1981 July 18

Dear Grace,
Hail to the climbers valiant;
Hail to the conquering hikers;
Hail, Hail to the Wageners,
The 46ers of the west!!

We all made it unhurt (except Mom's 19 black and blue spots and 10 blisters).

First we did Cliff and Marshall in one 22-mile day. We went over hitch-up-Matilda on a nice trail to the stream. The trail up the stream to Marshall has a good herd path and the stream was beautiful. Near the top of the col the trail got a little muddy and wet but then the path was nice again. On top there is not a view at all. Number 41!!

We then went up the Twin Brook trail to tackle Cliff. We found a small herd path up that joined a larger one. A well-defined trail led us to the welcoming Cliff canister. Number 42!!

The next day we did Street and Nye. The old ski trail was a nice path to the brook. After the brook we bushwacked to the tributary and found the path. It went up the brook and was a good trail. Near the col the trail took off for Street. Number 43!!

There is a maze of herd paths between Street and Nye. We had to bushwack a little but found the right trail up Nye. Number 44!! The last trailless!

After two hard days we relaxed and swam.

The last day we did the last two. We got up early and got on the trail at 6:30 a.m. We got to Lake Arnold at 9:00 and then headed for Colden. We arrived at the main false summit and they thought it was the top. I finally convinced them that the trail went on and we hadn't come the junction yet. Finally we got to the 'top' but it still didn't have a bench mark or a hole. As we started back I saw a little trail to the right and investigated it. Number 45!!

We made it to the shoulder of Marcy junction at 1:00. The col is deep to Haystack but we made it down. Now for the last ascent! As we went up the fog lifted. Little Haystack had a view! On top of Haystack there was a great view!!!! I was the first 46er of our family and the first one up every mountain this trip. All of us were there at 2:35 P.M.!!!!!!!!!!!!

Give me a 4 .... 4 ....
Give me a 6 .... 6 ....
Give me a E .... E ....
Give me a R .... R ....
Give me a S .... S ....
And what does it spell?
46ERS

I would like to ask how many families with a mom, dad, and one or more children under 16 did the 46 as a family?

Do I get the first number out of the four (I was the first one up Haystack by 7 min.)??

46ER,
Jeff Wagener