Adirondacks Buttkicker II

“It looks like I will leave the Mrs. home on this one...

Dare, does it look like the ol' ball and chain...oops I mean sweet AmyG going on this one?

Man I think I'm gearing up for one of those punches again....”

“wack!!!!”

“The funny thing is everytime I tease AmyG, Dare is the one that gets smacked.....lol”

“Come on you nuts (I'm tired of saying dork), get serious for a minute. What's the catch phrase theme for this trip gonna be??”

“How about Peak-Bag-Your-A$$-Off?

Adirondack Buttkicking II The Return of Fartex?”

“Whoops, my bad, didn't realize Adventurist mentioned those peaks, I shoulda read more closely.

Hey, what's wrong with "Adirondacks Buttkicker II"?! Okay, maybe it should have a subtitle, in the style of the second Star Wars movie.. you know, "Adirondacks Buttkicker II: The Northeast Clan Strikes Back, (with special appearance from Artex)". Too long? :-)”

“Ok..so Wright, Alqonquin, Boundary, and Iroquois are out...

What other peaks do you already have?

Adirondack 46ers Webpage”

“So if we aren't doing that many peaks to the West of Marcy do you think we should camp to the East of Marcy? I think what SirPete is saying makes sense...

I know of the following options for basecamps to the East:

Area around John's Brook Lodge
2 lean-tos at Bushnell Falls? One Slant Rock Lean-to One Wolf Jaw lean-to One Ore Bed Brook lean-to

Looks like plenty of options..?”

“Slant Rock from Johns Brook is a very long hike - not difficult, just long and it would mean just one peak (Marcy).

Wright, Algonquin, Iroquois and down Indian Pass and around Lake Colden and up Colden is just the hard way to do Colden, if you've already bagged the others. It's a good winter walk, but a multi-day one. Some hikers from Montreal got caught in a snowstorm last year doing that hike.

Redfield, Gray, Cliff and Skylight are do-able in a day from Feldspar lean-to, and Marcy could be done by coming down from Skylight and skooting up to Marcy's summit.

I'm marking 13 to 16 August in my agenda. Whatever the plan is I'm in.”

“Colden is very do-able either going up to the Feldspar shelter, or coming back down. That would make a very respectable six peaks in a three day excursion.

ALSO, I'm collecting brownie points with you maniacs in the hope of company to finish off the 46. My 4th attempt at Couchsascraga, Panther and Santanoni fizzled last month - we couldn't find the/a trail and kept sinking to our waists in soft snow and drizzling rain. Any hope for Labour Day week-end, or American Thanksgiving?”

“I could be in for thanksgiving Gremlin”

“Hey SirPete...what's the verdict on your pole? Did you get your pole fixed?”

“yeah, did they make you a new one?”

“What ever you all decide I will hike it with you.”

“Mmmmmmm, I like Gremlin's Labor Day Suggestion.”

“View From The Top is a good link that has Dak Trail Info.”

“Labor day is a nice time in the Dak's but way overrun with people. I think that Thanksgiving makes for a better time especially when there is some early snow.

My most favorite view of Marcy was on a snowy Thanksgiving morning.

I will likely be heading north early on this trip because I have to be home that Friday night so the weekend before I am going to go up to the Whites or something and bag a few peaks and then come down and meet up with you all on Wednesday. If anyone one is free and wants to make a longer get away of it let me know. I also may just go to the Dak's and bag some of the other peaks not in this plan. I can't stay past Friday morning because we do not have someone who can watch our one dog and my wife is going out of town that following weekend.

I have yet to do anything about my pole Adv. I have been very busy, perhaps I can try this weekend”

“Buttkicker 1 was on Labor weekend. The ranger was essentially a traffic cop trying to find room for everybody in the campsites. It was a zoo but I'd do it again if the dates fit. We had a blast.”

“This is a trip I'd definitly like to do. However, since I'm looking for a new job and trying to get out of where I'm currently at, I don't know where I'll be in August. If I'm still here, my currrent employer most likely (according to previous experience) won't mind me taking the time off. I'm not even going to sign up for the trip as a maybe yet...We'll see when the time comes nearer.

If I do go I definitly won't bring the dog. lol I took him with me on the Dix Mtn range and hit 5 peaks, which was an experience in that I had to coax him off ledges into my arms, literally lift him up over my head to get up ledges, etc. Prior to that, I had told myself that I'd bring him on each High Peaks trip that I'd do so he too can do all 46 in time. But carrying water for both him and I was hard to do on Dix because we worked harder than thought and drank more wter than planned. So I don't think he's going to do anymore peaks unless I know water will be easily avaliable. Now if he was a Jack Russel, didn't drink as much water and could fit in my daypack, that'd be a different story. 8)”

“This is a trip I'd definitly like to do. However, since I'm looking for a new job and trying to get out of where I'm currently at, I don't know where I'll be in August. If I'm still here, my currrent employer most likely (according to previous experience) won't mind me taking the time off. I'm not even going to sign up for the trip as a maybe yet...We'll see when the time comes nearer.

If I do go I definitly won't bring the dog. lol I took him with me on the Dix Mtn range and hit 5 peaks, which was an experience in that I had to coax him off ledges into my arms, literally lift him up over my head to get up ledges, etc. Prior to that, I had told myself that I'd bring him on each High Peaks trip that I'd do so he too can do all 46 in time. But carrying water for both him and I was hard to do on Dix because we worked harder than thought and drank more wter than planned. So I don't think he's going to do anymore peaks unless I know water will be easily avaliable. Now if he was a Jack Russel, didn't drink as much water and could fit in my daypack, that'd be a different story. 8)”

“Wow...I don't remember posting twice.

I wrote this in the Trips page thread, NOT the Trail Talk thread. I did however, cut and paste it onto this TT thread. Hmmmmmmmm...straaange!”

“The trips page thread is the same that appears on the TT board....”

“I'm buying my plane ticket next week. Airfare is still pretty reasonable, and with this trip, I'll have enough frequent flyer miles for a free ticket for my next flight.

Alaska, anyone?”

“looks like the next trip West for me will be for the Wonderland trail.

date still undetermined while I investigate the best time of year to do the loop.”

“FYI...

There's a quick and exciting route to the summit of Colden via an excellent slide on the SE flank of Colden, if anyone's interested. It goes directly from the Blue Trail (between Feldspar leanto and Lake Arnold) to the top of Colden. Wide open views all the way up. The slide gets very steep (and a bit dangerous) near the top ...gotta get down on hands & knees in some places to make the last 100 or so feet, grabbing Balsam roots at the edge of the slide as you go. Not for the faint of heart, and quite exhiliarating!

Views from Colden are outstanding!

Tom, Sparky has come along with me on most of the 30 High Peaks 46ers I've done to date. Not Dix though ...we climbed a slide to Dix on the NW side ...slides are tough on dogs' pads ...and my brother's dog got his pads torn open a bit and bleeding on that trip.”

“I might join this trip. But if I go, I'll be interested in a kinder, gentler dayhiking itinerary out of basecamp.”

“Oh, BTW... If youans basecamp in the Colden corridor, that'll work out nicely for my hopes to do two or three separate dayhikes to add Redfield, Gray and Marshall to my 46ers.

I cannot make a Labor Day weekend trip; an August itinerary is best for me. But of course, please don't plan around my agenda.”

“From what I've been reading the Haystacks are a must-do......

So maybe Little Haystack, Pappa Haystack, Mt. Skylight, Mt. Marcy, and Little Marcy in one day from Slant Rock Lean-to?

Thats 5 in one day! Could always add Gray depending on where the route is from Marcy?”

“Pennsy just bought a new back packer cloning device. This will allow him to duplicate himself and do 10 peaks in one day.

I havent made a gear slut comment about Pennsy for awhile. Didnt want him to feel left out.”

“Dare,

Those cloning devices can cause quite a mess if you're not careful. There was a story awhile back about this hiker who accidentally hit the UNDO CLONE button twice. Found himself with Dolly the sheep ...in Madagascar.

Be aware, Pennsy. Be very aware.”

“Artex,

I definitely want to talk about Alaska with you on the Buttkicker trip. Also, some winter Whites over Christmas. Anyone interested in a winter traverse from Appalachia to Mount Madison, probably via the Valley Way trail and from Madison to Mount Washington and out by the winter (Lion's Head) variation of the Tuckerman Ravine trail? Probably three days.”

“yeah count me in that is a great trip. The valley way is very mild compared to some of the other ways up. Another nice route up to Madison is from the Osgood trail on the East side, up through the great gulf wilderness and then out on onto the shoulder for a long ridge walk. count me in as a definite maybe.”

“Cool, I was so hoping somebody would bite about going to Alaska. I'm serious about going there next summer. We'll definitely talk about it more this August, gremlin.”

“LOL Dare and Mister M! And I was just starting to like you guys. ;o)

A winter traverse in the Whites sounds awesome. I don't know about Alaska but we'll sure have some neat stuff to talk about when we're DYING IN THE DAKS.”

“DYING IN THE DAKS? Glad my insurance is paid up. AmyG put you up to this Pennsy?”

“Where will we meet? Should we meet the evening before and plan over a brew or two, or meet at trailhead? I'll spend the previous night at the Alpine Club of Canada clubhouse at Keene, N.Y. to be close for the next morning.

If you guys wish, non-members can stay for about US10$. You can bring your own food or we could eat at a restaurant and kip at the clubhouse. How will you be coming, Artex? I assume by rental car from the airport.

Whatch'all think?”

“SOUNDS GREAT!!!”

“Directions to follow soon.”

“Gremlin, actually this nutball named Pennsy Hiker is giving me a ride up. He was so kind as to agree to come and get me on the way up. I'm staying with a friend in NJ the night before.”

“I am truly impressed. We'll meet at whatever trailhead you decide - after all, it's your baby.

Adventurist, I posted this by mistake on my other thread, but the ACC clubhouse is about 5 miles north of Keene on the 9N, about half-way to Upper Jay and on the road to-ward Ausable Forks. It's on Styles Brook Road which is well marked and right after the bridge over Styles Brook just before it runs into the East Branch of the Ausable River. It's only the second right on the 9N from Keene, although there are several driveways. You drive about two miles up a steep hill where you will see a large (very large) log house down on the right and the clubhouse lane is on the left at the top of the hill. It is marked with a ACC Montreal Section wooden sign. The clubhouse is a short walk up the lane from the parking lot.

If you or others plan to come, bring your favourite beverages and I'll supply the curry. We can cook breakfast there, or as I usually do, take away a chemically enhanced doughnut or two with a take away coffee from the Stewart's in Keene and breakfast while driving.”

“That sounds great Gremlin!

I'm in!”

“Plane tickets just purchased. The countdown to pain begins.”

“I changed my mind Artex. I'm going to the ACC and get hammered with Unca Gremlin. You're on yer own!”

“I'm in for the night before........Artex is walkin I guess”

“he could always paddle up from Florida....”

“Awwwwwwww, man! The creator of the trip gets left behind! Waaaaaaaah!!!!”

“Start paddling dude.”

“yeah do the back stroke”

“Anyone been keeping track of the tentative schedule???”

“Schedule

1. All of us except Artex will have fun with Gremlin...

2. Stumble over some high peaks..

3. Drive Home with lots of leg cramps...

Ever drive a manual transmission while getting leg cramps?”