Colvin and Blake
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December 29, 2014
Debbie, Eric, Maurica, Jean-Guy, and I started out from golf course road at 07:00. At the gate we donned microspikes
for the icy stroll down Lake Road and they remained on our feet for the whole day, while the snowshoes remained on our
packs. We scooted along quickly and after an hour hit Gill Brook where we decided to go a little further up the road
to the cutoff trail as several of us had never hiked this section. Again we moved quickly, and after a brief, but
unsatisfied temptation of running up to Indian Head, we were up into Elk Pass. The concrete like snow made travel
easy, and thoughts began forming of climbing Nippletop later. We hit the summit of Colvin and took a short break.
Three French Canadian fellows joined us on the summit and we exchanged photography services for the summit shots. We
continued on to Blake, where the trail was a little rougher as fewer people had been along here to pack down the snow
but still, with the recent cold weather following the melt, it was hard and bulletproof. By 11:00 we arrived on Blake's
treed summit, where we took a longer lunch break. The Quebec boys showed up and had us take their photo, topless on the
summit of Blake in the -8 degree chill. With six perked nipples on display, we joked that they were on the wrong
mountain. The lads passed us on the way down and that was the last we saw of them. The climb back up Colvin was tough
as my legs were screaming. Not enough hiking in the last month for me I guess, and the dreams of Nippletop evaporated.
After topping out we began the long decscent and decided to check out the afternoon view from Fish Hawk Cliffs,
which was spectacular as always. We did not stay too long and meandered over to Indian Head where we sat
and soaked in the sunshine for a while until getting chilled by the cold breeze. The long walk out Lake Road was
uneventful, however we met another couple and a solo guy who was camping out for the night.
We made it back to the gate and saw a brilliant orange sunset lighting up the Giant of the Valley,
finally making it back to the parking lot after a 9.5 hour day.
The crew marching down Lake Road.
Deb, our hiking fashion queen.
Looking over at Nippletop and thinking about heading over there later.
Deb and I on the summit of Colvin.
Heading over the ladders to Blake.
Despite there being no view from the top, Blake has a few nice lookouts on the way up.
The gang on the summit of Blake.
Lots of nipples topping Blake.
Eric getting swallowed by the Colvin step.
Lookout onto Ausauble Lake.
Checking out Indian Head.
A bearded frog in an ice cave.
Sunset on Giant of the Valley.
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