Our Switzerland Adventure with Beat and Monica

Here we are one more day to go before we take flight towards the Great Alps of Switzerland.  We'll be landing in Zurich where our friends, local residents, will meet us and take us to their home where we will rest and prepare for our trek across Switzerland.  We are so looking forward to this.  Over the year the anticipation has been growing and now we are finally here!  We are spending time with the cats and, as we suspected, they know we're leaving but they lovingly accept this and still want to be with us.  We are fortunate.
Now where's my train... oh yes .... the Glacier Express ... pinch me, is this a dream?

Ultra 6ers

Saranac Lake Ultra 6ers July 4-5, 2014

Lots of great hiking throughout the year, specifically in the Adirondacks.  I completed with Ultra 6ers with a friend within the required 24 hour period.  This involved hiking six mountains near the Saranac Lake area, namely St. Regis, Ampersand, Baker, Haystack, McKenzie, and Scarface.  We completed all six in 21 hours.  It was a most exciting adventure, pushing me to physical limits.  I knew I would be driven to complete it by will but nervous with my body not measuring up to the trial of the abuse I would put it through.  We planned our strategy.  Initially we were going to stay in a campground but decided to park at the trailhead of the first mountain.  So here we are at the trailhead to Scarface the night before.  Given it was July 4th and we heard and saw some of the fireworks over Saranac Lake, we settled down in the car, seats back to allow some form of bed to sleep and slept whatever choppy sleeping hours we had from dark to early down.  We woke and got on the trail by 4am to start Scarface.  As we were hiking, I suddenly realized I hadn't locked my side of the car door but too late; however, given the early time, we were back before anyone arrived at the trailhead.  We hiked in the dark with our headlamps until sun was coming up.  It was enchanting to see the forest come alive with light as we continued to the summit and enjoyed the morning sunrise.  We were soon back at the car and thankfully the unlocked car did not have anything missing from it.  We then headed on to the trailhead near Lake Placid, along the Jack Rabbit Trail to do the combo of McKenzie and Haystack.  McKenzie was always a gruel given the eroding terrain.  As it was still early morning after 7am, it was pleasant.  A treed summit but still views from different lookouts.  Coming back down we reached the junction to Haystack going in the back way by an unmarked herd path.  With my trustee GPS we found the entry point along a visible herd path to the summit of Haystack.  Coming down from that peak, we were pumped, after completing three peaks, I felt encouraged that I could do this.  On to the  next mountain, Ampersand.  I was changing up socks and boots  in the car in an effort to ease the feet and afford me more energy to continue on.   This proved to be beneficial however, I did lose a toe nail off my big toe due to one boot being a little short at the foot, my old boots.  Ampersand has always been a great hike with views, still lots of erosion nearing the top but the boulders at the summit always allowed for lots of company and views.  Back down the mountain to the car, now heading to St. Regis.  Knowing the day is wearing on, we would save Baker for last as it was the shortest, right in Saranac Lake itself.  Our  hike up St. Regis was beautiful, dusk was coming and the lighting created beautiful evening photos.  It was coming down from St. Regis where we donned our headlamps.  On our way out it was dark and we could see the eyes of animals lurking in the distance as we made our way out of the  forest.  We were now on our way to Baker.  Relieved and still feeling pumped, my tired body still carried me.  For this hike I wore my trail runners.  As we headed up Baker in the dark, we could easily see our way on the path with our headlamps.  The only real challenge on this little mountain was not heading off on another herd path as it was so well used by locals and visitors that you could easily get confused, especially being limited to the strength and distance of the light emitted from our headlamps.  Adding to that challenge, the moths, being attracted to the light, came out in dozens, fluttering around our heads annoying us and obstructing our view.  What seemed like an easy hike turned out to be very tiring, sweeping our arms constantly, trying to keep the moths away.  Success, we arrived back at the car, having completed all six peaks.  Despite our exhaustion, we glowed with delight as we drove to the gazebo in Saranac Lake to ring the 6er bell, quietly of course, as by this time it was 21 hours later.  I will always have a smile on my face recalling this challenge.