We Did It!!!

Jake and I have been talking about doing an overnight backpacking trip since our dating days and this summer...we finally did it!  We drove six hours to the Adirondacks Mountains here in New York and it was SO worth the trip.  I have to say that I thought myself capable of anything regardless of the shape that my body is in and to be truthful, I wasn't expecting much of any mountain if it is in New York (It's no Wasatch Mountain Range!), but those mountains kicked me pretty hard in the butt not to mention that they were beautiful and full of little critters that were so friendly they would come right up to you in order to chew through your bags of food.  We hiked about 18 miles total of which included a pretty nasty stretch up to what is called Pharoah Mountain. After we got home I slept in as long as I wanted and ate as many pop-tarts as my heart desired because well...I felt like I deserved it. Here are some picks from our trip.

Our campsite at Cranberry Lake where we spent the night before our hike (I look like an alien invader in this pic).

Our campsite came right up to the lake...it was awesome.

On our way to the hike.

As you can see...we didn't pack too well.  Luckily my man carried most of the weight because I realized right after I put my bag on how much of a wuss I really am.

One of the many lakes we passed on the hike...this one had a big rock in it.

The lean-to where we spent the night.

Here  I am...all excited to begin our stretch to the peak.

Here we are THINKING we made it to the top...

And...here I am...still climbing to get the top after we took that picture.

OK, finally at the top but a little too tired to really care.

The REAL top.

Aaaand the murky water we had to cross to get back the car...not home free QUITE yet.