woo hoo!!!

[lj1]

i intended to go to cascade and porter on sunday, but 2day was spectacular and i was too excited so i went 2day. Yes, i have achieved my first mountain- first 2 actually!!! i have to say that for everyone calling it easy, i found it challenging here and there. nothing like a mountain to prove that you arent in the shape you thought you were!!! i discovered something interesting and am wondering has anyone else experienced the following: i found it harder to get down the mountain than to climb up it!!!??? seriously it took me longer to make it to the bottom than to the top. i found it easier on the lungs, but harder everywhere else and even though i was being really careful, i fell 3 times- ok- no harm done- i just found it odd that it was that tuff and time consuming- i watched people spriting down the hill at an amazing pace and i, well i struggled with the decent. though, as i look up at where i had been, it was almost impossible to believe that i had climbed up!!!! it was a beautiful and amazing experience. any suggestions for peak #3- not too hard please- these 2 kicked my a__ today!!!! but woo hoo i did it!!!!!! oh and for the record, i personally found the view from porter to be better than cascade- i liked it there better. thanks all for the help and encouragement

[Boreal Chickadee]

Congratulations lj1! You made it.

Going down is very tough for a lot of people, especially anyone with knee problems. Before and after my surgeries I would walk down backwards on any slope that was possible to save my knees some pain. Works great on smooth rock and I still do it sometimes to give my quads a rest.

You'll build different muscles as you hike more. Don't worry, they'll come.

As for your 3rd High Peak, Phelps is probably the next easiest. Then Wright.

Good luck and let us know how things go for you.

[Kevin]

Congrats . Porter does have its charm and good views, but it's not a 360 degree panoramic like on Cascade. I take 360 anyday, but I don't skip Porter when I'm up there - it's worth the extra stroll over.

As for conditioning - I found my first peak (Cascade in the winter on snow shoes of all things! ) very challenging. Hiking does require some different muscle groups then hiking or jogging. I have one friend (Quentin) that hikes with me and his first few trips were very hard on him despite his regular jogging routine. As PB&J said, in time you'll develop those muscle groups and it will be more second nature. After my last few 'psycho hikes', as I fondly call them, I wasn't as sore as I was after first doing Cascade.

Another rarely mentioned intangiable to hiking is the SKILL of hiking. Yeah, I've heard people say BS like "it's just walking", but it isn't really. More attention has to be placed on foot holds and such. You can't fall down a 10 foot rock wall shopping in the supermarket, so it aint like walking. In time you'll develop skills at placement and anticipation, especially when decending. I run down stuff now that scared the daylights out of me just a few years ago when I started climbing. It's confidence in the grip of your boots, knowing how to position them in grooves on the rocks, when to step where, etc that comes with nothing else but experience. I'm often heard saying there's no substiutute for experience. There, I said it again. lol

[Boreal Chickadee]

Just a thought about those falls you took- Do you have a good pair of hiking boots? They provide more than ankle support. Their soles are usually vibram or such to grip rock surfaces and the tread is made to dig into dirt for better holding power.

[serotonin]

lj1...
I liked reading your report. Honest, Refreshing, and especially ...Enthusiastic!
With that kind of enthusiasm (and self-awareness of where it hurts), you'll be fine nearly anywhere you go.

...and the good people here will surely help you in all your future pursuits up there. I don't mean to make light of this, as things can sometimes become quite serious...

But seriously lj1... you are hooked. Not quite doomed, but certainly hooked.

[Dick]

Well done, lj1! And I agree with you about descending mountains. Depending upon the terrain (rocks, roots, mud, slime, etc.), they can be a LOT slower than going up, because gravity is still working against you, in a different way. And yes, tough on the knees! Now that you're doomed...er, "hooked," you'll experience some of the higher peaks and you may see why this mountain duo is considered among the easier of them. But much depends upon your conditioning, weather, and the type of terrain you do best on, too. For example, Allen Mt., in addition to its length (almost 20 miles r.t.), has slimy rock that will probably slow you down considerably on the descent. Although there are almost no route finding difficulties on these 46 peaks anymore, there are still some "head scratchers" in a few places. As Peanut Butter says, your next suspects in terms of difficulty may well be Phelps and Wright. Phelps is often done with Table Top, and Wright with Algonquin, making each a more difficult day, but they don't have to be done together (we didn't), and unless you're in a "love 'em and leave 'em" peakbagging mode, you might want to savor them individually. Another next one to consider might be Giant.

Congratulations again!

Dick

[RonandJon]

Congratulations

Cascade and Porter on a nice day can't be beat! They are pretty darn nice on rainy/sleety/snowy days, too. Right, Dick?

Going up is tough aerobically, coming down is tough on the knees and back. Hiking poles and boots with good, sticky, non-stick treads are almost a necessity. I spent my first season with cheap Wal-Mart boot, which soon leaked, so my first purchase the next year was a good pair of Vasquez boots with Vibram soles. After I had a hard time with Algonquin, including a nasty little slip and slide coming down the middle section, I went back and got some Solomons with contra grip soles. They are great - search this thread or ViewsFromtheTop.com for further discussions of various boot and shoe options. Everyone has his or her favorite and swears by it.

As far as your next hike - I agree: check out Phelps. Get a book and map - ADK Guide to the High Peaks is a good one to start with. Pretty easy to find the top of Phelps - but a little tricky at the top to find the rock shelf with the best views - requires a right turn and a little walk through the woods.

Here are a couple of great sites for information:

http://alavigne.homeip.net/newHomePage/Outdoors/FeatureReports/Adirondacks/index.jsp

http://www.adirondackjourney.com/

Tim Dubois, Mavs00, who frequents this site, also has an excellent web site.

Now - the point of view from someone who has only been at this since '98, is older, overweight and not in great shape and who vividly remembers his first hikes - As far as Giant, I might hold off on that one until your legs are a little better. Three miles, 3,000 feet of vertical, much of it over open rocks, and the climbing starts almost immediately and remains fairly constant. This makes for great views going up and coming down, but because the rock is flat, your foot will be at an angle much of the way coming down, forcing your quads to act as brakes. I remember the first time I climbed it - it was my second high peak - my legs felt like jello for three days afterwards.

Good hiking to you - we are coming up on some of the best and most beautiful weather for hiking in the High Peaks. Hope to see you out there.

[Rik]

Congrats on your climb and welcome to a new addiction! I'm another that prefers up to down but over time, as stated, you will develop muscles you didn't know existed. Key to going down is to use your muscles and not your joints. If you flex your legs on each step down you may get a little more muscle soreness but won't beat up on joints such as knees, ankles, hips , and back as much. Often people are tired on the way down so they just stick a foot out there and then drop all of their gravity laden weight down on it. It may take a bit of concentration at first but soon you will do it without thinking and you will have stronger legs and healthier joints to show for it. Another next hike suggestion would be Big Slide via the Brothers. I think this is a little easier than Giant and if the views from Cascade and Porter didn't hook ya the views from the Brothers will.

[kwc]

other options ...

congrats on your successful hike!

you might want to consider trying some hikes that might help you develop your hiking/climbing muscles ... places not quite as far, nor quite as high, but definitely worth a look.

Noonmark (Keene Valley area)
Roostercomb (Keene Valley area)
Snow Mtn (Keene Valley area)
Vanderwacker (easy for the first mile or so, then steep)
Goodnow (near Newcomb)

have fun!!

[Neil]

Going down is a pain in the ...quads.
Here's what I do if I want to reduce the damage.
2 hiking poles adjusted to the appropiate length with very snug wrist straps.
Short steps.
Slow speed.
Aspirine. (old man's smarties)

(Sometimes though I wonder if, terrain permitting, going fast and fluidly therby reducing the total load time on the muscles and joints wouldn't be better.)

[morrell12]

Right on

WAY TO GO DUDE!!!!

Also Bigslide via the brothers would be another great hike! Then Maybe Phelps or Wright. IF you do Wright look for the plane crash on top. If your feeling good after Wright you might want to proceed to Algonquin.

Sounds like you have the itch!!!!! Keep it up the Adirondacks are awesome!

Adam

[lj1]

thanks everyone

i went with a hiking pole and a pair of great boots (though i think they have seen better days-it may be time to invest in a new pair!) im glad that others have found trouble with down too- i thought i waws crazy!!! it wasnt the quads though, it was the ankles and calves that felt like they were gonna give. i got off the mountain at about 7 last night, made it back to albany around 9 and was dreading this morning, but im not really hurting- which is great news! thank god for motrin- i took it as soon as i got back to the car because half way down i statred to get a screaming headach- i think i have to adjust my pack because its pull was a bit much! anyway- im going to get pics developed this afternoon and will post them as soon as i can.

[AntlerPerak]

Well there you have it! Welcome to the club lj1. two down only 113 to go! Oops I am getting ahead of myself but let it be a warning this stuff is adictive. Just remember the crew here is more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Not many if any will dump on you about questions.

As for down being tougher than up I find that true with really steep trails the more moderate slopes down can be easier. I just hate it when it is up in both directions. There is a crew of mountain gnomes that turn the trail around on you. I swear that is true at least sometimes it seems that way.

[serotonin]

I second the motion for the Brothers and Big Slide.

Avoid all weekends.














Hey man; I used to climb...