BE WARNED---THIS IS LONG!
Every year my entire family does a camping trip. This years trip was supposed to be to Shenandoah, but I convinced them otherwise, and all 10 of us were off to the ADK Loj, bright and early last Thursday morning. Our area was in the midst of a heatwave with temps around 100 all week so I was eagerly anticipating the cool mountain air and was glad I wasn't headed to Virginia where it probablly would have been just as hot. When I left my house the car temp said 85 degrees, and that was at 7:30 a.m.! We pulled into the Loj and the temp was 64 degrees at around 1:00 p.m. AAAHHHHH, I was in heaven!
I'd been contemplating this hike for a while. I wanted to introduce my family to a High Peak and show them what I've been working on and why I can't get enough of this place. My family consists of my wife and two kids, ages 3 and 6 who have a couple peaks each. Then it was my 24 year old brother and his wife, my 28 year old sister and her husband and my mid 50's parents. All of them only hike on our annual camping trip and it's nothing too strenuous. I gave them all the options I had been considering and told them it would be a long day, etc. They all agreed they wanted to go for it.
We were off at 8:30 on an absolutely beautiful morning. Everyone was in good spirits enjoying the Van Ho trail, while I tried to explain not all the trails are like this and are day would be getting more difficult as time went on. Truth be told, I didn't know how difficult as this was my first time up Phelps. Our first break was at Marcy Dam; snacks, endless pictures, potty breaks, and my 3 y/o son discovering a couple of garter snakes. We headed out and soon arrived at the trail headed up Marcy. The trail instantly turns to rock and the first little bit of incline. This is where things started to slow down and get interesting. Numerous breakdowns from my kids and out of shape parents slowed us down. We eventually split into different groups. It was decided it was best if my wife and I were out of sight from my daughter. If she could see us for whatever reason there was more complaining and all the stuff that goes along with hiking with a six year old. She can do it, she just didn't have the willpower and perserverance on this particular day. My son however, had the willpower, but his little legs just don't get him where he wants to go. He loves hiking, especially all the muddy areas and insists on climbing over the biggest rocks and going right through the deepest mud holes. Oh well, boys will be boys!
We reached the turnoff for Phelps still pretty much as a group. My wife and sister in law headed off first. Then my brother and I with my son. And lastly my sister and her husband with my daughter and parents in tow. My brother in law eventually caught up to us saying he didnt' know if my parents could physically do it. There was much stopping and waiting and one person running back and forth between the groups to see how things were going. We had walkie talkies but kept forgetting to get one from my parents. Eventually my sister and her husband caught up with the rest of us and my parents brought up the rear with my daughter. We still weren't sure if they'd make it and after some time were convinced they had turned around. The hike was never ending for my siblings and there spouses. They were enjoying themselves, but every downhiker they saw, they asked, "how much longer?" And the answer usually wasn't what they wanted to hear.
We eventually reached the lookout just below Phelps' summit. We broke for lunch and lounged for quite sometime. The views were amazing, the weather perfect and everyone was happy. After some time we were convinced my parents and daughter had turned around. My brother in law was quite content right where he was while everyone else wanted to get to the summit. He stayed put lounging and napping while the rest of us headed up. We reached the summit where there was already between 10 and 15 people. Took some pics, took it all in for a litte while and then headed back to my brother in law. We packed up and were headed down. About 15 minutes into our descent what did we hear but my daughters voice! They were all determined to make it, they weren't turning around now. My wife, sister and sister in law kept heading down, my brother and brother in law stayed put with my son and I was headed back up with my parents and daughter. They proceeded to tell my how great and determined my daughter was. I was proud of her and my parents too! We broke at the rock and I told them this was good enough and that I thought the views were better from here anyways! They were all satisfied with that, until my son who wanted to be with me made his way back up with my brother in tow. My brother took my dad to the summit while I waited with my mom and kids. They couldn't believe how much hard work went into this peakbagging thing. They were hurting, but said it was worth it.
We headed down, myself and my brother and brother in law with the kids alternating shoulder rides and walking. My parents told us to keep moving and they'd make it out eventually. Once we were off the Phelps trail and onto the Marcy trail I managed to lose my balance while lifting my daugther to my shoulders and fell bashing the side of my knee pretty good. Once moving it didn't bother my, but later that night I could barely walk on it! It was fine by the next day. We stopped at the brook crossing and filtered some water, boy was it good! My kids splashed around a bit and threw rocks. We got to Marcy Dam and my son again discovered more snakes. This time about 5 or 6 of them wrapped around the railing and a bush right up against the bridge. He proceeded to poke and pull on them. Fortunately they were good natured snakes and let him have his fun with them. I met Wildernessphoto who was hanging out at the dam with another ADKForum member Steve40. Nice meeting you both. My brother decided to wait at the dam for my parents in case they needed more water. My b-i-l and I hoofed it out of there pretty quickly with kids on shoulders. The girls arrived back at the campsite a little before 4 with us a little after 4. For me it was off to Heart Lake for a swim with kids. They were sure happy to be back and swimming! I'm not even sure when my parents got back, after 5 I think, but my b-i-l picked up Mr. Mikes for dinner and it was sure good!
It gave everyone a new appreciation for what I've been working on. My dad made the comment, "it make all those state park hike we've done over the years look pretty tame." He's sure right! I was glad it worked out and everyone made it. It will be a memory no one will forget, that's for sure!
I'll try to post some pics when I get them developed.
This was number 10/46 for me.
Every year my entire family does a camping trip. This years trip was supposed to be to Shenandoah, but I convinced them otherwise, and all 10 of us were off to the ADK Loj, bright and early last Thursday morning. Our area was in the midst of a heatwave with temps around 100 all week so I was eagerly anticipating the cool mountain air and was glad I wasn't headed to Virginia where it probablly would have been just as hot. When I left my house the car temp said 85 degrees, and that was at 7:30 a.m.! We pulled into the Loj and the temp was 64 degrees at around 1:00 p.m. AAAHHHHH, I was in heaven!
I'd been contemplating this hike for a while. I wanted to introduce my family to a High Peak and show them what I've been working on and why I can't get enough of this place. My family consists of my wife and two kids, ages 3 and 6 who have a couple peaks each. Then it was my 24 year old brother and his wife, my 28 year old sister and her husband and my mid 50's parents. All of them only hike on our annual camping trip and it's nothing too strenuous. I gave them all the options I had been considering and told them it would be a long day, etc. They all agreed they wanted to go for it.
We were off at 8:30 on an absolutely beautiful morning. Everyone was in good spirits enjoying the Van Ho trail, while I tried to explain not all the trails are like this and are day would be getting more difficult as time went on. Truth be told, I didn't know how difficult as this was my first time up Phelps. Our first break was at Marcy Dam; snacks, endless pictures, potty breaks, and my 3 y/o son discovering a couple of garter snakes. We headed out and soon arrived at the trail headed up Marcy. The trail instantly turns to rock and the first little bit of incline. This is where things started to slow down and get interesting. Numerous breakdowns from my kids and out of shape parents slowed us down. We eventually split into different groups. It was decided it was best if my wife and I were out of sight from my daughter. If she could see us for whatever reason there was more complaining and all the stuff that goes along with hiking with a six year old. She can do it, she just didn't have the willpower and perserverance on this particular day. My son however, had the willpower, but his little legs just don't get him where he wants to go. He loves hiking, especially all the muddy areas and insists on climbing over the biggest rocks and going right through the deepest mud holes. Oh well, boys will be boys!
We reached the turnoff for Phelps still pretty much as a group. My wife and sister in law headed off first. Then my brother and I with my son. And lastly my sister and her husband with my daughter and parents in tow. My brother in law eventually caught up to us saying he didnt' know if my parents could physically do it. There was much stopping and waiting and one person running back and forth between the groups to see how things were going. We had walkie talkies but kept forgetting to get one from my parents. Eventually my sister and her husband caught up with the rest of us and my parents brought up the rear with my daughter. We still weren't sure if they'd make it and after some time were convinced they had turned around. The hike was never ending for my siblings and there spouses. They were enjoying themselves, but every downhiker they saw, they asked, "how much longer?" And the answer usually wasn't what they wanted to hear.
We eventually reached the lookout just below Phelps' summit. We broke for lunch and lounged for quite sometime. The views were amazing, the weather perfect and everyone was happy. After some time we were convinced my parents and daughter had turned around. My brother in law was quite content right where he was while everyone else wanted to get to the summit. He stayed put lounging and napping while the rest of us headed up. We reached the summit where there was already between 10 and 15 people. Took some pics, took it all in for a litte while and then headed back to my brother in law. We packed up and were headed down. About 15 minutes into our descent what did we hear but my daughters voice! They were all determined to make it, they weren't turning around now. My wife, sister and sister in law kept heading down, my brother and brother in law stayed put with my son and I was headed back up with my parents and daughter. They proceeded to tell my how great and determined my daughter was. I was proud of her and my parents too! We broke at the rock and I told them this was good enough and that I thought the views were better from here anyways! They were all satisfied with that, until my son who wanted to be with me made his way back up with my brother in tow. My brother took my dad to the summit while I waited with my mom and kids. They couldn't believe how much hard work went into this peakbagging thing. They were hurting, but said it was worth it.
We headed down, myself and my brother and brother in law with the kids alternating shoulder rides and walking. My parents told us to keep moving and they'd make it out eventually. Once we were off the Phelps trail and onto the Marcy trail I managed to lose my balance while lifting my daugther to my shoulders and fell bashing the side of my knee pretty good. Once moving it didn't bother my, but later that night I could barely walk on it! It was fine by the next day. We stopped at the brook crossing and filtered some water, boy was it good! My kids splashed around a bit and threw rocks. We got to Marcy Dam and my son again discovered more snakes. This time about 5 or 6 of them wrapped around the railing and a bush right up against the bridge. He proceeded to poke and pull on them. Fortunately they were good natured snakes and let him have his fun with them. I met Wildernessphoto who was hanging out at the dam with another ADKForum member Steve40. Nice meeting you both. My brother decided to wait at the dam for my parents in case they needed more water. My b-i-l and I hoofed it out of there pretty quickly with kids on shoulders. The girls arrived back at the campsite a little before 4 with us a little after 4. For me it was off to Heart Lake for a swim with kids. They were sure happy to be back and swimming! I'm not even sure when my parents got back, after 5 I think, but my b-i-l picked up Mr. Mikes for dinner and it was sure good!
It gave everyone a new appreciation for what I've been working on. My dad made the comment, "it make all those state park hike we've done over the years look pretty tame." He's sure right! I was glad it worked out and everyone made it. It will be a memory no one will forget, that's for sure!
I'll try to post some pics when I get them developed.
This was number 10/46 for me.
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