M O U N T   M A R C Y

Adirondack State Park
Upstate New York

Hey, guess what? The two women are Alma & Hilde. Best friends who have known each other since grade school, Alma is visiting Hilde from North Carolina and Hilde is showing her the sights.

I finally arrive at Marcy Dam.

Campers must hang their food. I bet that really frustrates the bears. It's like having to solve a Rubik's Cube before you can eat. I'd starve. I've never had any luck with that stupid puzzle. And you know what? It's a good thing that sign is there to help. I would not have thought to use a bag, I would have stupidly smeared my food on the rope.

Me! Little do I know what I've gotten myself into on this hike. My smile looks mildly ignorant.

Okay, time check. I have hiked 2.5 miles in a little over an hour. Not too shabby. Only 5.1 miles to Mount Marcy. Yeah right, "only", I have to laugh. The kicker? From this point on I have to start going "up" as well as forward. Things are going to start slowing down pretty quickly.