Chapter 705

July 12, 2026

Whiteface Mountain

second highest 46er

Bucket List Post Op fulfilled. Yes, I had the activity listed for a year hence but we had the opportunity on the weekend being in northwoods looking for real estate. Wanted something to show my surgeon this week for my 4 month post op appointment. 

It was such a beautiful 67 degree day, a rewarding experience and a confidence builder. A real emotional HIGH.

Looking up to the trail to the weather station and peak. I was taking my time for safety, sitting down and savoring the views and talking with other hikers.

We had driven up the Veterans Memorial Highway (saving half the entry fee with my veterans status, yea). I walked back down the road to the first view point where I entered this DEC official trail to the top. From there it was "only" a 500 foot vertical half mile trip to the top, but still arduous. I'm still claiming it as a peak bagged on my 46er list. Especially when we did half the mountain 10 years ago. Col chose to use the rock stairway at the end of the parking lot up the summit.

With telephoto I could barely make out Col (just below the weather tower) coming down the trail from the top. Tried to stay in touch but theres trouble communicating with spotty cellphone coverage. When she saw me coming up the rock outcropping she walked down to meet me.

As she appeared over the horizon we both felt a sense of security.  I knew if I blew out my hip, she'd carry me to the top for a medivac helicopter ride to the hospital.

We sat on a boulder for a while enjoying the moment and the scenery.

We had an impromptu hikers party there with the Russian guy on right and his partner. He runs a moving company from Philadelphia and had the opportunity to be in this area. The white haired 70 year old lady with artificial knees and her partner were headed back down. I had spotted her on the trail going up as I drove up the highway.

All the hikers are pleasant and have a camaraderie with each other.

Got up early to catch the sunrise with my drone. Deer were running all over the place. Whiteface has the ski trail scars right of center.

We had stayed in Wilmington just a block from the renowned Ausable Trophy Trout River. This guy from New Hampshire caught a nice brownie on flies.

Our visit to the Twin Ponds Preserve to consider real estate was fantastic. Got a boat tour of the ponds and properties from the owner. A true wilderness venture up north loaded with Brook Trout.

The ponds are not far from Canada and we couldn't resist a getting to the border. This US Customs office is permanently closed at Trout River so luckily we did not drive through to the Canadian side or would have encountered difficulty coming back in to the U.S.

Gretchen Hohmeyer allows us to enter thru the bookcase to the speakeasy ratskeller as we knew the secret passage word. Had the Medievel Knights Dinner personally served by Executive Chef co-owner Cathy Hohmeyer at the renowned Hohmeyer Lake Clear Lodge & Resort. Over the years Albert Einstein and other luminaries  have attended this Great Camp built in 1886.

Just to put an exclamation mark to this whole chapter, I met John Jacobs co-founder of the Life is Good franchise at their  Saratoga Store. I had bought this shirt for Col out in Ouray Colorado (she says she bought it). John's step father I believe he said lives right near there. Their story is an amazing rags to riches adventure.

Live the dream