After breakfast, the verdict was in. Knowing that Hiking Entourage #1 would climb Mt. Marcy in any weather, and because Whiskey Tottin' longed to log this summit, he and "g" started their rain weary journey. AXE, on the other hand, honored his decision to not overtax his healing knee and planned to hike out, go into Lake Placid and hike back to camp to make dinner.

There was more rushing water on the trail then one could imagine. There were very tricky streams to cross in highly unlikely places off the trail. At 1100 hours, "g" started to check in with their counterparts on channel 7, "Yo, Warren!"

There was never a response. And, the Boys hiked up.

The "g's" umbrella idea worked great. Without wearing rain gear to heat up in, he sported an umbrella as he trekked on. One downhill hiker passed by and muttered to his companion, "Well, that's a first."

As they neared the top, the visibility dropped to about 20 feet. They were socked inside a huge rain cloud. View or no view... they'd meet their compadres at the top for lunch. "g" longed to replace his wet socks and T-shirt before settling down to a bagel and tuna fish pouch (w/ mayo).

At the top the weather was misty but still. This prevented the temperature from dropping to a cold, hypothermia condition for their wet bodies. Repeated efforts to reach the Hat on channel 7 were unsuccessful. So after lunch, they hiked back to camp. It had been a 3.2 hr hike up, a 2.5 hrs down.

So, Back to camp they went. Sort of cold, desperate for warm dry clothing, and ready for dinner. The upside - dinner was great. The downside - AXE was absolutely dry and happy while the Boys were wet, tired and had to wear wet boots until they hiked out the next day. Well not exactly. Whiskey Tottin had a cool pair of Nike foam sandals and dry socks to maintain warm toes;"g" tried unsuccessfully dry his boots and wet socks near their extra gas stove.

After a full stomach and a few hits of whiskey, there was the food hanging ceremony, and then off to bed. They all slept like... whatever.

The next morning they enacted an escape plan. Eat breakfast and get out of the wet woods ASAP. They longed for dry clothes back at their car and a hot shower at the ADK LOJ.

AXE's blueberry pancakes and bacon were hot and sumptuous.AXE took great delight in wearing his new waterproof boonie hat and sitting on his stool - both purchased at EMS in Lake Placid the previous day while the other's were hiking Marcy. Whiskey Tottin' longed for a chair or a bear proof food canister to sit on instead of a narrow log with a plastic bag draped over it.

Then it was packing time. "g" bent over to open his bivy sack when - SNAP. His back went out. Muscle spasm to the max. Not only did he wonder if he could stand up, but he feared he couldn't walk the relatively flat, 2-mile hike out to the car - with a pack? Gingerly he stood up and walked some. This feat was immediately followed by swallowing a handful of AXE's Motrin. This could be a real problem.

Well, sir... the Boys packed up "g's" gear fearing the worst while "g" walked around camp dazed and furious with his predicament. Never the less, they carefully placed his pack on him and off they went.

Once at the LOJ, they showered and dressed in warm, dry comfortable clothing. It was raining again. Fortunately for "g" he was able to take advantage of AXE's stash of Flexeril. From that point forward, things got better him. Once home, "g" was prepared for the frustrating challenge of becoming pain free over the next week or so.

The trip was a success: AXE's knee held up just fine; Whiskey Tottin' was thrilled to have finally summited Mt. Marcy; and "g" had convincingly sufficient rain for his numerous field tests for G-WeB.

However, there was one nagging and persistent question that plagued the Boys: What ever happened to the Hat, High Altitude and the Knee?