For this trip, the Boys (representing Lake George) would include:

AXE: Premier planner extraordinaire and detail maven; wanna-be Chef DeBoot Blister; memory like an elephant - he never forgets;

How Much Can I Strap to My Pack George: Angler; recent survivor of the 17-mile ADK LOJ - Algonquin Summit - Colden Lake Loop;

35-Pound Canvass Tent Jim: Duers sippin' ("It's only 10 ounces."); painter - water colors; could locate the weather on a topographical map; and,

"g": Primary task - Conduct a field test for his new, 25-degree, down, 1-lb./14-oz. mummy sleeping bag (bets are on for how many days it would be, before Mr. Obsessive returned the bag siting some obscure default in the bag's performance, etc.); act as a passive planning participant who's primary job was to dissuade and avert bonehead behavior during the trip.

AXE took the liberty for organizing this trip. Being a quick 2-mile trip into base camp (Marcy Dam), AXE indulged himself in planning backcountry fare with no weight restrictions. (Oh-oh.) For dinner he prepared and froze spareribs in a tangy BBQ sauce, rice pilaf, peas, sesame bread, 1-six pack of beverage and a 3-liter box of wine (that's 6-pounds!) For breakfast, he planned freshly squeezed orange juice, apple pancakes, and bacon. For lunches there was peppered sliced turkey, provolone cheese, Dijon mustard, cheddar-herb bread, and homemade oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies.

"g" offered some day hikes thoughts: Phelps Mountain on Saturday and Mt. Marcy on Sunday.

As it would become… the weather on Saturday was overcast with threatening rain; the temperature was 70. Sunday was 75 and sunny with wonderful visibility from all summits. The weather was golden. No rain!

The Boys breezed into Marcy Dam. Aside from AXE's overzealous belief that there might be a free lean-to ("Damit… keep moving… don't slow down… we can't let any of these younger backpackers pass us and possibly get the last available lean-to! You never know… there could be one lean-to left!"), the 2.3 mile hike through the autumn foliage was quite enjoyable.

They settled at the campsite occupied 2 weeks earlier by High Altitude Joe, Who's Got the Dog DeWallis, "g" and their families. Although lunch was served somewhat premature for AXE's stomach watch, it did allow the Boys a hastily departure to climb Phelps (4.5 mile round trip). Dinner was spectacular. It was magnanimous."g" could barely contain his excitement in terms of wishing for freezing weather and to try sleeping for the first time in his (new) 1-lb./14-oz. sleeping bag! Consequently, he ate dinner in his tent...

Pictures from left to right:

1) "g" approaches the summit at Phelps
2) AXE and George napping at the summit
3) The Boys: proof they climbed Phelps
4) Jimmy the Grape thought he might be able to ferment these bird berries
5) "g": All smiles, "I can't wait to try my new sleeping bag!"
6) George and Jim: Crossing Marcy Dam