Bald rocks, lost ponds and sheer faces are staring you down. All you have to do is climb to get over them.

Right now?      Yes right now.

Interesting lines crisscross up and down and any which way you connect the dots someday you’ll have to stop.

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So I have been trying to figure out what to write when I have new photos to show, but I have no idea. So I’ll just give you a few random thoughts.

I am involved in a networking site called couchsurfing.com, and it randomly has people from all over the world come to this area looking to hike, camp or stay at your house… for free.  A user posted that they were in the area and wanted to hike. Since I had not been on a hike in over 3 months, I was ready and willing to show someone around the trails.  I followed the websites request and left a phone number on an answering machine in Bloomingdale and waited.

It was Monday night at 10:30 when my phone rang. The voice on the other end was not who I Expected. A young voice with maybe even a hint of nervous excitement… umm NO. Rather an open stern explanation of a situation. The wave was being shut off and the surffer needed to leave.  The host did ask, and I responded with a smile. Misplaced goods have to be handled with care.

Hmm, she walked up, stepped aside then to the other side. If I felt a space between us, it quickly shrank away. The first moments when you are meeting someone new and  have informally agreed to share the upcoming days with each other, you would think is a bit nerve wrecking, but I enjoy this moment the most out of all couchsurfing moments.  Anything is possible, they could be anyone, from anywhere, all you have to do is ask.  Once in a while you might get a person who keeps to themselves but that’s normally when they travel in a pack. The lone traveler is mostly on a journey to experience as much as they can, and letting you know who they are is all part of the journey.

Away we go!  Mission one complete.  Now on to two – Camp at Ampersand bay and wait for the work boat.

“Slam… yup that’s my boss.”  A brief explanation was due but I don’t think it would suffice.

He was  bit confused where the “talent” for the day’s photo shoot had come from, but she would explain when they toured the lake, while my tri-pod was directly over an egg in a birds nest.

The talent: I had confidence in her from the start, well that’s what I told myself so not to worry as much when she would venture off into the wilderness alone.  Two times surprised and relieved when the package was returned.

Excuse me!   Have you seen a girl from Amsterdam?…    Umm,  Holland Actually.

The taste of vanilla twisted with strawberry, fresh icicles of sweet aperitif. A desert well deserved. Donnelly’s Iscream.

Part II

A constant, what is this. It maybe nothing or one thing. So would staying the same still be like changing because you naturally evolve based on experience/environment.

Luxury – to participate in life’s random occurrences.
Fact – anyone can participate.
Choice – to be aware and ready to accept them.

Part III

Finally… highest man in New York State.  Whooo!   The odds are good that this statement is completely true unless someone else hiked up Mt Marcy last night, which I highly doubt. This was my first hike of the summer and first real test on the healing hypoExtendo knee.

It was 10pm Saturday night and I was in a very relaxed mood on my way to pick up supplies. Maybe because my head started to clear when I laid down for a pre-hike nap…  more like 2 and half hours of rest and 10 min of sleep, but it was just what I needed. So half asleep I collected things that would be essential and others that would go untouched. On my way out of town I stopped at the local health food store and grabbed a few slices with pepperoni, and yes I did pay for it later. I guess that is why paying for something later is mostly bad. Pay now, know what you get, know what’s its worth and how much it costs.

I earned a lot of enjoyment this week. It took me to locks that were always open, to the silver night-slide, a rescue run up Algonquin, and a sunrise above the clouds.  This week also reminded me of the time I was paddling Lower Saranac Lake when two hours in we break a paddle. Long story short we got to our campsite and started unloading, when we find  a full paddle and neck, it was charred and burned and missing the handle but it would work just fine. The paddle I found this week helped me realize I still can. So I Did. And here I am, on Algonquin at 3 am waiting for the sunrise!!

What will August bring.

click on the frog and start the slideshow… they go in order.  Thank you and hope you enjoy!!

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2 Responses

1. Lynn Hyde Kellogg says:

   August 15, 2010 at 9:33 pm

   Thanks for sharing your site with me, Shaun. Your beautiful, sincere images touched a soft spot in my heart, with memories of mountain hiking trips with my sons and husband. Ahhh, I miss those days and need to return to the peace that only the mountains can supply. I love your use of light and the softness of some of your shots. Sweet.

2. Kristi says:

   December 30, 2010 at 8:29 pm

   Awesome shots!! You capture the essence of being 4,000+ feet up very well!

   -k.