Adirondacks State Park - 2009
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Having been to the Adirondacks in 2001 and 2007, I became a strong advocate for the park's beauty and alpine enjoyment. This year, I convinced two friends to join me. Again, we made the drive from Chicago to the Adirondacks. Also, we arrived in the late afternoon. Upon arriving, we mounted our packs, and snowshoed to Marcy Dam. There are many lean-to shelters surrounding Marcy Dam. After surveying a number of them, we selected on facing east. As I had naively thought to pitch a tent in the Adirondacks years ago, one of my friends attempted it this time. He quickly abandoned that effort, and marveled at the warm shelter that the lean-to provided. The next day, we would attempt to summit Mt. Marcy.
We had breakfast, and started toward Mt. Marcy. As I had two years earlier, we ascended elevation and steered through the woods leading to Mt. Marcy. After many hours, we started to get above treeline. Then, we passed Indian Falls, and came out of the woods. After seeing Little Marcy and Mt. Marcy, the members of my team felt as I had two years earlier, "we can't make it". I assured them they could, and after 30 minutes, the three of us were on top. It was a wonderful feeling and it was so fulfilling. Although it was warmer than I experienced two years earlier, eventually we got cold, and started the trek back down to Marcy Dam. Along the way, we filled up our water bottles, and finally got back to camp. We were all really tired.
The next day, we attempted Algonquin Peak. This route was much busier. Lots and lots of people were attempting Algonquin Peak. Early in the climb, one member of my team wanted to turn around. A little while later, a second teammate decided to turn around. It would be just me going to Algonquin Peak. Another one to two hours later, and I was at the base of Algonquin Peak. The place was massively mobbed. Lots and lots of amateurs on this peak. Algonquin Peak was covered in a thin sheen of ice, yet these people were trying to climb it with snowshoes. They were grabbing onto bushes and shrieking about. Fortunately, no one got hurt. However, I had my crampons and ice axe, and got to the top quickly and efficiently. I enjoyed being at the top. It had some very nice views, and after taking beautiful and amusing pictures, descended back to camp and my friends.
The next day, we snowshoed back to the Adirondak Loj, and made the long drive back to Chicago.