Back in January on my birthday I asked my dad if he would be interested in some High Peak hiking on Father's Day, as he has not done any in quite some time. His last one was Colden in 1963 and was his favorite climb and my favorite mountain to view, so we decided it would be our target come summertime.
Just for a little background on JP, he is a certified NYS outdoor guide and is actually fifty nine going on forty. He still spends a lot of time in the woods and if it were not for him I would know nothing of the Adirondacks. Some of my fondest childhood memories include setting up deer hunting camp deep off of Cranberry Lake for his guiding service, NYS state guide rendevous' around the state and hunting and fishing with much success. Often asked when returning from a hunt or coming off of his Lake Ontario charter boat how he did, even if not as well as other days his reply was always the same. "We had a great day!", no matter what the weather or how small the take.
JP has had three surgeries in the past few weeks to remove varicose veins from his calves, but was still very active and chased tukeys all spring around Syracuse and even bagged a few, so I knew that he would still be up to climbing a peak or two. Deciding to get some good rest before hiking we opted for an "easier" day hike of Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge so that we could ease our way up and just stay in a motel off of the Northway. Neither of us have done either of them, and we were both very excited to spend the weekend together. We arrived in Keene around eleven Saturday night and got right to bed in anticipation of Sunday's hike.
Sunday was definetily the choice day to hike this past weekend. Cleared real early and the haze burned off pretty quick, only to return later in the day. We headed out on the Zander Scott "formerly the Ridge Trail" Trail by seven and enjoyed the really nice hike zig zagging up the side of the mountain to the south of the nubble. Apon arriving at the washbowl and snapping some photos, along came Ben Reller and his father, who were from Fayetteville right down the street from my dad. Talked for a few and got right back to climbing at a slightly more leisurely pace than our neighbors from the Cuse. I cannot say just how nice this trail was to hike, and I do not think that anyone on this forum who has hiked Giant from this direction would disagree. Just about two hours to top off, and then the headnets came out. Bugs were evident as we climbed but were kept at bay, but not moving they swarmed on us. Wonderful views of the Dixes, Nippletop, Dial, the Range, MacIntyres, the list goes on and on. Looking back at my pictures I think I could see 32 out of the thirty eight, which according to Burnside is only second to Marcy's view of 44.
After a nap and a bunch of pictures we headed into the col on our way to Rocky Peak Ridge. It was steep as described by others, and again we ran into the Reller's who were having a lot of fun climbing together. This was a difficult section for me, and I have the cut up left elbow and forearm to prove it. One minute your are on your feet and the next minute you are laying on the trail bleeding. Never happier to be prepared with a first aid kit and hand sanitizer. As we were taking our time, almost an hour to reach RPR, and the summit had some great views of the slides on Giant's back, as well as the ski slopes of Whiteface, Lake Champlain, and Vermont's Green Mountains. Bugs continued to swarm, and showed up in many photos of mine.
We slowly made our way back to Chapel Pond and just enjoyed our time in the woods together, met many nice people on the way down and spared the last eight ounces of my water for an Ohio couple hiking up to the washbowl. My Dad gave the woman his hiking staff that he had hand crafted and they were very grateful. All in all great hike capped off by a nice dinner at Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood where we say Tiger force a Monday playoff for the US Open title.
Hope everyone else was as lucky as I was to spend a great day with their dad, and fortunately for me I sparked his interest to complete the circuit he started over forty years ago. Once again quoting Burnside, "The best way to count to forty six is slowly."! Thanks Dad for giving me such a great Father's Day!
Just for a little background on JP, he is a certified NYS outdoor guide and is actually fifty nine going on forty. He still spends a lot of time in the woods and if it were not for him I would know nothing of the Adirondacks. Some of my fondest childhood memories include setting up deer hunting camp deep off of Cranberry Lake for his guiding service, NYS state guide rendevous' around the state and hunting and fishing with much success. Often asked when returning from a hunt or coming off of his Lake Ontario charter boat how he did, even if not as well as other days his reply was always the same. "We had a great day!", no matter what the weather or how small the take.
JP has had three surgeries in the past few weeks to remove varicose veins from his calves, but was still very active and chased tukeys all spring around Syracuse and even bagged a few, so I knew that he would still be up to climbing a peak or two. Deciding to get some good rest before hiking we opted for an "easier" day hike of Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge so that we could ease our way up and just stay in a motel off of the Northway. Neither of us have done either of them, and we were both very excited to spend the weekend together. We arrived in Keene around eleven Saturday night and got right to bed in anticipation of Sunday's hike.
Sunday was definetily the choice day to hike this past weekend. Cleared real early and the haze burned off pretty quick, only to return later in the day. We headed out on the Zander Scott "formerly the Ridge Trail" Trail by seven and enjoyed the really nice hike zig zagging up the side of the mountain to the south of the nubble. Apon arriving at the washbowl and snapping some photos, along came Ben Reller and his father, who were from Fayetteville right down the street from my dad. Talked for a few and got right back to climbing at a slightly more leisurely pace than our neighbors from the Cuse. I cannot say just how nice this trail was to hike, and I do not think that anyone on this forum who has hiked Giant from this direction would disagree. Just about two hours to top off, and then the headnets came out. Bugs were evident as we climbed but were kept at bay, but not moving they swarmed on us. Wonderful views of the Dixes, Nippletop, Dial, the Range, MacIntyres, the list goes on and on. Looking back at my pictures I think I could see 32 out of the thirty eight, which according to Burnside is only second to Marcy's view of 44.
After a nap and a bunch of pictures we headed into the col on our way to Rocky Peak Ridge. It was steep as described by others, and again we ran into the Reller's who were having a lot of fun climbing together. This was a difficult section for me, and I have the cut up left elbow and forearm to prove it. One minute your are on your feet and the next minute you are laying on the trail bleeding. Never happier to be prepared with a first aid kit and hand sanitizer. As we were taking our time, almost an hour to reach RPR, and the summit had some great views of the slides on Giant's back, as well as the ski slopes of Whiteface, Lake Champlain, and Vermont's Green Mountains. Bugs continued to swarm, and showed up in many photos of mine.
We slowly made our way back to Chapel Pond and just enjoyed our time in the woods together, met many nice people on the way down and spared the last eight ounces of my water for an Ohio couple hiking up to the washbowl. My Dad gave the woman his hiking staff that he had hand crafted and they were very grateful. All in all great hike capped off by a nice dinner at Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood where we say Tiger force a Monday playoff for the US Open title.
Hope everyone else was as lucky as I was to spend a great day with their dad, and fortunately for me I sparked his interest to complete the circuit he started over forty years ago. Once again quoting Burnside, "The best way to count to forty six is slowly."! Thanks Dad for giving me such a great Father's Day!
My wife and four year old daughter gave me the best present ever. My wife took my 46-R Certificate that I got back on Memorial Day and had it framed and matted with 8 empty picture slots. So now the hard part is going to be going through all my photo's and picking 8 pictures to surround my cert. 
Comment