ku # 504 ~ pressing on
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 08:39AM 
Near the summit of Algonquin • click to embiggenOne of the joys of moving, even if it's only from one room to another, is discovering buried treasure. Today's picture is a case in point. I've been looking for this picture for quite some time. It was tucked away in a hanging folder with some other 'miscellaneous' pictures. Unfortunately, the folder wasn't hanging - it was buried in box.
The picture is of my winter backpacking companion, Jim Minardo (from Rochester, NY). Jim has since retired from winter backpacking. The details: very late day just below the summit of Algonquin - notice the scrub pine and emerging bare rock, -10F, 30 mph wind with gusts of 40-60 mph, blizzard conditions - my kind of winter hike! Within another 30 ft of elevation, we were in white-out conditions and the wind was so strong and loud that we could only communicate by shouting.
FYI, Algonquin is described as; "Although this lacks the prestige of making it to Mount Marcy, the trail to the summit of Algonquin Peak and the view from the top, at 5,114 feet, are better and the trail is probably the most challenging in the Adirondacks, if not New York." That, of course, describes it in the summer.
At that point the decision was made to retreat about 100 ft of elevation to a tiny clearing, pitch the tent and ride it out. For those of you not experienced with winter mountaineering, it should be noted that, once in a winter tent, you are a snug as a bug in a rug - hang a small backpacking lantern in the peak of the tent, light the stove in the cooking vestibule, get water on the boil (for tea, hot chocolate, soup and dinner) and the next thing you know you're shedding clothing by the layer. It's not hard to get the tent up to a balmy 35 degrees which seems genuinely toasty compared to what's going on outside.
And, IMO, one of life's great pleasures is riding out a roaring blizzard high - 5,100 ft - on a wilderness mountain top while sipping hot beverages, eating a hardy stew, warmed fruit cup, warmed chocolate pudding, and just hanging out with a good friend.
Climbing out of a warm sleeping bag and into -15F temperatures is a whole other story.
Reader Comments (6)
last thing I would have been doing at that point was exposing my fingers and unpacking the camera for a shot. And I'm this was taken with an old 35mm film camera considering this photo is from before my birth?
I've been following your blog for a while now and have generally enjoyed your work. But holy heifers, this shot is just amazing! I mean a truly great one. OUTstanding!
Just had to say that.
That's maybe the best climbing picture I've ever seen.
This is a great shot and as Aaron said "taken with an old 35mm film camera", ah the old days.
Last time I climbed Algonquin, was on a warm day in September 1981.
One of the other joys of moving is that you married someone who will do most of the work...
Thanks for the kudos - I never thought this picture would garner some of the only comments of that type here on The Landscapist about my pictures.
The camera in question was a Nikon F2 loaded with a 400 ASA color negative film. If I remember correctly, I didn't have to unpack it - it was hanging around my neck. Although I did have to remove my hand from the Us Air Force surplus arctic mittens I was wearing.
to the wife - I can't get no respect