Second Annual Buck Mountain Hike

Susan and Ann Marie admiring the view of Lake George and the Adirondacks.

Buck Mountain on a beautiful Sunday morning seemed like a nice way to start training for the Mont Blanc week of hikes. We started out at 10:30 and noticed right away that it was warmer and more humid than expected. The temps were in the upper 70's and luckily there was a slight breeze. 

When we got halfway up the Mtn, I asked what the elevation gain was and no one knew. This hike was harder than I anticipated. After 2 and a half hours, we made it to the top and I looked up the elevation gain - 2000 ft. We were very proud of ourselves as the hike kind of kicked our butts. 

The summit was beautiful as always, and I got my first black fly bite of the season. It's a month early for those little buggers.

After a leisurely lunch up top admiring the views and the dogs, we started back down where we were entertained by a group of high school boys who decided to run the trail. One was wearing Crocs! They did the hike in half the time we did, but AnnMarie 'Mom'ed them with cautions to be careful, did they have enough water, and had a few comments for Mr. Croc as well.  To their credit, they were very polite and good humored about it. Hikers are just nice people, or maybe it had to do with the two groups we passed who were also enjoying a bit of weed on the trail. We laughed about the likeliness of all three of us falling to our deaths if we enhanced our trip with the devils lettuce. We all have vertigo to some degree so don't need to be more lightheaded!

Ann Marie heading down the steepish rock face  - she was eager to get going.

After the hike we stopped at the Common Roots Brewing Company for a burger and beer. It was delicious as it always is after a hike. We have plans to hike again on Friday to get our legs in shape for the Alps.

Monday dawned grey and wet, so a perfect day to paint my bedroom. I'm toning down the dark sandstone color to a very neutral one, and the doors are getting the same treatment as the bathroom - new hinges, handles, and paint. I'm expecting the shower walls to be installed Thursday, leaving just the vanity, lost in the supply chain somewhere.

I was a bit shocked by my pudginess in recent photos, so I'm back on Noom to make short work of getting rid of 15 lbs. I'm not paying this time, because they let you track your foods for free if you've paid before and still have the app. Tracking my food definitely keeps me accountable, so I'm hopeful. Hauling my extra winter fluff up a mountain yesterday is also motivation to lose it!

Tonight's very delicious grain bowl with my home grown greens. Mostly I use shrimp or chicken for protein, but an egg was quicker.