Today’s Hike: Esther and Whiteface

Well, I’m here. At the Starbucks in Lake Placid NY. I’m “checked in” at the hostel – which means I’ve picked up my key from the mailbox and claimed a bunk by putting my bag on it – and I’ve had dinner. So what’s left to do except write to you, dear reader?

My mind keeps wanting to complicate this. I keep going over my gear in my head, trying to figure out exactly what combination will be perfect for the hike tomorrow. I don’t think it matters too much, as long as my waterproof stuff is on the outside.

This is going to be a short hike. Which is/was the plan. I’ve got to be back on the road by noon/1PM tomorrow, in order to make it back to NNJ in time to shower and meet my family to celebrate my parents’ anniversary at 7PM.

Still, I find myself looking over my maps, wondering if there isn’t another peak I can bag while I’m up here. Stupid. I don’t have the time. The reason I chose these two peaks (Esther and Whiteface) is because the hike will be quick and I’ll be able to make it back home in time for dinner.

There’s a parking lot at the top of Whiteface, so I can drive pretty much all the way to the summit. I don’t think the walk will be more than 100 yards to the top. Then maybe a mile down the trail – and I do mean down, because Esther isn’t as tall as Whiteface – and I bang a louie on the herd path to the summit of Esther. Technically speaking, it’s a bushwack, but everything I’ve read says that there’s a pretty recognizable turnoff for the herd path. Whatever, I’ve screwed that up before. I’ll definitely be paying attention to my surroundings.

All in all, I suppose, a short hike will be best anyway – given the fact that it’s supposed to be between 32 and 40 degrees out and raining cats and dogs.

One dude’s website stated that, in order for Whiteface to be considered summitted for 46ers purposes, one needs to climb it from the reservoir – which amounts to a 13 mile round-trip, with about a 3,000 foot gain in elevation. That’s ludicrous. Besides, the 46ers website says no such thing. Hiking has done a great job of teaching me that the hardest way isn’t always the best way to accomplish a goal. Getting to the top of the mountain is getting to the top of the mountain, whether I do it naked with one foot tied behind my back or properly outfitted for the weather with hiking poles in hand.

We’ll see. I’ll update you tomorrow night on how everything went. The drive up here was right around 4.5 hours.