This morning we made fried eggs and fake bacon and banana pancakes on the griddle, drowned in maple syrup on each plate.

I needed that.

We’re planning an adventure in the Catskills in late spring. There are 12 peaks in the Lake George area which sound a little more accessible than the Adirondack 46. We’re thinking about of attempting some subset of the Sleeping Beauty, Erebus, Buck, and Black peak range on the eastern side of the lake, or possibly Cat and Thomas on the west side of the lake for a less demanding experience.

Steve is an experienced waterfall climber and hiker and landscape photographer, but he’s never tried mountain climbing and he’s never been out backpacking overnight. I think he’s going to like this.

I’ve climbed mountains before, particularly some of the high peaks the ADK, and also Mt. Mansfield in VT with one of my Emmas.

Steve and I are gearing up, anyhow. He needs suitable clothing, particularly base and shell layers, but aside from this we mostly have what we need.

I am still aching to attempt a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. This would be the perfect time of year to begin, heading northbound from Springer Mountain in Georgia.

I just. I don’t want to leave my cat.

It’s not the loss of the comforts of home that are stopping me.

I don’t want to leave them behind.