Journal Entries

Day 3

My morning coffee (Starbucks VIA instant coffee).

Day 3:

The last section of the trail from our camp site at Lake Arnold was an easy walk down to Marcy Dam, then a short flat hike to the trail head. Before we kew it the trip was over, and on all accounts a fantastic success.

Day 3

Day 3:

Having a cozy breakfast with my best friend @reneetougas.

Day 3

Day 3:

A view from our camp spot at Lake Arnold. A below freezing night made for a beautiful frosty morning. I attempted to get a shot of the fog wisping off the lake, but these things always look so much better in person.

Fellow hikers near the summit of Mount Colden.

@toesalad texting our kids from the summit of Mount Colden. This was the first cell reception we had since we arrived at the park the day before.

This was the first time we've left the kids home alone and I was anxious to check in and see how they were doing. (They were fine.)

Near the summit of Mount Colden.

I've never hiked in the Adirondacks before and I have to admit I had underestimated them. These are not easy hiking trails. The low lands trails, in-between the mountains, are quite wet, following and running parallel to brooks and streams.

The trails up the mountains are literally up the mountain, straight-up. For a significant portion of the hike up Mount Colden (half?) we walked on bare wet rock like this. Uncertain of my grip and concerned for slippery algae, other plant matter or mud I hugged the lower edges quite a bit until a hiker passed us, hiking confidently on the bare, wet rock. After that I felt a bit more surety in my footing but it was still really hard work with a full pack.

There are wooden ladders in some places which certainly help, especially, I imagine, on the descent.

We hike up Mount Colden from Lake Colden and I would not have enjoyed going back down this route.