#6544 – High Peaks Weekend – August 5, 6, & 7, 2016
Write-up: Roger Felske
Leader: Roger Felske
Co-Leader: Dick Blanchard
The 26th Annual High Peaks Weekend (HPW) had a near record number of attendees this year with 43 Tramps, guests and relatives. The weather cooperated again this year with only one downpour and that was during the night. Unfortunately there was one casualty and that was Mark Huxtable who decided to sleep outside on the ground. A morning trip to the laundromat in Lake Placid solved that problem. Again this year, we filled three campsites and three tent cabins in addition to people getting their own campsites and others opting to stay in the Lodge.
Once again, Dick Blanchard was like a maestro orchestrating the assembly of the canopy. This piece goes here, that goes there, and with as many as 15 – 20 Tramps, the canopy was raised in record time. Almost immediately thereafter Mary Pat Connors and Lu Blanchard had the “kitchen” area set up and ready to go in preparation for dinner at six.
It wasn’t long before one of the three picnic tables was covered with a large assortment of snacks, hors d’oeuvres, salads, entrees and desserts, while on the camp stoves, soups and vegetable chili were being warmed. One of the things the Tramps thoroughly enjoy is FOOD and we had some of the best. There was a side contest as to who made the best carrot cake, Grace McNasser or Tom Smith. Now I’m not sure where Tom got the idea he could compete with Grace, even though he claimed he used the same recipe that Grace had. My opinion is, Tom’s carrot cake looked more like the Leaning Tower of Pisa in a snowstorm, but that’s just me.
The charcoal grill that worked well with smaller groups is now being passed on to a future garage sale in favor of a new gas stove similar to the one Dick has been using. To increase production we need an additional larger grill to meet demand for burgers, dogs and patties etc., a project for 2017.
After dinner the conversation always turns to, “what are the hikes for tomorrow?” This year several people elected to lead hikes and others decided to do hikes on their own. I felt like a proud parent when Gail Hannahs and Lois Chierichella decided to go on their first self- guided High Peaks hike to Cascade and Porter. Kids just grow up so fast! Not having any takers last year, Dick Blanchard was able to round up seven hikers to join him this year to summit Phelps Mountain, Dick’s seventh climb up Phelps. I led a group of eight including my granddaughter Carly Glenn up to Wright Peak. The weather stayed clear, so consequently we had a spectacular view of the surrounding High Peaks. Completing our climb, we were able to return to Heart Lake in plenty of time for cocktail hour and dinner.
Other groups climbed Mt Colden, hiked out of the Ausable Club to Beaver Meadow Falls, and some hiked up Redfield and Cliff. No casualties on this day – all returned safely although Nancy Coleman wore a little or a lot, depends on who you ask, Adirondack mud into camp. Oh those slippery logs.
The weather was conducive for great campfires each night. 43 campers make for a BIG circle around the fire and guarantee a lot of tall tales until quiet hours. Bill Higgerson was up early Sunday morning preparing the coffee as sleepy-eyed Tramps slowly started to assemble for the traditional pancake, bacon and egg breakfast starting at 7:00 AM. This was a wee bit earlier than normal, but campground rules say we have to be out by 11:00am and this allowed for sufficient time to break camp and take the canopy down. I have booked the same campsites for next year, so mark your calendars for August 4, 5, and 6, 2017. It should be interesting because ADK is putting in new additional campsites and the road into that area will eliminate campsite 29 and one of the tent cabins will be moved. Our tent sites for 2017 will be 35, 36 and 37 and 3 tent cabins. No one seems to know exactly how this is going to work out at this time. A lot of necessary changes are in the works at the ADK Heart Lake Property and hopefully I’ll be able to resolve some parking issues as well.
Beaver Meadow Falls – High Peaks Weekend, 2016
Write-Up: Mary Pat Connors
The morning was thick with humidity after the night’s rains. I didn’t begrudge the weather, the Adirondacks needed the rain badly. This was very evident from the brown fairways of the area golf courses.
A small group of us set out from Heart Lake after seeing off the mountain climbers.
Our destination was St. Huberts, and the Ausable Club, to the trail for Beaver Meadow Falls. We made our way past parking areas along the way overbrimming with cars and hikers. Upon arrival all parking lots were full, and there was a long row of cars lining the road. The good news is that people are actively enjoying the High Peaks, the bad news was that this added over a mile to our hike.
We took the West trail rather than Lake Rd. This was a steady incline, though not a mountain it was fairly strenuous, and it followed alongside the Ausable River. The river was extremely low, again exhibiting the dry summer. It gave pause to wonder if there would be any falls to see at all. No fear, the first minor falls near a cross-over bridge was very pretty, and we stopped for photos there.
Continuing on up, it was not long before we reached Beaver Meadow Falls, conveniently labeled as such for us. The falls were very picturesque, perhaps not as full as possible, but enough for a beautiful photo op.
There was discussion on whether to continue on to Rainbow Falls, but this was voted down. By the time we returned via Lake Rd. we probably had hiked 9-9.5 miles and that was enough.
I would call this almost a perfect hike. Beautiful forest, babbling river, two waterfalls, two deer and a heron, and fun companions.
