What a fun day!!!   Thirty one Tramps laughed as we attempted to organize ourselves into 2 groups.  One group would drive to Whitehouse and hike the NPT to Piseco.  The other group would start their hike at Piseco and hike to Whitehouse.  When the two groups met, a car key exchange would occur and we would drive one another’s car. The goal was to have enough high clearance vehicles go to Whitehouse, enough drivers and room to carry all participants to our final destination at the Oxbow Inn.

The day was crisp and clear as we hiked along the well marked trail.  We rock hopped and crossed numerous brooks and streams along the way, observing much beaver activity.  Both groups took several side trips: to the remnants of the Whitehouse where we walked out on the long suspension bridge over the West Sacandaga, to the Buckhorn Lake, and the Piseco group hiked toward “Big Eddy”.

There was a lot of anticipation as to when the two groups would meet along the trail.   The Whitehouse group drove an additional 30+ miles to the trailhead while the Piseco group had started hiking much earlier.   What a surprise when both groups met at the Hamilton Lake Stream Lean to!  After lunch, we exchanged keys, and continued our respective hikes expecting to meet at the Oxbow again close to the same time.   When the Whitehouse to Piseco group arrived at the Oxbow, the other group was not there.  It was close to an hour before they arrived, but there was much concern that we had lost 50% of our group to say nothing of our vehicles.   The Piseco group had hiked an additional side trip toward the Big Eddy and that was the cause of their late arrival.  It was a terrific day aided by great weather and good friendship.

by Meg Higgerson & Madonna Fellows