Ryan and I loaded the kayaks in the truck and hit the road at 4 a.m. We had planned our trip to Owl’s Head Mountain in the Keene Valley, the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Mountains, for weeks. The weather could not have been more perfect for hiking, and hadn’t dropped below 55 degrees F overnight. The goal was to be on the Owl’s Head lookout when the sun rose over the Green Mountains of Vermont, and crawled it’s way to some of New York’s greatest natural wonders, The Adirondacks, just in time for their spectacular fall foliage display. Along the way, somehow we tossed a kayak into the back window of Ryan’s Toyota Tundra, breaking the glass. How lucky we were that was to be the single downer of the entire day, and we got it out of the way before sunrise. As the dawn sky began to brighten, the ride was one of phenomenal beauty. The destination was gorgeous, the trail itself was beautiful, the view from the Lookout awe-inspiring. There are not enough superlatives to describe climbing up, standing on, or descending from that summit, so I must let photos speak for me. After the Owl’s head hike, we launched the kayaks on nearby Mirror Lake, and watched the sunrise again, this time over a granite bluff as it slowly spilled its way into our placid pool. A cormorant greeted us, and a pair of mergansers joined us. Or should I say we joined them? Along the way we passed the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center and the strange structure rising up out of the mountain woodlands; the ski jump tower, viewable from the road to the Adirondack Loj and South Meadows Wilderness Area. I’d suggest you see the Adirondacks some time, but then again these gems are some heirlooms I am tempted to keep for myself. You stay home, and enjoy the pictures. I’ll take care of the mountain climbing for you! – Paz
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Hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy some of the lovely fall!
Remember, there’s more than one way to respond if someone tells you “Take a hike!”
Paz
Crescent Moon Studio 