Day 1.219: Mountain Magic

We set off early yesterday to find a mountain to climb. We chose a walk not unlike the one we'd done on our last visit to the Adirondacks - a 1 mile trail to a peak with a view and then return the way we went at Sawyer Mountain. After stopping at the wrong trail-head, realising, continuing, losing confidence, going back, getting everyone out of the car, talking to some other hikers, putting everyone back into the car and continuing (further), we found the lay-by containing this:

and had a nice (if slightly muddy) hike to this view:


Exile #4 deserves particular mention as a year ago she was still hiking riding in a backpack and now has a good go at keeping up with everyone on foot. Although we saw a couple of groups on the way up and one on the way down, we shared the summit only with a small snake and a dragonfly or two.

Afterwards we went to the Adirondack Museum where, as well as the normal magic of climbing fire-towers, make-believe steam-train rides, camping expeditions, snow-shoeing and bob-sledding, the kids enjoyed the results of the shrink-ray:

and a ride in the flying boat:

Another excellent day and we found our way back safely via a very nice meal at a restaurant with a lake-view. Perhaps it is not surprising that we had some navigational issues though - at one point on the outbound-leg we turned left from Route 28N South and found ourself on Route 30 South and Route 28 North. We were going east.