Getting the Wright peak

Sue and I went for a hike in the Adirondacks High Peaks on Monday. We thought we would climb Algonquin Mountain, elevation 5114 ft. That’s the second-highest peak in New York. We were pretty sure we could do it, as we had done it about 15 years ago before Daniel went to college. And we have been working out this summer in a thrice-weekly exercise class plus a three mile hike each Saturday.
We were on the trail by 9 am. The first mile was down and up, very easy walking. When we got to the first uphill this was Sue’s reaction:

Enthusiasm continued as we ascended. We met nice people on the way up. Mostly they were overtaking us, but we passed one couple. Everybody had a smile, so we wore one, too.

But eventually I had to answer the question “When are we going to get there?”
That was a natural question. I tried to answer as matter-of-factly as possible. My GPS was collecting the data and giving altitude indications. On a hike, a map and a compass will save your life; a GPS is a fun toy, full of information. On this hike during the last three miles we were acsending about 1000 ft. every mile.









We started getting really nice views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.








We got up close to 4000 ft elevation and the trees started getting shorter. There was more sunshine and we had our target in view: Algonquin Mountain! Or as Sue put it, “You want me to go there?”

It was almost noon and we still had 1,100 ft. and 1.2 miles to go. We weren’t worn out, but we were thinking of having enough energy to safely descend the mountain. Time to think of alternatives.


Fortunately there was a great alternative nearby. We had never climbed Wright Peak. At 4,580 ft. it is the 16th highest peak in the Adirondacks. And it was only 0.4 miles and 500 ft. altitude away. So we decided to have lunch on the top of Wright Peak!
Here's Sue climbing those last 500 ft.
http://vimeo.com/6227084

The trees disappered and all the plants were really short. Eventually there were nothing but grasses and really tiny flowers.









Then the top was in sight. Sue snapped this picture of me. The way to the summit was marked by piles of stones. I just noticed Gothics peak in the background – a mountain Sue and I climbed five years ago. It was much harder than Wright Peak was today.

We reached the top about 1 pm.

We could see for about 10 miles. The little lake at the right is near the place we had started this morning. Lake Placid was barely visible in the haze in the distance.







About 500 yards from the top, we met a couple who had passed us on the way up. Mark and Sue had intended to do Wright Peak that day, and here they were! They were here on a four-day weekend: They are from Buffalo (she works for Ford and he for National Grid.). I snapped their picture to email to their coworkers back home.

We had one other special thing in common—we both had granddaughters named Grace!

That’s Algonquin in the background; the one that got away.



We met the Summit Steward. Her name is Grace – same as our granddaughters' name. Grace climbs the mountain every day, greets visitors, and explains summit ecology. Stewards also replant grasses at the summits. She has a radio to call in help if needed.

Sad note: There was an airplane crash on Wright Peak in 1962. Four airmen of the SAC perished. Some aluminum and steel B-47 fragments remain 47 years later, and a plaque honoring their sacrifice ‘for the peace of our nation.’

Amen.