May long weekend/Anniversary Getaway

And I'm back! I thought I would share about our most recent adventure, a few weeks late...

For the May long weekend, we decided to go to the Adirondacks to celebrate our 3rd Anniversary, and the great outdoors of course. We left home around 7:30 Friday night, and rolled into Saranac Lake around 2am. For those of you who don't know anything about the Adirondacks, they have what is called "The 46", which are forty-six of the highest mountain peaks over 4,000ft. Many people make it their goal to climb all 46 throughout their life, myself NOT included. Dan of course thinks that would be awesome. Well after the weekend I'm 3/46 and Dan is 4/46. 

We started out on Saturday around 11 am, the trail was a very popular one and the weather was perfect, which meant there were a lot of people. I actually like when there are lots of people around (less likely to see a bear that way), but Dan thinks it's too crowded. It was quite muddy in some parts, but we were prepared with our gaiters and hiking boots. 

And by the way, what is up with people who hike in jeans? I just don't get it, there is no way that's comfortable! But who am I to judge? 

Proof!

After a couple of hours we made it to the peak, joined by many others and stayed for a few minutes to catch my our breath, take in the scenery and head back down. But not all the way down, because from that mountain we climbed to the top of another, I mean why not if you're that close? 



Almost at the top!

 

I just love him

 

 After our hike down, we were back to the car about 4.5 hours later! Overall we had a great day, and topped it off with pizza and bread sticks. That's right, no counting calories after hiking all day.

All cleaned up!

 However, our hiking was far from over as we were up and onto our next mountain by 8am the next day. This mountain is called Big Slide. The name is kind of intimidating...and this hike started instantly on an incline, great! Not long into our hike we heard some sticks breaking and a deer ran out right in front of us across the trail. It was too fast so I couldn't get my imaginary gun out in time, and Dan couldn't get the camera out either, so you'll have to take my word for it.

There were parts of shear rock that we had to climb up, which makes it a little more interesting then the usual trail.



Really? That way?

There was also a built in ladder up this one section...so that was fun, well not really at the time, it was a bit nerve racking. However, we made it to the top, had some snacks, and took a little break, along with a few others. 

While we were eating this little Marten pokes his head out of the bushes, and this guy was so fascinated that he kept throwing food at it, and wanted to get his picture with the cute little thing all the while saying how dangerous these little things are and you don't want to make it angry. Ok guy, then stop trying to feed it!

But we escaped in one piece and were on our way down...and downhill hurts man! As Dan said "wet rocks are your nemesis". It's true I have this problem with slipping a lot on wet rocks. But all in all the trip down was uneventful, and as we neared the end it started spitting. By the time we were out and in our car it was pouring. So we made good time, the hike took us exactly 7 hours.

After cleaning up we went out for our Anniversary dinner, and I had the best seafood pasta ever...again calories were not a concern! Then we watched Ironman 3 on film, in the smallest theater ever! But we enjoyed it.

All in all we had a great time. You know I didn't grow up with a desire to hike long hours on end, or climb to the top of mountains. But I have grown to love being outside, enjoying nature and everything that comes with it, including the sense of accomplishment when you reach the top. Most importantly, I just enjoy being with Dan. Ok, maybe this is sappy, but it's the truth. No matter what we do, we just enjoy being together. These past 3 years have been better then I could have ever imagined, and I am so blessed to have Dan as my husband- he's the best! Not only is he the best, but he's kinda like a superman. I mean who gets back from hiking all weekend, driving 7 hours and then decides to go for a 10km run? That would be Dan, because he's awesome! Ok, you can stop throwing up now.