT PEAK?
It means so much to have your wife as your friend, partner, and #1 supporter. I am also lucky to have that same experience.
Welcome to the club, hope to see you next MAY for the celebration.

Also--great report--thanks

turkeybob

Antlerpeak · 08-26-2010, 03:00 AM

Enjoyed your trip report it was easy to see you are part of the mountains and they are part of you.

King Whistle · 08-26-2010, 05:25 AM

Congrats from a fellow Nutmeg state ADK enthusiast!

twinpeaks · 08-26-2010, 04:07 PM

Great report and Congratulations from one Connecticut hiker to another. I hope to join the club next summer if all goes well.

08-25-2010, 06:56 AM	#6
1ADAM12 Marc Howes kicking me! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On Allen! Posts: 2,893	Big congrats! __________________ OUTDOOR SHOTS More hiking Pictures EASY CHEESE and The Cheez Whiz 43/46 ADK Easy Cheese and Cheez Whiz 43/46 winter EASY CHEESE and The Cheez Whiz 19/35 CATS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

08-25-2010, 07:50 AM	#7
adkdremn Santanoni Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Emmaus, PA Posts: 1,828	Congrats Adam....welcome to the club! __________________ Shut your eyes and think of somewhere Somewhere cold and caked in snow.......

08-25-2010, 10:24 AM	#12
procook131 Commander Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stowe, VT Posts: 1,200	I was really hoping you would write something up, and it was a really nice story! Your wife is a keeper for sure! Quite a time split, but at least you had time to really look forward to each and every hike in front of you. Job well done sir, and thanks for sharing!!! __________________ “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” John Muir "Not the kind of "fun" you have to force yourself to remember you're supposed to be having, but the kind where you realize for the last half a day you've had this idiot grin on your face that you just can't seem to shake." -Mirabela

08-25-2010, 11:14 AM	#13
mink Consultant Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 349	Congratulations! __________________ "The concept of time disappears when thoughtful people on a high summit free their minds momentarily from the dramatic impact of the summit scenery and realize that in truth the surrounding alpine meadow is a continuation of ancient times into this very day" Edwin H. Ketchledge

08-25-2010, 11:35 AM	#14
Chewi00 Wookie Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 144	Congrats! I love these finishing trip reports, each one gives me a little more juice for the long hauls that await many of us on the way to our goal. __________________ Always let the wookie win 7/46

08-24-2010, 11:46 PM	#1
AdkWalrus Jr. Commander Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wallingford, CT Avatar: Seymour Posts: 469	ANOTHER 46th on Allen, 8/21/2010 This one's been a long time coming -- 24 years, to be exact, from when I climbed Haystack in 1986 at the age of eight. It's been a crazy journey since then, right through four years of summer camp where I often wasn't sure if I really even enjoyed this. Eventually the bug took hold and I slowly worked my way through the 27 I had left after finishing my camping days in 1993... I convinced a lot of different friends to accompany me on these trips over the last ten-plus years, a few of whom I scared off, and some of whom decided to come back for more. No one was more intrepid than my wife, who was introduced to the High Peaks with a Basin-Saddleback-Gothics-Sawteeth marathon when we were in college, hated me that day, and then joined me for 10 of the 22 I had left after that, as well as many other re-climbs in between. We were lucky enough that she could join me for this one, and for not having done any major hikes since our kids were born three years ago, she probably kept up as well if not better than she had on any of our previous hikes. I am truly blessed. We arrived at the trailhead at 6:45am, having hoped for a start between 6 and 6:30, but being a little held up in our departure. We were then further stymied by the bizarre problem of our car refusing to be locked! After several minutes of being convinced that the remote was sandwiched in the wrong spot in my pack (and not wanting to undo everything to get at it, I kept moving the pack down the trail...), we discovered that the second remote was in the pocket on the passenger side door, and the car wasn't letting us lock it in! Crazy! That problem solved, we finally set off for good at 7am. We had good weather all day, though a bit cloudier than I might have wished -- then again, with the long meadow section in the middle, it's probably just as well we didn't have the sun baking down on us. We made great time to the herdpath turn-off, heading past the "ALLEN" sign at 8:45. Just over an hour later, we were crossing Skylight Brook, and ten minutes after that we arrived at the falls on Allen Brook. The climb up the brook bed was about as advertised: steep, slippery, and ultimately not all that bad. I lost my balance completely once in each direction, but a couple of tiny blood blisters and one minor bruise are all I have to show for it. Not bad at all. I really enjoyed the final stretch from the top of the slide to the summit, and not just because I knew what was coming. It's a beautiful area in there. I let everyone go ahead of me at this point so they could meet me on the summit, and within minutes (11:43am to be precise) I was there. 46 at last! A bit emotional, of course, though not so much as on Rocky Peak Ridge last month, as it turned out. That might have had something to do with there being around 20 people on the summit during the course of our time there. Absolutely wild to see all these people together smack in the middle of nowhere. I should note here that there were two other fellows on the summit at the time who were also finishing that day. Congratulations to them, and doubly so since they had just done all three Santanonis the day before! Also, no pine marten to report, I am afraid, perhaps due to two of the hikers there having a dog with them. Apparently, a marten knows when it just isn't his day. We took our time on the summit enjoying the views and eating lunch, and then headed down at 12:30, running into some more folks who were on their way up. The climb down the slide and brook went their usual careful pace, with the mantra "nose over toes" being paramount. We pretty much took our time the rest of the way, stopping for half an hour at the Opalescent to rest and refill hydration units. At this point, we were met by Trail Boss, taking the long road back from Redfield (#45) to scout out the way to Allen, his planned 46th. Popular mountain to finish on this year! Trail Boss accompanied us the rest of the way out, making for good conversation and an even pleasanter walk than it might have been otherwise. We arrived back at the East River Trailhead at 5:50pm (10h50m, including stops) and I signed us out before we headed to the hotel for showers and then on to Lake Placid for dinner at the Pub and Brewery, 46er Pale Ale in hand! An absolutely thrilling day and one I will never forget. While I'm here, I want to give a few special shout-outs to some people who helped make this possible. First, to Tim and Neil and everyone else here who has been so helpful and encouraging over the last few years. This site more than any other helps keep the Adirondacks a part of my daily routine, and since I cannot be there more than a couple weeks and weekends a year, that is a service that is beyond priceless. Neil, Tim, thanks again, and keep up the good work. Second, to my good high school friend Sue and her husband, with whom I reconnected on Facebook just a couple of years ago, which has already led to several memorable adventures. They are experienced hikers and climbers in the Whites, but prior to Donaldson, Emmons, and Seymour in May of 2009, they hadn't climbed any 46ers. They've since climbed Marshall and Allen with me, and I think I owe them big time at this point. I think everyone here can appreciate the selflessness and pure joy of hiking that goes into starting the 46 with that quintet! My friends, here's to many more on both sides of Vermont in the years to come. And last but not least, again to my wife, not just for her almost-always-smiling presence on so many hikes, but also for the ones she had to miss these last few years while staying home with the kids. I'm extraordinarily lucky to have someone who understands how important this is to me, and I'm grateful every time. It was a real treat to have her back out there this weekend, and I hope this marks the end of her temporary exile from hiking. She's the best. With that, some pictures. __________________ 46/46, 8/48, 54/115 46-R #6866

08-25-2010, 12:14 AM	#2
MarineSteve Me, Son, Dad Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lansing, IL Posts: 13	Congrats and bravo! A 24 year odyssey. Wow. That's cool. You brought back a memory for me. My first trip in the high peaks with my wife: Gothics, Armstrong, & the Wolfjaws - beautiful weather, awesome views, rain, mudpits, darkness, animals, running the lake road between thunderstorms on the way out - yes, intrepid indeed. Congrats again and take care. Steve

08-25-2010, 01:43 AM	#3
SummitHat That was fun Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Cold North Posts: 951	Well done Adam! To reach this milestone on a life's journey with your wife and friends along - you are indeed truly blessed! Reading your trip report it was easy to sense the excitement. Nice summit photo with the group all smiles. The pic on the Lake Jimmy bridge shows everyone was in great spirits on this momentous day, even after the long walk. Enjoy many more high points in the years to come!

08-25-2010, 06:26 AM	#4
vieWseeker Winter46er Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fulton, NY: On Wright Posts: 3,273	Bravo x 2 adam... Its a great feeling right!!! __________________ ADK 46-R #6750W CL-50 - #51 CATSKILLS- 9/39 Hiking photos

08-25-2010, 06:45 AM	#5
billandjudy Jimmy Dolan Notch Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 4,020	Congrats on a long journey!

08-25-2010, 09:21 AM	#10
Trail Boss Ascender Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 1,889	Congratulations Adam! A great trip report and I'm honored to have played a very tiny part in your crowning achievement. I enjoyed the company of you, your wife, and friends; the last few miles melted away. Once again, congratulations on realizing your dream and I hope we meet again sometime in the future.

08-25-2010, 10:06 AM	#11
Rookie Commander Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston/Eden border, NY Posts: 883	Congratulations Adam ! Well done ! ...I'm extraordinarily lucky to have someone who understands how important this is to me, and I'm grateful every time... Great acknowledgement and sentiments ! You got yourself a "keeper" !

08-25-2010, 01:21 PM	#15
AdkWalrus Jr. Commander Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wallingford, CT Avatar: Seymour Posts: 469	Thanks everyone for your kind words. It's been a pleasure sharing this adventure with you in the virtual world, and perhaps I'll share some of the ongoing adventure with more of you in the real world in the years to come. Writing my TR late last night, I omitted one important person from my thanks at the end: my mother's cousin John R. Henry II, 46er #286 who passed away 12 years ago. Prior to this weekend, John had been the only 46er in our family. As I approached and crossed the halfway point in the mid-90s, I began to have conversations with John about our hiking experiences every time we got together around the holidays. Most of those conversations featured an exchange like this: John: Which mountain did you climb first? Me: Haystack. John: Good! That's where I started, too. And that means you have to finish on Allen like I did. By the time John and I were having these discussions, he had already stopped hiking due to illness, but his enthusiasm for the mountains never dimmed. I actually called John from my dorm room the night I got back from climbing numbers 23 and 24 to tell him I had passed halfway. Unfortunately, I did not climb any more new 46ers while John was alive. He passed in 1998, and when I climbed my #25 that fall, I wrote a memorial to him in the canister log book on Tabletop's summit. I vowed at that time that not only would I finish the 46, I would finish on Allen like John had wanted me to. It was a real thrill to fulfill my promise this weekend. John, you are, and always will be, missed. __________________ 46/46, 8/48, 54/115 46-R #6866

08-25-2010, 05:52 PM	#16
Highonlife NATUREISMYHIGH Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canton Posts: 2,078	Congratulations... __________________ Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up. ~Jesse Jackson

08-25-2010, 11:18 PM	#17
turkeybob Consultant Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Geneseo, NY Posts: 222	allen the great CONGRATS--WHAT A WAY TO FINISH--ISN'T THAT A GREAT PEAK? It means so much to have your wife as your friend, partner, and #1 supporter. I am also lucky to have that same experience. Welcome to the club, hope to see you next MAY for the celebration. Also--great report--thanks turkeybob

08-26-2010, 03:00 AM	#18
Antlerpeak Commander Join Date: May 2005 Location: Western Washington Posts: 514	Enjoyed your trip report it was easy to see you are part of the mountains and they are part of you.

08-26-2010, 05:25 AM	#19
King Whistle Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 19	Congrats from a fellow Nutmeg state ADK enthusiast!

08-26-2010, 04:07 PM	#20
twinpeaks Consultant Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Burlington CT and Mountain View NY Posts: 229	Great report and Congratulations from one Connecticut hiker to another. I hope to join the club next summer if all goes well.

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