THE NUANCES OF THE TRAIL

(The Nuances of the Trail by Bob Phillips first appeared in Lake Champlain Weekly in August 2010)
As you take to the trails here in the Northeast, whether flat trails around nature centers or the steep trails of the High Peaks, each trail has a certain nuance unto itself. Oh there are the obvious things, such as the condition of the trail whether sandy, hard packed soil or rocky ground. There is also the chance that you might travel a trail that is noted for sudden weather changes that you must constantly keep in mind. Some trails are long and monotonously the same while still others are a new discovery around each turn. Whether a gentle grade and easy climb or a steep, lung bursting ordeal, each trail has a certain nuance or a better word might be character.
During last week, we hiked up Algonquin the second highest of the High Peaks in the Adirondacks. What a view that summit gives on a clear Adirondack day! I had three teenagers with me, Nathan and Ethan Bombard from here in Ellenburgh and Brian Moulding from Peru. Herein is one of those nuances of the trail I talked about. You meet all types of hiking groups on the trail. Some are young people from the local camps of the area, while others are couples of all ages. There might be a older person hiking with a younger person or even a complete family unit, all making their way up the trail.
  Following a bit of a surprising start, our immediate area in Ellenburgh had severe flooding the day we headed out, we finally started up the trail at a little after 7:30 a.m. Algonquin is a steep and rugged climb. Since I haven’t hiked all the High Peaks, I can’t say with certainty that it is the roughest climb, but it has to be right up there in steepness. The trail is marked at 3.7 miles with a climb of about 2900 feet from ADK LOJ parking area to the summit. So you can pretty well figure that you are climbing just under 1000 feet for every mile you hike. We reached the summit just about noon and the boys probably could have made it quicker if they hadn’t waited for the old man to catch up every once in awhile.
Here is another of the nuances of the trail. It is a very possible climb for most but you just have to go at your own pace. Don’t try to keep up with others! It can be disastrous. At the summit, the trail steward was talking about his position there and he mentioned that he climbs the trail in about two hours. There aren’t many who will do it in less time than that and many, like myself, that take a lot longer. The end results is that you do it and are paid off with a fantastic view from the top. If he makes it in two hours, then a little over four hours on my 58 year old legs isn’t too bad! I’ll take it.
Unfortunately the stay on top is never long enough before you face the task of having to come back down. Whereas you call on certain muscles to hike up the trail, you now have to use those same muscles and a few others to make it back down. For me the descent is always the hardest. The constant braking action that your legs perform, tires the muscles and knees. Surprisingly, it only took a little longer than four hours for me to get back down the trail to the parking area once again. A certain trio of teens I know had a wait of well over an hour for me to catch up to them, but then I didn’t fall on my face in the middle of the trail either. Here is yet another nuance of the trail in that the trail always calls upon another resource from you in order to succeed. It may be physical or it may be mental in nature, but you constantly have to read the trail to know what to expect.
The trails of the Adirondacks are some of the most beautiful anywhere. I have hiked on many trail systems over the years and in many states and in Canada. All have their own charm and draw, but the Adirondack trails are the most striking here in the Northeast. This is really the draw of the mountain trails, the mystique, challenge and ever changing experiences along the way.
I hope your outings are rewarding and you are able to read the nuances of the trails you follow as you head afield and astream this year.