Step into the world of the Adirondack High Peaks through my eyes. Join me for an unforgettable mountain adventure, where every step is a new story waiting to be told.
This morning, we woke up in the great outdoors, feeling truly isolated. Amidst these towering trees deep in the woods, a strong feeling of being all alone settles in. As I journey deeper into these treks, the silence becomes more and more appreciated.
The solitude is so peaceful, far from the noise of civilization. No cars honking, no phones ringing, and no people talking – just the wind's soft whispers through the leaves and the occasional bird's distant call. The quiet is so pure that it makes your heart's beat feel loud, reminding you that you exist in this vast wilderness.
During the day, you naturally contemplate life. In this untouched, natural place, the past, present, and future, along with the things you've learned, all seem less significant. It's a humbling experience that brings a sense of inner peace.
Being in the wild also makes you value everyday things we usually overlook, like just turning on a tap for water. In the wilderness, it's a whole different experience. You have to find water sources to refill your supply, which we needed to do for the day.
We headed to a nearby stream to refill our water supply. Purifying the water was a new experience for me, using iodine tablets and Aqua Fresh, but the result was remarkable. In just half an hour, the mountain stream transformed into clear, refreshing water, as good as any bottled water. With our campsite cleaned up and ready, we were all set to begin our day's hike.
Our first peak of the day was Colvin, which stands at 4,081 feet. Colvin is named after Verplanck Colvin, a 19th-century surveyor who played a significant role in early surveys of the Adirondack region. While at the peak, we spotted a survey marker, which is a point of reference for land measurements. The views from Colvin, with the Ausable Lakes and the Great Range in sight, were spectacular. We decided to take a snack break, finding a cozy spot to relax before continuing our journey.
On our descent, we came across wooden ladders, which added an exciting twist to our adventure. Our path led to Blake, named after Mills Blake, Verplanck Colvin's main assistant during the Adirondack Survey. Although the summit didn't offer any views, we took a quick summit photo and carried on.
As we navigated through AMR (Adirondack Mountain Reserve) land restrictions, Tim came up with a smart new campsite plan, which turned out to be a great choice. Our tent was nestled next to a babbling brook, ensuring a morning water source for the next day.
Our journey for the day covered a little over 7 miles, with a climb of more than 2,200 feet in elevation. We spent about 6 1/2 hours on the move. The day was hot, and we were eager to call it a night and rest.
After a satisfying dinner, we retired to our tent early, and the peaceful surroundings, along with the memory of the day, played a lullaby that gently put us to sleep under the stars.
Tomorrow brings the big challenge of tackling the Lower Great Range, with five high peaks in one day. It promises to be our most significant adventure yet, and we can't wait to embrace it.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
