Damn!

“I can't imagine a worse time or place to get an anxiety attack!

I blew the Santanoni trip. Looking back, I had been agonising over the drive and the weather for two days and was pretty frazzled when I got down there. When Pennsy arrived I was relieved to see I'd be hikinig with someone I know and like, but the propect of 15 people up there and worry about the drive back really got me down.

When I crossed the gate my breathing went off the rails even though I'd taken two shots on my inhaler - which is unusual.

Sorry, guys.”

“Gremlin this mountain is going to be your undoing! Sorry to hear about your attack.”

“Don't they have medicine for that kind of thing? Valium maybe?”

“There are a variety of meds for anxiety attacks that can be coupled with some behavioral coping exercises.”

“Don’t feel too bad Gremlin. I was reading a post by Sacco on the ADKforum site and it looks like the muck made its self known on the way in.

http://adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=1702”

“gremlin, it happens! don't feel bad.”

“Dang, we got lucky on the Labor Day trip!!”

“Hey Grems - I felt real bad for you when you were forced to turn around. I thought this time would be the charm for you to bag Santa and Couchie for your 46. I believe you made the right choice though, especially when entering this environment under winter conditions.

Look at the bright side. We would not have gotten Couchie or Santa anyway. We got a late start Saturday morning and only got to Panther. Even if we left earlier, it would have been tough to get Couchie OR Santa, nevemind both of them.

Silly Sacco posted a TR on another forum but not here? i'm gonna have a talk with that boy. ;o)

Zac - there was almost no muck to speak of. Sacco, Lee, and Ben post-holed (with zee znowzhoes) a few times on the hike in into some deep spots, but I was delighted to finally get up there withoug dealing with all the muck. Right now, it is a beautifully packed trail all the way to Times Square. It's packed to Panther but that last 100' of rock is a beeyach.

Also, a strong group of hikers, all instructors from the ADK mountaineering school were up there. They got an earlier start than us on Sat morning, and while they did get Panther, they turned back on their attempt to get Couchie because of time. That tells you something how tough it is hiking in winter conditions.

Anywho, they said they were going back up on Sunday to get Santanoni. If they succeed, now would be the time to get up there.
last edited: 1/17/05 8:52:26 AM”

“"Right now, it is a beautifully packed trail all the way to Times Square."

There is nothing beautiful about any part of that trail.”

“Gremlin, sorry to hear about your anxiety, I've dealt with it all my life. I used to take medication, but have since learned to cope with it on my own. Althuogh I'm not always the best at it and it still gets me pretty good at times.”

“You made a good choice Grem.

It's hard enough to get up those peaks in good weather when your spirits are good. In winter, with bad spirits at the start, it's insane to try those peaks. More than once I've barely made it over some of those peaks in good weather, being in good condition and good spirits to start out. Many times I've made it only because having gotten that far, I'd kick myself for giving up.

I cannot even imagine continuing a hike when I started out with misgivings. So I think you made a good choice. Look ahead, not back”

“gremlin, i was really looking forward to meetin you but as everyone else has said, you made the right choice.

getting couch and santa this weekend was just NOT going to happen.”

“oh, and see the 7 vs. 3 thread.”

“A hip flask might help. LOL!

Whenever I'm facing these types of things I always tell myself, "It won't be as bad I'm thinking it will be.". And ya know what? It never is.”

“and pennsy, on the way in ben, lee, and i had more than a couple nasty post holes into the water beneath the snow pack.
didn't you see some of the holes?

luckily is was alot more water than mud underneath.”

“oh yeah, I saw some of the holes. But if you've been there in the summer and fall, you'd agree with me and say they were nothing. Hey, I see you posted a TR. Buh-bye from here.

MarkO - it's a beautiful trail in the winter. really.”

“Gremlin - Meeting up with TT people can do that to a person.

Sorry it spoiled your trip.

---

last edited: 1/17/05 9:40:42 AM”

“Pennsy, did you get any pictures of the waterfalls on Santanoni Brook along the trail?”

“Nigal has a point.

It hasn't happened since 1999 and it snuck up on me because I wasn't expecting it.

I haven't taken medication since 1999 and it takes about three weeks to kick in. I have emergency meds, but you can't function, or even drive when you take them, apparently - I never have.

Now I know it can happen, I'll use strategies - the main thing is knowing it can happen and being mentally prepared.

I'm thinking that next time, instead of worrying about the weather, I'll wait for good conditions, stay overnight at the hotel in Long Lake and arrive at trailhead early and refreshed.

I can barely believe no-one managed all three in a three day week-end. Wow! That is tough.

Take care,

Doug”

“Drive time can be a real stressor. I have to be at on Sundays at 9pm and there is NO calling off. So if I drive 6-9 hours for a group hike where I’m pretty much dependant on everyone else’s plans I get stressed out about being back at the trailhead in time to make the drive home. This is one reason that I do enjoy the TT hikes where everyone base camps not too far out and day hikes. Takes a LOT of stress out of the trip.”

“Yeah.

I'll also plan on one mountain per trip.

Problem is, I really have come to dis-like that trail. Little bits would be better than worrying about doing them all, I think.”

“"Problem is, I really have come to dis-like that trail. Little bits would be better than worrying about doing them all, I think.”

I have found that I enjoy my time outdoors sense I don't feel comitted to go "balls to the wall" every trip. Yeah, sometimes I want to challange myself and push it but many times I come home more tired than before. Now I measure my trips in hours, not miles.”

“True.”

“Is it a sign of mental illness if in some ways I've grown to love that trail?”

“You have mail.

Mark”

“When I did Gothics, it took everything I had to give and more. I don't expect I'll ever do that trail again, despite the fact that the view is probably the best view in the East. I'm glad I did it, and it ranks as one of my all-time favorite hikes, but it was a crusher.”

“Thanks, Mark. You have a reply.

Doug”

“Where is this place?”

““Where is this place?”
Nigal
11:09:05 AM
1/17/05

It's in the Adirondack High Peaks.

Here's a picture of the trail when it is dry.

”

“What type of insect repelant do you suggest for the summer? 89 octain or go right for the super-unleaded? Looks like some of the portage's in the BWCA. Yikes!”

“Adirondack mosquitoes have FAA wing numbers and show up on NORAD's radar screens. They don't carry missiles yet, but their twin 50's are hell!”

“And then there are the black flies.”

“I've seen the black flies fly off with small dogs.

About mental states, Zac, I hate this trail and I'm planning on two week-ends in February for one peak each. I think this put me in a wholly new category.

See my 'barking' post on the 'real backpacker' thread.”

“With your luck with this trail, have you thought about trying to hit the range from a different angle? Maybe a bushwhack from the Cold River Valley. The hike would be hard, but I’m starting to think the Bradley Pond trail has it in for you.”

“BTW which weekends were you planning? I might be interested.”

“11 and 25 February - they're pay week-ends.

I think I need help.”

“Zac, Zac, Zac, GET HELP!

I think it's a little late for that. You're talking to the guy that hiked off of Dix in the dark with sleet and rain coming down almost sideways from the wind. I'm also the guy that went up Sawteeth via the scenic trail in February, because I didn’t think the trail up Colden was going to be broke.”

“I'll tell them you're my son and a student and maybe Medicare and Group Insurance will pay for your therapy too.

Hey, I'm ready to clutch straws.”

“Wow, glad to hear that you're doing better now. I've heard a lot of evil news about the Santanonis but haven't ever gone there myself. One of these weekends (probably after the 4th of July), I'll have to go up there and check it out.

I heard it's evils can easily rival, if not out-rival it Catskills counterpart (The Devil's Path)...”

“I used to get anxiety attacks until I cut out coffee. Ended them for me.”

“PS it's not the ups and downs that get you. It's the mud and muck.”

“Filter folded back on the coffee pot and now the dang thing is full of fresh brewed coffee with lots of coffee grounds in it.”

“Filling in for Spirit Coyote?

*Edit*

Nevermind, I see you didn't start a new thread.
last edited: 8/03/07 11:39:59 AM”

“ekki-ekki-ekki-pitang-zoom-boing”

“Stop your whining and chew your coffee like a man.”

“............."IT"........................



(um stove, put a new filter in the holder, place the filter balanced on another pot, and pour the coffee through it...will filter out the grounds...or better yet, Pour a co worker a cup of coffee and pour hard..the majority of the grounds will go in their cup.”

“Stovie...that happened to me last week. I accidently put two filters in and it overflowed all over the counter, all into the pot...was an awful messs!

LOL at Zac!”

“Nawwwwwwwwwwwwww........
I figure the next guy needs a surprise. ;-)”

“LOL...remember the video of the coworker adding some extra "personal Zing" to the coffee?”