For me I remember the climb of my life and how I really should have made it an overnighter instead of a day hike. Some day I would like to go back, but pack in, sleep, climb, decend to camp, sleep, pack out.
About 8 years ago a friend and I decide it was time to check Capitol Peak off our list. We thought it wouldn't be too bad if we just started early and did the whole thing in a single day. Well we got to the trailhead at 10pm, crashed, and got up at 1am. So we were working on 3 hours sleep.
We decended immediately about 400' and crossed a stream and started up the 6 mile approach to the base of the mountain near Capitol Lake. After reaching the summit with some Class 4 climbing and quite a bit of exposure, we headed back down, but we got separated somehow. In any case the route is like 18 miles roundtrip and a little over 6000' of gain.
By the time I got back down to the lake safe and sound, I had 6 miles to get back to the car. It was more of a catatonic (sp) walk more than a trance or death march. I knew I was near the end when I came upon the creek. Instead of taking my boots off to cross it barefoot, I just waded across socks, boots, and all. I was too exhausted to take them off. I then had 400' of going uphill before I could air out my boots and pass out on a large rock waiting for my friend to return.
I thought about nothing really during the whole decent. I just managed to put one foot in front of the other while the world disappeared.
About 8 years ago a friend and I decide it was time to check Capitol Peak off our list. We thought it wouldn't be too bad if we just started early and did the whole thing in a single day. Well we got to the trailhead at 10pm, crashed, and got up at 1am. So we were working on 3 hours sleep.
We decended immediately about 400' and crossed a stream and started up the 6 mile approach to the base of the mountain near Capitol Lake. After reaching the summit with some Class 4 climbing and quite a bit of exposure, we headed back down, but we got separated somehow. In any case the route is like 18 miles roundtrip and a little over 6000' of gain.
By the time I got back down to the lake safe and sound, I had 6 miles to get back to the car. It was more of a catatonic (sp) walk more than a trance or death march. I knew I was near the end when I came upon the creek. Instead of taking my boots off to cross it barefoot, I just waded across socks, boots, and all. I was too exhausted to take them off. I then had 400' of going uphill before I could air out my boots and pass out on a large rock waiting for my friend to return.
I thought about nothing really during the whole decent. I just managed to put one foot in front of the other while the world disappeared.
Then I have to wait til I hit Glens Falls, seems like that takes forever too!
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