Peak Experiences: Danger, Death, and Daring in the Mountains of the Northeast

Frostbite!

Carol Stone White and David Scott White Frostbite! We had one more weekend to complete our climbs of the Winter 46. This would require hiking three peaks in the Santanoni Range and two mountains in the Dix Range. Whether we finished or not would depend on the weather—we thought. On March 15 we hauled our gear-laden sleds along an icy road for a mile, reaching a narrow bridge, open on one side. This plank was piled with hard snow and our sleds threatened to slide off into the river. On the other side, we were greeted by a tall, ice-encased ladder. Dave clutched a heavy sled under one arm, gripped the slippery railing with his free hand, and ascended the narrow steps in his large snowshoes. I tried not to think about getting back down on our way out. We were heading for a lean-to, 4.6 miles and 1,200 feet up a trail pocked with countless thawed and refrozen postholes. Slushy drainages tipped over our sleds, our bungee-corded gear sometimes pitching off into half-frozen mud. After setting up our tent and changing out of sweaty clothes, we met three friends for dinner at their snow kitchen. The next morning, a fourth friend joined us. Ascending Panther Brook was magical: the waterfalls that plunged from high cliffs into the creek bed had become solidly frozen icefalls, shining in the rising sun. Shadows of great conifers created art along the eerily silent, ice-covered brook. It was a real treat to experience this route on ice. A spectacular day! As we climbed the frozen cascades, I heard a shout from John. “Dave has fallen through the ice!” When I reached the scene, John was saying, “Get those boots off and change your socks.” Dave had been in the icy water up to his knees and it had taken some time to haul himself out. “I’ve got bread bags,” Dick offered. (Dry socks don’t help if you put your feet back into wet boots.) But Dave doesn’t want to lose time by changing socks. “If I hike fast, I’ll be okay,” Dave replied, unperturbed. “That’ll keep Carol White ascending Panther Brook on Santanoni Peak. Photo by David White 181 d a n g e r s o f w a t e r i n t h e m o u n t a i n s my feet warm and it’s supposed to warm up some anyway. I don’t want to stop now.” Since urging him to change was of no avail, we left the brook and began bushwhacking through thick forest. I saw Dave later on the summit of 4,607-foot Santanoni Peak, the second-highest trailless mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks. The warming weather had not materialized—it was 8 degrees Fahrenheit and a fearsome wind made for a subzero windchill . Still, we lingered on this beautiful summit. Because the stunted trees were totally buried with snow, it was like being on an open peak. Then we took the long ridge to Couchsachraga Peak, a 3-hour round-trip. Couchie’s tree-covered summit, also buried under many feet of sparkling snow, offered 360-degree views as well. Dan Barski, who wrote “Agony and Ecstasy: The Dixes in Winter” for Adirondac magazine, was also there. I told him that, after Panther Peak, Dix and Hough would be our only remaining winter climbs, and asked if he had any advice. Dan talked about a harrowing adventure, backpacking 3,200 feet up Dix with a bad cold, and described how he had dropped off the Beckhorn toward Hough and nearly got swallowed by spruce holes, forcing retreat. By three o’clock we’re on Panther, blown away by awesome views, not fearsome wind. Descending the range, we exited Panther Brook early to avoid breaking through again. Dave’s feet felt fine—though, in retrospect, he thinks perhaps they were numb. We decided to break camp and descend. Because it was completely dark when we reached the large vertical ladder, Dave kicked steps into the steep snowbank and backed down, carrying each sled. The snow on the road had melted. “Let’s leave the sleds here—I’ll drive in,” Dave said, leaving me behind. Hiking alone, I noted some icy sections and imagined being unable to drive up these pitches. Dave was worried...