Photo is one of the easy sections.
I need to revise anything I said about Mohonk's Labyrinth scramble. It's not doable by the average person. I suspect very few people I know over 40 could handle the challenge. We were the only people we saw attempting it who had some grey hair - the only people over 40 for sure.
In fact, I had a great sense of accomplishment after getting through the Lemon Squeeze up towards the top of Skytop. Proud of myself.
We wondered how they cleaned up the bodies of those who slipped and fell, or got stuck and died of starvation. Must be a special clean-up crew.
With temps in the mid 60s, by the time we got to the top we had shed jackets, vests, and shirts, and still emerged drenched with sweat. I was right: those with daypacks were in trouble going under tight holes under boulders. My pal from youth had to extract my feet from crevices twice. We worked out a routine where he would toss his backpack to me, and I would throw it ahead of us. I smacked my head hard on ledges twice. Slipped and slid a couple of times, not on purpose. Sometimes you have to scramble up almost vertical boulders.
At the top of Lemon Squeeze, a pal's wife who is an accomplished climber gave me advice on how to get up and through it. I was facing right and she advised facing left. Shouting down the crevice in the cliff. There was a one-inch groove in the cliff to get your boot onto, and then you needed to push against the wall for traction and get your foot up 3' for your next purchase. Lean forward. Many places where you could fall. Always lean forward to avoid injury or death.
Well, the Fat Man's Misery section was manageable for us because we are skinny enough. Most challenging and crazy ascent I have ever encountered. Anything more risky would require ropes.
My special kudos go to Mrs. Bulldog. She has no experience with such things. Now, nothing will seem difficult for her. The Breakneck Hike has nothing on this.
So after that, our intrepid group of 9 decided it might be safer to skip another bouldering climb so we all just took a 2-hour hill hike before the fine Mohonk Sunday buffet brunch with beers at 2. I had prime rib with fresh horseradish, fries, blini with caviar, a plate of sausage and bacon, and strawberry ice cream. By complete serendipity, one of my pal's sons ( who joined us) met his girlriend and her family who were spending the weekend at Mohonk, so they joined us for bunch. Good big party. A fine vigorous outing, in my opinion.
So, my final advice is don't take this on because once you begin there is no turning back. If I did not work out, I could not have done it. It is tough for those over 40 without good upper body strength for pulling on rocks, good balance and agility, and a GoGoHiHo, Can-Do attitude.
I eagerly await Bulldog's review. Next time, we should do the Arching Rocks and Giant's Playground boulder fields, which is a serious bitch but easy by comparison.
