Hey Readers – It’s adventure time.

The Great Range Traverse is in the Adirondack High Peaks region of Up State New York.  10 peaks over 12 miles including Mt. Marcy the highest point in NY.

 

 

12 miles easy right?

Well not quite.

From the top of Marcy it’s another 9 miles of rocks, roots, wet / dry riverbed, and mud back to the world.

21 miles total of trail work gets this thing done.

 

It’s…

…Unrelenting and difficult…

 

 

 

…Inspiring and glorious.

 

 

I gotta admit – I was a little intimidated at first.

But the list…The damn list from Backpacker Magazine of America’s Hardest Day Hikes

Drives me.

—————————————————————————————————————————

 

1. Timberline Trail  – Mt. Hood, OR
2. Pemi Loop – White Mountains, NH
3. Great Range Traverse – Adirondacks, NY
   
4. Windom Peak – San Juan Mountains, CO
5. Cactus to Clouds Trail – Mt., San Jacinto from Palm Springs, CA
6. Great Smoky Mountains End-to-End – TN/NC
7. Grand Canyon South Rim to North Rim – AZ
8. Enchantment Lakes Traverse – Cascade Range, WA
9. Paintbrush Canyon-Cascade Canyon Loop – Grand Teton National Park, WY
   
10. Bigelow Range Traverse – ME———————————————————————————————————————

 

Realizing that #2 & #3 are within a reasonable drive from Boston, the wheels started to turn.

It’s almost like Backpacker made that list and put it out there as a personal challenge.

 

To the Editors – “I ACCEPT.”

 

The Pemi Loop was done in 2015 & 2017.

The Great Range Traverse has (t)haunted me for a couple years now.

It’s right there – 3-1/2 hours away.

I’ve ridden my bike across the entirety of Adirondack back roads and loved it.

What’s the hold up?

Scared?

Doubting your fitness?

 

 

A little of both? – Maybe (yes).

 

But, as soon my college friends set up a reunion in Saratoga for the last weekend in July, I immediately submitted a vacation request knowing I could tackle the Great Range a few days prior.

I just put a date on the calendar and amped up the long runs with more elevation change.

Fear Training* just like I did for the Pemi.

 

The big day started at Rooster Comb Trailhead off Route 73 in Keene Valley.

 

 

 

I signed the trail log so the rangers knew that my exhausted body was out there.

For the first 6+ hours the route is a fastpacking roller coaster. It’s Summit to Col to Summt to Col to….

You get the picture.

If you don’t then here it is…

The image above from

Hiking in the White Mountains & Adirondacks

Note: The hike was done right to left and I skipped the

out and back to Mt. Haystack so not full traverse.

 

Backpacker Magazine aptly describes this as, “the murder’s row of peaks”

Throw in narrow trails with plenty of bush branches reaching in to duck under and scrape legs.

And the cobwebs.  The F-ing cobwebs.  It might have been worth it to wait for other hikers to break them in the early morning.  I was pulling them off my face every other minute until I hit Gothics.

This thing was work.

 

I’ve never had to use my whole body so much on a hike.

• Lot’s of arm hoisting my own body weight.
• Holding on rock faces with only two point of contact.
• Gymnastic stunts to find foot and hand holds.

 

I literally had to pace back and forth a couple times like a confused dog looking for a path up parts of the obstructed trail.

And Fuck…on the face of Mt. Basin…descending down some small drops that may not have killed me, but would still have been an ankle breaker if my grip failed.

Good thing I saw Free Solo last year!

 

Amidst all the strife were the views.

I was blessed with a clear day.

 

 

360 degrees of pure beauty..

 

 

The payday for the all the work put in.

 

 

Sometimes during training runs I ask myself, “What the fuck are you doing?”

Thoughts of long diner breakfasts and beers on the couch flood in when I’m suffering a humid day on trails I’ve run dozens of times.

But it’s these places – these special places that few will get too that drive me.

They’ll drive you too.

 

From the top of Mt. Marcy after taking in the magic and talking to some of the other ambitious hikers, I sat on a small ledge with a Clif Bar lunch and took stock of my lanky chicken legs…

 

 

Physically, clearly a little banged up, but doing well.

Mentally, My mind had calmed.

It was all down from here.

 

 

 

 

 

Not necessarily easy, but there was some brain relief knowing I would just be losing elevation the whole way out.

Down and down, toeing the rock tops, through mud, across riverbeds, and over blow downs.

The trail was well marked and very runnable over the last 5 miles.

 

 

 

 

Finally, I made it to the Garden Parking lot.

Here’s the bullet point highlights from where I’d just been..

 

 

After conveniently getting shuttled back to my car, satisfaction set in.

“I’m capable” came forward.

And later on after a some rewarding beers and bar food at the Ausable Inn…

 

The above image from

Sure Why Not

.

…I got a little reflective.

Damn!

It’s a gift to move through the mountains.

Grateful to be healthy.

Thankful for protected lands.

 

Take this one on – it’s so rewarding.

A day in the mountains like this is 10+ hours of pure mental hygiene.

Dark thoughts from your regular life are purged.

Leave the damn earbuds at home and listen to the trail – listen to your mind.

Let the inner you talk out loud to the outer you.

Talk to trees and summits.

Smile wide.

 

***********************************************************************************************************************

You can ride Harry Potter at Universal.

Sit on your ass on the couch and binge Game of Thrones.

Hotel at the Four Seasons.

Eat the best steak at Grill 23.

But……

…But, I’ll take an epic journey through the mountains any day.

 

 

Heaven.

Note:  It took me 10 hours and 52 minutes to complete the traverse.  Spent a good 5-10 minutes viewing and eating trail mix at each peak.  Then probably 45 minutes hangin’ out on top of Marcy.

*You can read more about Fear Training and the Pemi Loop HERE and HERE.