Initially advertised as a mystery hike to the Adirondacks, I get serious about thinking where we’ll actually hike/ shoe when someone signs up. Austin and Jim sent me messages a week before the trip, just a few hours apart, so I did need to get doubly serious! We met at the Starbuck’s on the Shelburne Road at 6:45 am, piled into 3 cars as Deborah originally wanted to skip the after hike gathering in Keene Valley. Quick stop in Port Henry at the Stewart’s, then back on the road, Marcy Field trailhead around 8:40 am, on the trail by 9 am. Conditions were hard packed, then mud, then a slight sheen of ice, followed by a few inches of snow and ice here and there. The best part of the whole day, both peaks, was NO wind and high level clouds. We never saw the sun but that did not deter great 360-views. Many hikers out, no tracks on the Garden route but some that we spoke with came up Cascade from Route 73.

Tracy had not been out in a while on the trails so she turned around just before the Porter peak, then Dan turned around at Porter. They eventually met up and headed back to the cars with only a 45 minute wait for the last of the 3 of us who came out with headlamps at 5 pm after hitting both Porter and Cascade with Blueberry Blueberry Mtn. as our first stop in the morning.

And of course, the obligatory stop at a local pub, this time The Ausable Inn in Keene Valley, where it was very busy, but the fireplace was going, the beer was cold and the eats were perfect for our palates. Great hike, great day, great people!

Particpants: Austin Hornyak, Jim Watkins (photos), Deborah Kulisch, Tracy Sweeney, Dan Hinson, Phil Hazen , Robynn Albert (leader)