I cannot help but say this right off the bat – as a trip leader and someone who has participated in several hikes/ shoes this year with the GMC, this one rates in the top three. People meshed, the hike was just right, the weather was chilly, but this is what kept us moving, we saw the first snow of the season in the Adirondacks and the conversation flowed non-stop!

I picked up the youngest member of the team for the day at UVM at 6:45 am. From there we headed to the K-mart parking lot, hikers for the day hopped in various cars and we were ferry- bound. Arrived early so had much time to mix, mingle and partake in a few banana muffins. Two more joined the group shortly before the ferry arrived and we were on our way. Needed to make a coffee stop in Wadhams (yes!, yes! there is a coffee shop in this very tiny Essex County, NY hamlet!) and we were on our way – again.

Next the Giant trailhead appeared in our sights. Many cars at 9:15 were already lined up on the road. Met up with one more to add to the group and we were on our way for certain this time. My father was to be the last member of the 11-person group to meet up with but he was nowhere to be found until about halfway or more into the hike. He had arrived about 1 1/2 hours earlier than we had to take some pics and kept climbing, climbing, climbing, thinking we would meet up when he took some breaks and pics. Headed back down, then back up again! We met him at the second open ridge and now we were a complete team!

As you can imagine, the trails were packed, mostly with our Canadian neighbors. Chilly at the top, but the view was superb! The hike was our focus on the way up and as previously advertised, pie awaited us at the Noonmark Diner in Keene Valley and that was our mission on the descent. The diner was packed and we ended up at two separate tables. If you have never stopped here on your way to Lake Placid or on your way to one of the hundreds of Adirondack trails, put it on the “to do” list for a future visit. The pie is well worth the trip.

Our final stop as a group was a quick visit to Angel Falls for a group pic. We lucked out, as a photographer was there with his tripod and took care of us in quick fashion. We parted ways with three folks and the eight remaining headed for the Charlotte ferry. And the day/ night ended with five survivors at the Upper Deck Pub, a non-advertised portion of the outing that was just as much fun as the rest of the day!

Participants – Phil Hazen, Miguel Bosse, Paul Demers, Christopher Morris, Ronnet Sasse, Lynda Hutchins, Corey Richardson, David Harwood, Bob Albert, Alan Finn, Robynn Albert