Let's Go Hiking in the Adirondacks!

So....
because Elizabeth is at camp and HATES to hike, Thomas and I decide it would be a good time to go to the Adirondacks to check out the high peaks (there are 46). I talk to my good friend Rinda (who could win Survivor hands down and has climbed 37) about where to go. I was not comfortable making this attempt on our own, so we hijack Rinda and head to Mt. Colden.

Mt. Colden : 4,714 feet
Ascent of climb 2,850 ft
# 11 on the tall peak list
Round Trip: 15.2 miles
Weather Forecast - Chance of scattered showers

We leave Livonia in Mot's VW Westie, Chilipepper, and arrive at Rinda's Aunt's camp on the Schoon River and stay overnight. We get to the Adirondack Loj and starting our big adventure around 9 am.

1st stop Mt. Marcy Dam

Snacks are good - wait I thought you knew where to go, Rinda! (just kidding!)

Follow the trail ....

Climbing higher...

Next stop Arnold Lake
and some of those "scattered showers"

Keep climbing, keep raining....

Cool Alpine Vegetation

At 2:20 we reached the Summit! No views, just rain :(



On the way down, we sat out of the rain under the rock ledge.



View of Mt. Colden from the one of the false peaks.
Notice the sun trying to break through - it gave up after a few minutes.

Thomas finds a friend who doesn't seem to mind being soaked.


We wanted to be off the trail by dark, so we continued back down. We were about as wet as wet can be without actually swimming. The rain made the trail more muddy and slippery. We should have taken pictures of:

• pouring water out of boots
• wringing out socks
• Thomas slopping straight through the pools of water in the last 1/2 mile
• walking through the parking lot with dry clothes under Mot's rainbow beach umbrella
• Thomas and I saying "ow, ow, ow" with every step through the lodge
  

but it was too wet to get the camera back out. We made to to the parking lot at 6:50.

Good thing for Chilipepper! We didn't even pop the top to sleep. We got in our sleeping bags and ate apples and cheese for dinner, listening to the rain keep falling. I think we were all asleep by 8:15.
Rinda is a good friend to have dealt with us "Newbies" out on the trail.
Definitely an adventure to remember!