Awesome Adirondack ECT!

“Dare and I arrived at the trailhead later than expected, but just in time to meet up with Pennsy Hiker, Tom Terrific and Ben (Tom’s 16 yr old nephew.) In typical pre-hike fashion, I proceeded to throw everything out of my pack and reorganize. We sent the others on their way, so they wouldn’t stand around and get cold while waiting for us as we rearranged, double-checked, and packed everything. Also, I have such a “loosely-organized” way of doing things and I didn’t want witnesses who may then later copy my highly refined technique. Heheheh

The gear sled was loaded, packs and snowshoes on and finally we were off. Just as we were heading out on the trail, the Adventurists arrived. Yay, the gang’s all here!
:o)

The East Branch Sacandaga Trail climbed steeply right from the beginning, gaining 240 very lonnng feet in just 0.3 miles. Since we had the gear sled loaded with firewood, it was pretty durn heavy. I had started out with the gear sled attached to my pack, but naturally shared it with Dare at this point. Nobody ever accused me of being selfish.
;o)

Once we got over the initial back-breaking ascent, it wasn’t too bad. Dare just needed a few "yahhh mule" commands for encouragement.

The grade was mostly “level” with the usual assortment of short ups and downs. The scenery was lovely, with a blanket of white covering the forest floor, as well as every bough and branch. The Sacandaga River and its small creek tributaries were all partially or mostly frozen and snow-covered also. The trail mostly wandered along the creek, so it was all-in-all a pleasant stroll with idyllic Winter views.

At 3.6 miles, we bumped into a packless Pennsy hiker, who had wandered back out from basecamp to capture pics of Dare and I with the sled. He is quite the photographer, as I am sure we will see.

From there, it was another 0.4 miles and Pennsy walked behind me with sled in tow, helping push the sled on the uphills. (bless you, Pennsy!)

Basecamp consisted of a lean-to, fireplace and privy, so it was quite a nice welcome. Tom Terrific had a fire going already (using only one match, btw! Whatta guy!) so that was great. There had been a soft snow falling the entire way in, so we were a little wet from the melt on our bodies. mmmmm fire gooood!
>:D

The Adventurists arrived soon after us and we mostly got tents and such set up before dark. We all feasted like kings (a huge benefit of Winter camping – REAL food!) and washed down the meal with some nice Irish Whisky, courtesy of Tom Terrific. Don’t worry, his nice deeds balance out later, when he practically destroyed camp...

Everyone’s thermometer read a bit different, but consensus for that night was somewhere between 9-11 degrees…we’ll say 9 for the single-digit-bragging-rights. Daytime temp had been high 20’s – not bad at all. I don’t think anybody complained of sleeping cold.

Next day, we were up and on our way to Siamese Ponds. A great dayhike ~5 miles round-trip, with some bushwhacking around the lower pond.

I am sure there is more to add, but I’ll let the others chime in, now that I have run-on once again. In summary, we had perfect weather, perfect snowshoe conditions, and a great group of TTers. We had a blast! ;oP

Adirondack Mountains ECT Pictures.”

“sorry, broken link.

ADK Pics here

:o)”

“Is that a bivy or a sled next to the shelter?”

“Yeah, yeah, I spilled the beans in the leanto.....well, boiling water.......TWO pots!!!

No worries, it froze rather quickly!

It was great to finally meet the intrepid AmyG and see the famous Gear Sled in action.
AmyG had help hauling from the capable and handsome Dare.
What a gent!

Mrs and Mr adventurist had a nice sled too.

Both of the sleds carried firewood which was nice since I forgot my Sven Saw.....I NEVER forget that thing!

I'm stickin' to my story that it was 8 degrees on Sunday morning!
My little $2 thermometer read 11 at 8AM when I finally dragged my sorry arse out of the sack.......when ya gotta pee, ya gotta pee!!!”

“GS, that's my gear sled!!! >:D

There was talk about changing TomT's TT name to "Bull in a china shop" but it is rather long. Besides that, he is rather terrific. Who else would lug in a whole bottle of whisky for the group?

hic! heheheh”

“I am very jealous. Sounds (and looks) like a lot of fun!”

“I almost forgot about the ambience.....wee wee!!!

A little fire, a little hooch....voi-la!!!

By helping me swig the booze y'all prevented me from gettin' totally toasted and skinny dippin' in the Sacandaga River.

Pennsy-
Say it slowly, Sac-an-da-ga!
And thanks for the lift to the frozen North.”

“Sounds like a blast! Thanks for the photos, too!”

“yeah, I think we all had a great time!

I can't wait to see Pennsy's pictures. Every time I looked his way, it seems he was photographing something!
>:D”

“Anything above 0 is balmy for that area. Sounds like a fun trip.”

“Where's adveturist?

Dude, the word I was searching for was "braces"......the British word for suspenders.”

“At work...

It was driving you nuts, wasn't it?”

“Nice Gators!”

“and what did you guys wear on your legs, 'sides "gators"? something waterproof, i take it? and did you freeze your arses off? Tarpie and i are going to Maine around March 1, and i'm a little...concerned about whether i'm going to weather the weather well ;-)”

“Great report Amy, and great pics! First off, I'd like to thank AmyG for organizing such a fun trip. Amy is a genuine peach, and Dare is one lucky bastard. ;-)

I'm still at work but I am gonna try to get some pics up later tonight. Don't expect TOO much Amy. I'm more comfortable with my 35mm and still getting used to the digi I was using. There are some interesting ones though, including the "ambiance" and sled pics.

The one pic I wish I had was of Dare's fantastic face plant into the snow. A classic trip over a root where Dare braced the fall with his face.

This was my first "real" winter backack and it was a blast. It was very cool to some more TT'ers. The Adventurists are a fun couple and the long drive went by so fast while listening to Tom T's many adventures. And yes, Tom (Bull) can be completely forgiven for flooding the lean-to because the single malt Irish whiskey was DE-lish!! Of course Amy's hot chocolate and Bailey's/mudslide/kahluha drinks weren't bad either. ;-)

Ben gets the perseverence award for dealing with the ancient wooden snowshoes he borrowed. Next trip they go into the firepit!

More stuff later, and pics!

Tom T - Sorry, I still can't say Sacandaga. :-(”

“Hmmmmmmm! Tarp Rat, Lyra, Dare and our beloved AmyG all on the same cozy thread!!!!!!

Tarpie fires the first salvo with his subtle "nice gaiters" . . . TNF I presume Tarpie????

QUick someone fix my a Ghiardelli double chocolate cupof hot cocoa with a shot of kahluha in it!!! I wanna watch naked girls tearing each others hair out!!”

“Outdoor Research!”

“I know my wife and I were wearing OR Gaiters....”

“NIce choice Tarps!!!!! Perhaps you could, uuuuhhhh, borrow them for your Maine adventure.


Looking to get a pair myself (of their Mukluks).”

“Great pics... great report too.”

“Tarp does have good taste in gear, Lyra. I am sure he can steer you straight on what you'll need for Maine. Maybe he'll even spring for it!”

“Pennsy, glad your first time was good. I try my best.
;o)

Work, shmurk, get to WORK on those pics! LOL”

“Anyone else see the Coyote Ugly movie? I was pretty disappointed. There was a real story in there about a beautiful young woman's struggle for the top, but they mussed it up with all sorts of suggestive dancing and tight clothes. That isn't to say that I don't like looking at pretty women, but I was really hoping to be moved by the stirring tale of a 19-year-old blonde trying to make it to the top in the big city. Well, at least it had LeAnn Rimes singing at the end. That country gal has really "lassoed my heart"!”

“oh, that reminds me! We heard coyotes serenading Sunday night. It was cool. I love that haunting sound. Amazingly, we could even hear it over T-errr someone's snoring!
hehehe”

“I think I heard them Saturday night too...but like you said it was hard to hear them clearly over the sawing of wood by that chainsaw.”

“TT Group: ohmagawd, I think there's a grizzly bear in camp!!!
=:0

Anonymous TT group member awakens:
(suddenly the growls cease and desist)
Don't worry, I think I chased him away

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

>:D”

“LOL...

Was that the same bear that assisted Mrs Adventurist in trying to stomp out those pesky camp stoves?

Phew..they saved us from that water boiling!!!”

“thanks for the shots they look great, maybe next time?”

“Oh yeah, Pennsy saw me do it. Gravity really sucks sometimes. It was an awesome trip though. I just have to wait for the whip marks on my back to fade from AmyG "mushing" me up the mountian. I didn't think it was possible, but I swear the earth shifted because there were alot more uphills on the way back then I remember. All around it was a blast. I have to admit, letting Tom drink the whole bottle and then see him go swimming would have made it more amusing.”

“Nice pics Amy! Looking forward to seeing the rest. Glad you all had favorable weather. The Daks are awesome, eh?!”

“Dare - what really sucks about your face plant is my not having the camera ready. ;-)

If Tom T mentions that dang saw one more time, I am going to scream! Hey, he may not have drank the whole bottle but he got close to nekkid in one of the pics.

Listening to the coyotes howling was really awesome. However, second place is a tie between the "grizzly" in the lean-to and the giggles from the "G" tent. Hmmmmmmmm.....

Oh, here's the pics... well, a lot of them came out real fuzzy. I don't know if it was the cold or what, but next time I am bringing some 35mm stuff - I'll just toss pack it on someone's sled. ;-)

Way to go AmyG! Great trip, great people.”

“Great Pictures Pennsy! We had a great time! Can't wait till the next trip! I brought my 35mm but I didn't bother using it after I took 2 or 3 photos and I could tell it was acting too slow. How's my socks smelling?
:-) Probably pretty ripe!”

“Thanks Feen!
I didn't give anything a chance to get ripe. I tossed everything in the washer first thing (including me!). BTW, what socks were they? Everything I took out looked all the same. Woops perhaps?”

“Well Pennsy, I hate to break it to you. I didn't trip over a root, it was your water bottle. Im now holding it for ransom against any pictures you may have taken. We have a term in the Army called "plausable deniability". No pictures, no proof. It better stay that way or the water bottle gets it. (just kidding). Great pics.”

“Hey Feen, did your sled get real heavy after awhile? I think I saw the Mrs. riding in the back a few times when you weren't looking....lol”

“I'm not sure Dare...
I think I got in zone on that uphill.
I think I was the only one that wasn't in denial about the upcoming uphill!
I recall saying at the bridge "now we start to go up hill after here"
and Pennsy replies "oh there isn't much uphill"

oh...ok”

“that would be "got in the zone"

Plus I think Pennsy was talking about the pictures he took through the door of your tent...not the beautifully executed faceplant pictures....”

“Shhhhhh..... Dare ain't supposed to know about "those" pictures.

Dare - I sure hope you don't have my bottle. That was the excuse for the "Spring Thaw in the Dacks - let's Search for Pennsy's Water Bottle" trip.”

“What are you thinking in the one picture???

hmmmmmm...hope she saves some from me.....

Definitely a great picture to think up a caption.”

“for me, not from me”

“My socks were Smartwools..stinky grade.

I need to fill out a missing persons on my stinky socks...”

“I had a really great time this past weekend. I had my reservations since we didn't make it through the last winter trip, but it really was a great trip. I would definitely recommend another one! Next time I want Mr. Adventurist to pull me up the hill on the sled though! Pennsy the pictures are great. I didn't realize how many pictures you took! Best wishes to all =)”

“I found em! Phewwwwwwww!!

About the caption...
"That's it honey, just a few more sips and I might get lucky tonight."”

“Oh great, now AOL will be sending me porn mail with me in it. And no matter what AmyG tells you, it was her giggling. By the way, Feeny, I didnt notice any ice on your tent either.”

“Thats because the ice was on the inside...It was snowing more inside our tent than outside.
Must of been all the heavy breathing...

Feeney..”

“Hey, how do you think I got her to say yes? The only problem is when she sobers up and realizes Im not 6'4 and charming.”

“yeah..don't think she will for the 6' 4" thing...you can still work on the charm thing!

LOL”

“Well hey, maybe elevator shoes will come back in style. lol...if you want Pennsy, Ill put the water bottle back and we can still make a spring thaw trip. I'm game.”

“Just turn your hiking poles into mini stilts.”

“Remember the good ol' days when I would actually argue with people about how TNF kicks ass and how OR makes the best stuff ever... now I just don't give a Tarp Rats ass. I can even ignore someones comment that I should "borrow" some gear... what an insult! :)

Anyone going to NH or Maine in Late Feb early March?”