MOUNTAIN VIGNETTES MY FIRST CONTACT with the Adirondacks was in the early ‘90s. My friends and I decided to climb a High Peak, so naturally we chose Marcy — after all, it is the tallest. We hiked to Slant Rock from the Garden and summited on a cloudy day with limited views. Back then, we had also caught onto the latest outdoor craze: rock climbing. After testing our skills in climbing gyms and top-roping cliffs in the Niagara Escarpment, we were eager to try lead climbing in the Adirondacks. We climbed the slabs over Chapel Pond, canoed to the base of Rogers Slide and scaled it, tackled routes at Owl’s Head and Poke-O-Moonshine, and explored various other climbs in the region. Then adulthood set in — marriages, children, military service, careers. Life took over. While we managed a few trips to the Adirondacks in the mid-‘90s, by the time 2000 rolled around, my days of climbing and hiking felt like a distant memory. That changed in 2016. A co-worker and his brother wanted to climb Marcy, and I agreed to join them for my second ascent. That trip — an epic outing I won’t detail here — reignited something in me. I realized I had to become a 46er. I was 48 years old at the time and set a goal: to be a “46er in the 50s.” (If you Google that, you’ll find my blog, which still needs finishing.) I completed my journey on Whiteface in 2023 at 55 years old. Along the way, I hiked, camped, and climbed all over the Adirondack High Peaks region, sharing unforgettable moments with various hiking companions. I scared off bears at Marcy Dam, spent nights solo hammock camping, and made my way across the floating logs. And at the summit of Whiteface, I met my wife to celebrate the final accomplishment together. But there was still one thing left to do. I had always wanted to summit Colden via the Trap Dike. I had hiked past it numerous times on the Hitch-Up Matildas, watching climbers ascend its rugged path, knowing my 46er experience wouldn’t feel complete until I did the same. I didn’t take the challenge lightly. I read countless trip reports, studied rescues and fatalities on what’s often called “the most dangerous hike in the Adirondacks,” and watched YouTube videos to analyze the route. I identified the crux (depending on whose opinion you trust) and pinpointed the slab exit. The consensus was clear: If you attempt the Trap Dike for the first time, go with someone who has done it before or hire a guide. That’s solid advice, and I don’t want this article to suggest otherwise. But with my climbing background, my experience from completing the 46, and my research, I was confident in my ability. I recruited my longtime friend Paul — one of my early climbing partners and a fellow High Peaks summiter — to join me. Our schedules aligned for the last week of September. My usual planning involved checking AccuWeather obsessively. The Trap Dike requires at least three to four consecutive dry days for ideal conditions — no waterfall cascading over the crux, no dangerously slick slabs. August and September of 2024 had been unpredictable, and I anxiously watched the forecast fluctuate. Finally, Sept. 29 emerged as our best window. After a few days of rain, it looked like we’d have at least two, possibly three, dry days before reaching the base of the dike. We pulled the trigger. A 46ER’S FINAL CHALLENGE: CLIMBING COLDEN VIA THE TRAP DIKE By Tom Gerace #15270 52 | ADIRONDACK PEEKS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTk3MQ==