Nye, Street, Redhawk's and the Pharoah Wilderness

[percious]

Friday.

Kevin already posted about our friday hike, so please read this I only have a few things to add.

First off, I arrived at the lodge just shy of 10am after visiting the mountaineer on the way in. I arrived at the shack to find it full of eager children. Upon asking the storekeeper about what was going on, I was informed that it was Lake Placid's 4th grade field trip, out for some wildlife observation. What a cool thing to do in elementary school. The shopkeeper was very polite as usual, and offered some good information about trail conditions and whatnot.

Other things of note: We started off at about 15*F which was comfortable to hike in. By the summit of street, it had plummeted to -10*F. It was interesting to enter certain stages of hypothermia, while being aware of it... I did warm up on the descent. Back at the lodge at 7:30 it was a balmy 5F*, or so I remember.

Dinner was excellent at the tex-mex place, and I was psyched because they had the beer I like to drink. (I only had 2 pints (more on that later))

[percious]

Friday night.

Before dinner, I stopped into the hostel to let John know that only I would be staying the night, as Kevin was bushed from our battle with street and nye. My plan was to join other board members for the Siamese pond wilderness. John got perturbed and told me I had to pay for both rooms, I said that was fine, and ran out for dinner.
I told Kevin what was going on, and Kevin said he would talk to John, which I said was fine. After dinner, I unpacked my stuff into the hostel, while Kevin conversed with John. I don't really know what was said, but the jist was that Kevin paid half, which is customary for a hotel or motel or whatever. Kevin left for Albany, while John yelled that he is not allowed back.
I had gotten all of my gear into the hostel, and I began to unpack my wet clothes and put them by the radiators, which is customary at the High Peaks Hostel. When I heard John come in from shoveling the driveway (which I had offered to move my car so he could get around it) I went to talk to him. I very nicely stated to him that he should be careful who he "pisses off" around here, because the guy that he just yelled at was a respected member of the online community, and many hikers use these boards to plan their trips.
This really angered John, and an argument ensued, as I was just trying to make a point to him, as a business owner, that you don't piss off your customers. Mind you, I am a repeat customer to this hostel. His arguement centered around the fact that he could have made 100% on that bed, but now he only has 50%. I said, "That's fine John, I will be happy to pay my friend's other half, I just need a place to stay tonight." John continued to angrily explain to me that I should not tell him how to run his business, and that he has many important people stay at his establishment, and that basically he doesn't take flack from anyone. My stand was that I was just giving him some friendly advise, and that he should run his business however he found fit. Aparently, because I was not willing to back down, and say he was right, he kept going, and at one point slapped Kevin's $11 dollars on the table, and said, "Here is your money, and have a good night."

[percious]

At this point I was confused, but I took the money, and proceeded to gather my things and put them in my car. I was definately angered, and I kept stating that his establishment was not friendly to hikers. He told me that I should come back when I am sober, which just angered me more, because I had not drunk enough to be under any influence, and that had nothing to do with the fact that I was angered.
On the way out, their screen door slammed as I left, because it is spring loaded, and that's what it does. John screamed at me saying "I'll kick your ass if you break that door." I refilled my windshield wiper resevoir, and left.

[edit-->]
I forgot to mention that before threatening me, he also stated that he "couldn't believe I took the $11 back." I told him that I was going to give it back to my friend, since it wasn't mine, and it certainly was not his. John insisted that I would use it towards whatever other place I would stay at for the night. Finally he frustrated me so much, that I threw the $11 in his face and gathered the rest of my things. Sorry about your $11 bux kev.
[edit]

Here's the jist: I told John I would make up the difference of whatever Kevin's room cost. I only wanted to give him some friendly advise. He was angered, kicked me to the curb when he knew I would not find another place nearby to stay (because of a festival) and finally he threatened me with physical force. This is not a friendly man, or a place worthy of hikers. Stay away from High Peaks Hostel if you can.

[percious]

Luckily, there are some good people out there in this world. In this case I am talking about Redhawk, who allowed me to crash at his home while I figured out what to do on Saturday. I was very gracious considering I had never met Redhawk in person, and had only conversed with him within the confines of this message board.

You would think the hostel thing was over, but it wasn't. A quick check of my voicemail revealed a message from the hostel. The message started off seemingly harmless, and at first I thought it ot be an appology. Boy, I was wrong! By the end of the message, the woman on the phone was cursing at me with the f-word, and threatening to have me blacklisted from the entire High Peaks hotel community. She insisted that I CC her whatever bad publicity I was going to write so that she could respond. I would encourage anyone to do so if they have anonymous email, I refuse to send them a message, since I don't want to recieve threats back via email. I am going to record the message in wav format and put it up in the posts when I get a chance. I would like anyone who is interested to hear it.

At this point I was so upset, I called back Redhawk to say I was just going to drive back to Connecticut, to lick my wounds. Redhawk insisted I stay the night, and I followed his advise, I was in no condition to be driving 3 hours to get home.

I was greeted hapily by redhawk and his dogs cats, and rabbit when I arrived. The drive down windy route 8 was theraputic, and I was starting to feel better, knowing I had a place to stay. I was made to feel very welcome, which pretty much restored my faith in mankind.

After unloading my wet gear, and setting it up on a drying rack, Redhawk allowed me a shower, and bed with very warm and heavy wool blankets. I slept like a rock.

[Kevin]

I sensed something was "off" about that man in our 60 second conversation which ended in me handing him $11 and walking away. Frankly, my thoughts at the time were "Why is this man crying like a child to me?" He was picking a fight from the first second I walked up to him. People like this struggle in business because they don't have the most important ingredient needed to succeed in the service industry - social skills. I speak from experience, both as an angry young waiter and as a more mild mannered adult.

Chris, thanks for trying to smooth things over. I've learned a few things heading up to the dacks in the past 2 years.

1 - The locals are hit/miss. Some are fantastic people, but others are in the middle of nowhere because they can't 'make it' socially anywhere else. Point in hand - Friday.

2 - The economy is tight, so every dollar counts (however that doesn't make every service charity either - you provide me with a service or you don't, but don't expect full payment if no services were rendered).

3 - Hotels and motels exist for a reason. Point in hand - Friday's catastrophe. With more money at a hotel/motel you get security in a higher standard of service that is dependant on you coming back.

4 - It's better to visit the Adirondacks than it is to live there. I hear very little positive feedback from people who are employed and living within the park. The retirees don't complain much because their income is fixed and the cost of living is generally low.


These are just my impressions as an objective outsider looking in at a situation I admittedly know little about. But hey, first impressions last a lifetime.

Redhawk's THE MAN, even if we don't agree on many things he's extended family to me and I know he feels the same. FYI, I forgot to turn my phone on when I got home, but you could have stayed here as well.

[percious]

Saturday.

I was greeted in the morning by Redhawk, who let me know that it was 8am and people would be arriving around 9. I was glad to have the wake up call, as I could have slept in that bad through the morning, and I never sleep late. Redhawk showed me a bunch of his photography, and I spent some time admiring the view from his back window.

Sacco and fvrwld arrived, and Redhawk made some pancakes for all of us. I did my best to get my gear together, and discussed possible options for the day. It turned out that the Siamese trip was a wash due to people getting sick and it being severely cold. Valerie offered me her Bivy so that I could join Sacco and his Trailtalk trip. I was/am very greatful to Valerie for her generosity, trusting me with a hundred+ dollar bivy, when we had not met before in person. I was also greatful to sacco, who allowed me to tag-along on his trip.

Sacco and I left, he followed me to Schroon lake, and I stopped once for gas, and once for human fuel on the way. We somehow lost each other, but arrived at the crane pond parking lot together.

Hiking in, it was a beautiful day, the road in was beat down with the traffic of SUVs and this made for a lesurely stroll. We made good time to Oxshoe pond, and I was very excited, since Oxshoe is one of, if not my most favorite place in the Adirondacks.

Upon arrival I was greeted with some faces that were slightly familiar (from VFTT) and was glad to see a warm fire, being tended to vigilently. After I got my personal belongings squared away, I offered to help collect wood, and found that many logs had already been collected, just needing to be cut up... I went to town on that...

I ate a late dinner, allowing everyone to cook before me so I could have some personal space, and I still spilled a few things... I was so clumsy! The fire raged on through the night, and a few spirits were shared. I turned in early, as I had promised EarthAndSky (VFTT) a shared hike up pharoah in the morning.

[percious]

Sunday.

I awoke before any rustling was heard, and laid in my bag for a long time. I did not want to be the first one up, guilty of waking the others, and besides, it was cold out there! Bob came over to the leanto area after about 1 hour, and I peaked out from inside my bag(s). He and I started up the fire again, and within 15 minutes, the breakfast chatter had started. ENS and I set a time to head up Pharoah, and I had a relaxing morning helping to tend to the fire and gearing up for pharoah. After I shoveled down some oatmeal, and got the remainder of my stuff together we headed out.

I think Pharoah is really a jewel in the Adirondacks. I know its pretty well known, but we didnt see anyone up there, which was odd for a holiday weekend. The views of the high peaks are spectacular. You also get a good view of the Champlain valley, and the Green Mountains. The trail up is well maintained, and an easy if sloggish hike to the top. There are pre-views along the way, and in the summertime, there is a nice brook about 2/3 of the way up which is good for re-watering if you like. The brook is cold in the summer.

ENS and I hiked down after some photographs, and took a shortcut across a lake and ended up back at camp around 1pm. Most people had left by then, with the threat of snow looming. I spent the next hour or so chilling out, and packing up for the trudge out. Sacco graciously waited for me and we left camp around 230. Sacco and I cruised the last 3+ miles out in about 1:15. We changed our clothing, and took bets one when the others would arrive.

Both our cutoff times were met, and we took off to Schroon Lake, in favor of waiting the other guys out in a warm diner with coffee and soup. After we finally settled on Pitkin's we saw the other guy's vehicles pull up, and we were all together again. The food was good, the portions were ample, and we all wanted to stay forever in that dinner, postponing the inevitable slog home. It was like hanging out with a group of old friends, and I had only met them 1 day ago. Truely, there is something different about those of us who spend time in the wilderness.

-percious

[sacco]

nice report perc, and it was nice to have met you! enjoyed your company for the walks in and out.

[percious]

Thanks sacco. Good to meet you too. If you have a picture of your sleeping bag I would love to see it, I totally forgot to look at it while we were at oxshoe.

-percious

[sacco]

i'm working on a small simple backpacking website with a place for my home made gear.

i should have my down bag up this week. i'll post a link when i get it up.

[percious]

Hey guys. I managed to get my voicemail message into mp3 format. I am posting it here

**************BE WARNED**********************
This message contains graphic language!!! Send the kiddies to bed.
**************BE WARNED**********************

-percious

[lumberzac]

Sorry for your troubles percious. It was a pleasure to meet you at Oxshoe Pond.

[percious]

Likewise zac.

No troubles really. Just warning people out there to beware, as I warned the Hostel owners to respect their customers.

-percious

[Judgeh]

Sounds as if she would have preferred an Audi.

[Wildernessphoto]

Wow!

I can not believe what I just heard...

These people must be dumber than a box-of-rocks!
You never talk to your customers that way... not and stay in business!