Jdubs

Yes, the Seward range is in the Western High Peaks region, west of Saranac Lake. Whiteface (and Esther) was a unique hike!

Thanks grampy! Kills me to not be up there on a gorgeous day like this, but I also learned a valuable lesson. That's the yin and yang of hiking. No joy in pressing on just to check a few more boxes, that's not why I do it. The knee thing was the deciding factor for me. Blisters are just pain tolerance.

My plan was to hike Seymour on Saturday, car camp along Corey's and then hike D-S-E today. Jeep packed, perfect weather and all the preparations made, but sometimes you still get a curve ball thrown at you.The drive up was actually much shorter than I thought, only 2.5 hours from Ballston Lake. I arrived at the trailhead lot with only 10 cars in sight and signed in around 6 am. Beautiful walk in the woods via the Blueberry and Ward Brook Truck trails. It's about as tame as Lake Rd. in the AMR with better scenery. It's about 5.5 miles to the start of the hp and I was able to get there in about 2 hours, stopping briefly along the way to snap some pics. Two trail runners passed me by on their way up and later back from Seymour, et al.The herd path up to Seymour's summit is another story. A rugged, steep, muddy and unforgiving climb starts at the pot cairn and ends at the treed summit. This section alone took me 2 hours and really left me in awe of the trail runners who did ALL FOUR Sewards in 7-8 hours! There is an open ledge just below true summit and facing north with spectacular views that made for an ideal break spot. I stayed up there about an hour before heading down. Unfortunately, I ignored and later did not have enough supplies to address some nasty blisters on my feet by the time I returned to the Ward LT. Weird, because I wore the same boots on the last hike to BaSa and didn't have that issue. Then my right knee wanted to lock up. Never had that problem before either. Made it back to the Jeep by 3:30 with the breaks and decided to turn for home. All in all, I didn't want to push my luck attempting D-S-E on bad wheels and ultimately ruin what had otherwise been a stellar hike. This is #36/46 for me; still working towards a 46er finish in July albeit with a new pair of kicks.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

About to make my 4th summit of Lower Wolfie!

Variety is the spice of life! Besides, Biz needed a break from all the poolside updates.

I have no problem carrying the Beer thread single-handedly tonight, if needed! So check this out: another Glens Falls brewery with a DIPA named after an ADK High Peak! Pretty good too. And yes, I hiked this one.

Next up from Common Roots. Noticably less hops than the Double Beta, same grapefruit flavors, smoother. Much better.

Lawn & trim done. Showered. Now dinner cooking. Fire pit coming up. Trying a couple DIPA's from nearby S. Glens Falls brewery, Common Roots. Grapefruit flavor stands out, hoppy, it's OK.

Nothing beats a good breakfast sammich to start my Sunday.

Good brew for pondering my next hike. Weather is great for tomorrow, but my legs still hate me from the last one.

A dead deer is a dead deer brother. It won't be any more dead if you hit vitals .2 MOA better. Unless of course you're lining up a Texas Heart Shot like wolc then maybe you'll need to thread that brown-eyed needle.

Anything in the 1-1.5" range and I'd be very happy with that particular setup. As you said, it's for hunting not precision shooting.

Looks like a killer spot and setup!

You didn't mention the ammo used or barrel spec, but I'd say a 1.5" group at 110 yds fits that profile. Nice rig, should drop some deer!

No siding needed to tap a keg!

Fixed it for you.

Wow, I had no idea! Who says you can't buy a better golf game?!

"Agony Grind", now that sounds like fun! Happy trails Bill!

I really wish that I had had this bright idea about hiking 46ers when I was a twenty-something Gumby doll impervious to pain and not in my mid to late 40's! Hey, no need to wait on a cold one. I'll shoot you a pm later today.

I'm no athletic marvel myself, just stubborn enough to keep putting one boot in front of the other. I'm thinking Haystack to finish, maybe. I have a 46er friend who finished there and she might hike it with me. Then again, I've done all solo hikes except Colden and Marcy. Anyway, here's what's left: Marshall, Wright, Cliff, Redfeld, Skylight, Gray, Haystack, Seymour, Seward, Donaldson and Emmons.

Thanks grampy! So you're saying you'll hike the next one with me? My plan is to make #46 in July, God willing.

Tuesday night I drove up to Keene Valley for another (planned) sunrise hike to Basin and then Saddleback. Starting out under the full moon from the Garden lot at 10 pm, I made good time to JBL and up to Bushnell Falls. Then I entered a section of the Phelps trail that looked like it had been hit by an artillery barrage. I lost count of all the downed trees that I limboed under, climbed over or hiked around. This part of the Phelps trail and the Shorey Short Cut were a full blown obstacle course of downfall, mud, rocks, roots, slick bedrock and scrambles. With less than a mile to go to make summit, I pushed the pace hard, but missed the actual sunrise by 10 minutes. Still, this was just as rewarding for me as it was physically and mentally demanding. It was the sports equivalent of "leaving it all on the field". I'll post some pics, but they won't do this trip justice. The infamous Saddleback cliffs are no joke! They aren't quite vertical, but man, one wrong move and you're done. I don't know why any sane person would actually choose to descend the cliffs rather than ascend and not look down. Either way, you better bring your A game. These peaks make it 35/46 for me. The loop hike was about 16.5 miles, but it took me over 17 hours to get back to the Jeep. The push up to Basin absolutely smoked me only halfway into the hike so I needed to take generous breaks from there on. Once home I slept for 12 hours straight. Everything is sore, but I can't wait to do it all over again on the next hike.

Thanks, B! I gave the shrimp a little extra red pepper love to spice things up.