Reaching the Top: Climbing Mount Colden in the Adirondacks

His body reeks from the putrid sweat that rolls off of his skin and soaks through his clothes. Deodorant cannot be worn out here because it attracts bears. Fatigue and pain rack his muscles as he climbs the last few feet to the top of Mount Colden in the Adirondacks. After one final burst of energy, he reaches the summit. The preparation, sleep deprivation, bears and rigorous hiking finally pay off for a weary scruffy Mark Johnson and his small band of friends.

The hike in the Adirondacks began first with careful preparation back in Olean about 500 miles away. Johnson and his friends first prepare a checklist of items to bring, based on their past experiences in hiking. They compare notes on what they did not need on their last trip and what they wish that they had brought along. Johnson and his friends evenly distribute the items such as water filters, mosquito netting, extra clothing, and food amongst each other's backpacks. During this process weight and space play important roles. They distribute the weight evenly so that each of them carries the same amount of weight and pack their backpacks as light as possible. In packing, they take every measure in order to conserve precious space. "We even take the cardboard out of the toilet paper roll, squash it [the toilet paper], and seal it in a bag," explains Mark Johnson.

After Johnson and his friends pack their backpacks, they pile all of their packs into the back of a car and drive for eight hours to the Adirondacks. Once they reach their destination the band of friends hike the four and a half mile trail through the Flowed Lands and Upper Works. As they hike, they climb over uneven ground and fallen rocks and debris. With Mount Colden looming in the distance, they take in the sights of the waterfalls and wildlife as they pass along the banks of the rivers and lakes and hike through foliage and trees.

After five hours of rigorous hiking, the weary friends reach their campsite. By this time they have been up for over twenty-four hours. Johnson reminisces about the first time that he made the hike. "I was so out of shape, I was practically delirious. I was seeing things. After I went to bed at 6 p.m. and got up at 6 a.m., I was ready to conquer anything."

Before Johnson and his friends could sleep that evening they safeguarded their supplies from bears. Because the bears out in the Adirondacks live off of food from the campers, the friends suspend their food and supplies fifteen feet high between two trees. "The bears out there are regular Yogies. They're very smart," assures Johnson.

The next morning Johnson and his friends bathe in a lake, leave their gear at the site, and begin their hike up the south side of Mount Colden. They routinely refer to their compass as they follow a trail marked with colored coded circles, called blazes, posted ten feet up on the trees. "The trails aren't marked perfect," says Johnson. "You should plan, map, and have an idea of where your trail is going."

Johnson and his friends follow the trail that carries them over wooden footbridges over Avalanche Lake and rocky streams and into more rugged terrain. They climb on all fours single file over fallen trees and protruding rocks, place their steps precisely to avoid tangling roots, and maintain their balance as they trudge through muddy terrain in the dense forest. While hurtling these obstacles they hike with a steady rhythm and encourage one another to maintain the pace. All along the way, they refill their water bottles to cool off their sweaty bodies because water might be scarce up ahead.

Six hours later, Johnson and his friends scan the panoramic view from the summit of Mount Colden at 5,300 feet. Shivering from the unseasonably chilly wind gusts, Johnson stares down at clouds below, the winding ribbon trails, the green blanket of trees, and Avalanche Lake now resembles a puddle. He recognizes the other Adirondack Mountains that peer out through the mist that blankets the summit. On the black, gray, and beige speckled rocky summit, ropes mark out the lush rare alpine vegetation that cannot grow anywhere else. Johnson and his friends in awe soak up the view and snap pictures for reminders. "It was hard to believe how high up we were. It took our breath away," recollects Mark Johnson.

After more than 24 hours, the preparation and grueling work have paid off Johnson and his friends. In several hours they will hike precariously for two hours down the mountain to their campsite to retrieve their gear and return to their homes for much needed showers and sleep while the visions from Mount Colden's summit remain in their memories. Mark Johnson sighs. "To think that you had you had climbed all the way up was quite an awesome feeling."