It got pretty cold again last night, down to a scant 42 degrees by morning. Brrrrrr... Again, we were fine in our sleeping bags, but getting up was kind of brutal.
View from my sleeping bag
Very cozy
Breaking camp
We drank our cold coffee and ate our granola bars as we broke camp. By 10:00, everything was finally situated, and we hit the trail for the 3-mile trek back to the car. Without all the food, and carrying somewhat less water, our packs were now closer to 30 pounds than the 35 pounds we carried in. Much better.
Slightly lighter loads
Marcy Dam
Last open view along the trail
By noon, we were back at the High Peaks Information Center, where we returned the bear canister, bought hot cups of coffee, and borrowed their WiFi to send texts of triumph and survival to our friends and family. Mission accomplished!
It was a pretty drive through eastern Upstate New York toward tonight's hotel in Plattsburgh. Just past Keeseville, we caught a glimpse of some amazing waterfalls while crossing a bridge and pulled over for a closer look. These were the Rainbow Falls at Ausable Chasm. Very nice!
Rainbow Falls at Ausable Chasm
Ausable River
Arriving in Plattsburgh, we stopped on the shore of Lake Champlain across a narrow strait from Valcour Island. One of the first naval battles of the Revolutionary War was fought here in October 1776, with the American fleet under the command of Benedict Arnold.
Commemorating American valor at Valcour
Bluff Point Light on Valcour Island
For our post-backpacking victory meal, we chose Valcour Brewing Company, housed in an old US Army barracks built in 1838. A burger never tasted so good! The beer was excellent, and we'd fortuitously stumbled in at happy hour, so they were two for one. Nice!
Time for a hot meal
And beer!
Lodging: Golden Gate Lodging, Plattsburgh, NY. An older motel with its own private beach on the shore of Lake Champlain. The lake view was nice, but we chose this place primarily to do our laundry as it was high time for a refresh.
Lake Champlain
Golden Gate Lodging private beach