for our final day in the adirondacks, i was able to meet up with my old pal from batavia, andrea. when we were in the area a few years ago, she and i went on a pretty great hike to noonmark and round mountain. this time, she wasn’t sure if she could work me into her busy graduation schedule, but at the last minute, she announced she was up for it. we picked phelps mountain, which is about 9ish miles out and back, with 2200′ elevation gain, most of it in the last two miles straight up to the peak.
we met at the visitor center of the high peaks wilderness area, signed in to the trail, read up on our important information, and hit the trail…
the first few miles were gentle and lovely. a quaint little stroll through the woods. we stopped to admire the marcy dam and surrounding beauty.
eventually our leisurely stroll turned into a rocky, rooty, sometimes all out upper body necessary climb.
we took things nice and slow. it was andreas first hike of the season, so she may or may not have puked a few times. eventually she insisted i get to the peak without her, so i obeyed. i plopped myself on a rock and savored the beauty of the adirondacks.
eventualy, andrea joined me, weighing slightly less than she did when we began our adventure. and we had our little lunches and snacks. and talked to fellow hikers. and identified birds (or listened to people identify birds). another kind hiker even gifted andrea a whole gatorade, which hit the spot after all of barfing.
we took all of the pictures. and exchanged photography duties with another group.
i can’t resist panoramas.
sadly. as is often the case, we still had to make the return trip. so, back down down down we went.
we took a little break at a stream crossing, where andrea tested out her water filtration system. and i sat on a rock.
and then. we continued on our merry way. back to reality. but first. over this stream.
the day was pretty fantastic. the weather was so good. the company was wonderful. the conversations were easy. the views were picturesque. i couldn’t ask for more.