Mount Mansfield, Vermont ~ elevation 4,393 feet

September 1, 2007

Mount Mansfield via the Halfway House Trail to the Sunset Ridge Trail, apx 7 mi

Class 1; Elevation Gain 2,800 ft

From Forehead to Chin...

The Underhill State Park Campground was the perfect location for this trip!  Our trailhead was on the grounds, the lean-to was roomy, and the park ranger had more regulations than the CIA (which provided us with hours of laughs!).

The hike to the summit provided a variety of terrain ~ rocks, ladders, lots of time above tree line, diverse plants, etc ~ and great spots for pictures.  The summit had beautiful views of Mount Stowe, Lake Champlain, and mountains for miles. 

Although very windy, Tim made his first attempt at yoga on a mountain (a tradition that has lived on!).

Julie and Tim



The 1st of many King Dancers at the summit!





 



Jim, Tim, and a stunning view from the summit












Mount Mansfield's peaks (Chin, Nose, Forehead) were named because, when looking at the ridgeline from afar, the mountain resembles the profile of a man's face.

Mount Greylock, Massachusetts ~ elevation 3,491 feet

June 9, 2007

Mount Greylock via the Thunderbolt Trail, 4 miles
Class 1; Elevation Gain 2,300 ft

Hitting the Appalachian Trail...

Julie joins the hike and the High Peaks Trio is formed

Tim and Julie got to the campground late Friday night, after Jim had already taken a beautiful waterfall hike during the day.  With boxed wine and flashlights, we pitched our tent and sat to chill by the fire in the drizzle.  Like a missile falling to the earth, we all heard the bird excrement plummeting through the air, seconds before it landed on Tim’s hand.

Our hike up Greylock started off with a race up a short, steep section of the trail.  It didn’t last long, however, because, as the trail we opted for that day was one of the shortest it was, therefore, also one of the steepest trails to the summit. 



Jim and Tim at the summit





The road up to the summit was closed, so we pretty much had Greylock to ourselves.  We enjoyed our hummus, cheese, and pita in the wind, taking in the views of the Green Mountains, Catskills, Adirondacks, and White Mountains . 







Although eliminating lunch made Julie's pack considerably lighter, it didn’t seem like it had lightened enough.  After a search through all off the extra pockets and compartments, she discovered a handful of batteries and pens weighing her down!  She hiked all that way, in the heat, with the flies, carrying batteries…and Tim didn’t carry anything!

Julie at her first the summit,
and thrilled she isn't carrying the
batteries anymore!

Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial Tower





















Mount Marcy, New York ~ elevation 5,344 feet

September 16, 2006

Mount Marcy via the Van Hoevenberg Trail, 14.8 miles

Class 1; Elevation Gain 3,200 ft

And so it begins…
Tim and Jim’s 1^st high peak

There's no place like upstate New York in the autumn!  And how appropriate that our first high peak be in our home state!

In our excitement to reach the Adirondack Loj  and get started on our hike, we embraced the gift from a NYS Trooper, a speeding ticket on the Northway (US-87), with a smile.  Jim forgot his camera, so we stopped to buy a cheap digital.   

Marcy Dam

Upstate New York and all its’ fall foliage was beautiful.  Most of the hike was engulfed in  a thick forest, until we hit tree line at about 5,000 ft.  We walked across wood planks to avoid the soggy earth and were some of the first to reach the rock and alpine moss covered summit.  By the time we finished our lunch, it was completely packed.  Great day atop the "Cloud Splitter". 

 

Who knew this would be the start of our High Peaks Adventure?



Indian Falls