Adirondack Peeks Winter 2024

At 11:14, we reached the summit of Haystack, #39. The trail off Marcy was amazing as it was as large a stream as most normal Adirondack streams. . . . We definitely needed the cairns and markers on Haystack as we could not see. The wind was even chal lenging beside having rain arrive from the horizontal. Phil had done a good job in keeping the spirit up by getting the two of us to sing “rock and roll” songs. . . . The idea of finishing is my only thought. Being cold and wet really attacks one’s mind. At 12:21, we reached the summit of Basin, #40. . . . We hadn’t dried out at all. At 1:10, we reached the summit of Saddleback, #41. All was still miserable, and this day seemed just a question of moving. After twenty-five minutes we reached the Gothics lean-to where a party was waiting for the weather to break—good luck. . . . I now had doubts as to our leaving for Gothics due to the elements and the exposed ridge. At 2:32, we reached the summit of Gothics, #42. . . . The rain had returned coming in its horizontal fash ion. My thoughts are that it is a miserable day. At 3:15, we reached the summit of Armstrong, #43. It was still raining and blowing. . . I wished only for the end. At 3:37, we reached the summit of Upper Wolf Jaw, #44. There was no change in the weather or way of travel. Twenty minutes later we reached the col between the Jaws where we dropped our packs and ate some “GORP” (peanut butter and raisin mix ture) and candy. At this point, I was the coldest that I’d been that day, which was obviously due to the lack of food and slow travel off Upper Wolf Jaw. At 4:25, we reached the summit of Lower Wolf Jaw, #45. . . . I’m just starting to hike well for the first time today although Phil has had no trouble at all. The day decided to clear as we were ready for my last mountain. At 7:00 p.m., we reached the summit of Big Slide, #46, after only sixty-five minutes for 2.45 miles uphill. I had a great surge of adrenalin all the way up and we really moved. We lost the trail at first but were not slowed down much. Phil has done an excellent job, especially during this last push. Phil’s Recollection: [Day 11] We sang some rock and roll songs, but I remember also singing some of the old Sunday vespers songs that had been part of our Camp life. We didn’t have Aunt Sarah on piano or Colonel Swan on the sax, but we could belt out “Abide with Me” and “The Old Rugged Cross”—at least the first verse. . . . I do remember the 65 minute “sprint” up the 2.45 miles to the Big Slide summit. No packs and the final goal in reach. About two-thirds of the way up with my lungs bursting, I doubled over and told Pete to go ahead. He quickly said “no” explaining that basically I was the pace setter, and he wasn’t going to let me lose him. My job was to get to the top as quickly as possible and his job was to keep up with me. What an emotional “rush” to finally top out and witness Pete’s achievement.

1965 College Winter Break Trip

Peter Welles: The great extent to which these individuals helped me is difficult to express in words. However, the extent they helped me should be obvious in reading what they climbed and how it was done. Phil’s Recollection: Specific details can be followed in the official account, but my involvement remains ingrained in my memory. Recently I had lunch with Don Boyce, #260, and have shared emails with Hap Latham, #230, who par

Phil and Jim “Beetle” Bailey

WINTER 2024 | 9