1mlost: 3500: 4 Peaks in Winter Part 2
Most of the people I encountered on these hikes were patch-chasing aspirants of the 3500 club. In the trailhead parking lot, I met a man who was redoing most of the peaks he had already “bagged” in order to properly fill out his official 3500 club tally sheet with correct dates, times, and what he had for breakfast the morning of the ascent. The man was from Jersey, very fit, and very serious. I sensed immediately that me and this mant would not be friends in this life. A state ranger pulled into the lot and hopped out of his truck. I asked him about the trail conditions and he really let me have it. The man likes talking trail and he does so for about 20 minutes. He stipulated that “adirondacks” etiquette would restrict us from hiking today due to the warm temps. With the snow melting our boots would sink into the snowpack leaving holes that would later freeze and be a hazard to hikers in the future.
Today I’m hiking with my buddy Sage. We’ve been working and hiking together for about 7 years. I haven’t seen Sage in person since the start of the pandemic and he greets me in the parking lot with an awkward hug. Seeing people in real life is such a joy. I hope I can remember that as it becomes more commonplace. We get our gear sorted and traction devices on and set out. Sage is a comedy writer, so we are laughing in no time. On one of our first hikes, Sage told me a story about his father. As a teenager, his dad fell 40 feet off a cliff. He somehow survived the drop and there was even a story in the newspaper about the miracle. Sometimes I wonder if Sage is seeking to follow in his father’s footsteps and fall off a cliff. I will keep a close eye on him.
Sage is truly a sage and before long we are talking about all kinds of philosophical mumbo jumbo. The trail turns to the north side of slide and we are plunged into an enchanted snowy scene. After a gentle uphill we reach the top. The view from the top of Slide is astounding today. It’s one of the clearest views I can remember observing. We drop our packs and search for the plaque marking where John Burroughs used to sleep. Although there is a marker celebrating his place of rest, camping above 3500 ft. is strictly forbidden.
Stopping and taking a rest is usually one of the sweetest aspects of a hike. In the winter, it’s pleasant for about 5 minutes, then sweat begins to freeze and you’re quickly beckoned to continue on. We got our packs back on and headed down the mountain, taking a new route that required us to break trail. The weather has been dreamy for February and the hike is gentle and enjoyable. In no time we are back at the parking lot. Our hike ends as quickly as it began on a gorgeous, warm day in February. The hike include no misery and I credit my companion who deservedly possesses way better karma than my own. I do the gear swap again and am heading home.
Balsam is tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be brutally cold. Like 3 degrees at the bottom of the mountain. Cold can also be a destination. At least I could be sure that everything would be good and frozen. The thought of all that brown slime intermittently freezing has given me the heebee jeebees so I’m keeping the bike parked. It saddens me, but also makes the hike feel like a vacation from my vacation. I’m so relaxed that it’s midnight and I’m still sipping wine and smoking. The trailhead starts at the end of a road called “Rider Hollow.” The necessity of taking the minivan there is a cruel irony. Rider hollow indeed.
I never made it up to Balsam the following day. That night, after going to bed much too late and drinking too much wine, I awoke to cries of a feverish infant. While a fever in a child is common and quite normal, the cause for concern lies in the daycare. Over 101 degrees and you cannot with a clear conscience drop your kid at the daycare. I spent the rest of the week caring for her and catching the nasty bug myself. It seems that the challenge of joining the 3500 club was less about climbing mountains and more about the herculean effort to make enough free time to complete the checklist.