I did last check with Henry over the phone for the route to Cascade Mt, Adirondack and negotiated with Silentworld for the time of assaulting. Worldy had prepared breakfast for us and F-Stop camera bags were packed ready before everyone went to bed.
When I woke up, it was pure darkness inside out. It was 3:07 AM, three minutes earlier than alarm clock set for. I knocked on Silentworld's door and finally heard his response.
We dressed up, drove to the trailhead marked on GPS the day before. Check, it was 3:48 AM when we stepped on the trail. Stars twinkling between tree branches, head lamps shining, and snow reflected them all. We walked fast at beginning, the trail had a gentle slope but our microspikes had sharpen teeth biting into icy snow, no problem at all.
Soon, I had to inhale more air with mouth, and sweated from head to toe. I could feel streaming vaporizing over my head. I led the way for slowing down Silentworld's big steps. I had stop for a short break every hundred yards or so while Silentworld reminding me should not stop too long for getting cold.
The slope picked up a few more degrees, the trail looked like a white ribbon throwing down from mountain top which I could not see. Footing got heavier, calf muscles felt tight and hiking boots hurt my heels every step climbing up. Using this opportunity, Silentworld started selling stairmaster he had trained on. Finally, I took Silentworld’s suggestion putting snowshoes on. My MSR Ascent had a heel lift for helping climbing steep slopes. That was a right suggestion at right time, much better than the stairmaster idea which won’t do any good when I already hit the trail.
We had gained 1200 feet now, the stars gave away to unseen mist. Wind getting stronger, we had to stop again for changing cloth. Fleece was not wind proof and it absorbed a lot of moisture from sweat. So we changed to wind jacket. Soon we reached a trail junction, 0.3 mile to Cascade and 0.7 mile to Porter Mountain. It was 5:05. We had enough time since sun won’t rise until 6:27.
Afraid of cold wind on exposed peak, we took another rest. Eat Easter eggs and drunk warm water, then put on all clothes we brought with. Fleece, windproof jacket and then down shirt. All from Eddie Bauer and all were First Ascent series. We could say that we were unofficial First Ascent sponsors.
5:30, we moved up to our base camp, a huge rock that protected us from wind and provided a flat platform for resting. Walked around the peak, tried finding right tripod holes for our cameras, but we seemed locked in heavy mist, could not see any light from east. Cold wind forced us retreat back to our base camp.
Not until 6:00, there was a strait of light breaking the mist. We climbed to the peak and took position, waiting for magic light.
We were all busy shooting, to all directions and with all wideangle and telephoto lenses. It was not important whether we captured magic light or scenery from the peak of Cascade Mountain. Nor important that it was the easiest trail - in 46 high peaks of Adirondack - only only 2.4 miles in distance and 1940 feet elevation gain but we were truly the first ascent on this day, March 30, 2013.
