Rich
McKenna
(a.k.a. Rico, Walks With Blackflies): 36 years old; Project Engineer at
Beardsley Design in Syracuse; Clarkson University graduate.
Hiking accomplishments:
New York: Adirondack 46er,Great Range Dayhike
(rated the 3rd hardest dayhike in America by Backpacker Magazine)
Ireland: Crough Patrick, Carrauntoohil
New Hampshire: Mt. Tom, Mt.
Crawford, Presidential Range
Colorado: Pikes Peak, Mt. Princeton, Tigger Peak, Mt. Massive
via SE Ridge, Mt. Elbert
Arizona: Mt. Humphries, The
Wave
Utah: Portions of Paria Canyon and Grand Escalante
Nevada: Frenchman Mountain
ridge traverse, unnamed slot canyon, Black Mtn., Turtlehead, Turtlehead
Jr., portion of Calico Hills
Slides:
Blake Slide
Cliff Slide
Colden Trap Dike
Colden 1990 (SE)
Colden Great Slide
Dix "V"
Dix Hunters Slide
Dix North Slide
Macomb Slide
Nippletop Slide
Santononi Twin Slide
Whiteface Lake Placid Slide
Whiteface Ski Slides #1, 2, 3 & 4
Redfield Slide
Other interests:
Hockey goalie
Former competitive powerlifter and weightlifter
Strongman competitions
Gardening
Photography
Kevin
MacKenzie
(a.k.a. MudRat): Assistant Registrar at St. Lawrence University
and nature
photographer; graduate of University of South Florida.
Hiking accomplishments:
New York: Adirondack 46er,
Great Range Dayhike (rated the 3rd hardest dayhike in America by Backpacker
Magazine), countless whacks, ponds, rivers and falls in the Adirondacks
since I could walk.
MudRat became
my trail name shortly after 8-14-2004 when we hiked Seymour-Seward-Donaldson-Emmons
between the wet remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie and the oncoming remnants
of Hurricane Charley.
Slides:
Armstrong East Slides/Ledges
Blake Slide
Cliff Slide
Colden 1990 (SE) Slide
Colden Avalanche Pass Slide
Colden Great Slide
Colden Trap Dike
Dix Hunters Pass Slide
Dix "V" Slide
Giant's Eagle Slide (various exits)
Kilburn Slide
Lower Wolfjaw - Bennie's Brook (Root Canal) Slide
Macomb Slide
Nippletop Slide
Santononi Twin Slide
Upper Wolfjaw North Slide
Wright Slide
Whiteface Lake Placid Slide
Whiteface Ski Slides #1, #4
Redfield Slide
Other interests:
Photography
Kuk Sool Won BB/Instructor
Poetry
Birding
Horticulture
Web Design
12 String & Classical Guitar / Flute
We met at the beginning of the herd path to Mount Marshall, one of the 46 high peaks. We were each on a solo hike during our first round of the ADK 46, (which is just a great excuse to explore the beautiful Adirondack peaks). We hiked Marshall together, talked a bit, hit it off and have been hiking together ever since. We both have a rather adventurous attitude, which is further enhanced when we're together.
The Great 46 Traverse idea was born from this attitude and became a future reality while hiking some slides on Dix in 2006. Later that summer, we hiked the Great Range for a bit of training in preparation for our new idea (along with other goals). To view our 2006 trip report on this section click: The Great Range. It gives you a nice feel for the area. To our knowledge, the particular route we've chosen has not been thru-hiked before, though sections of it have most certainly been traversed by a multitude. Route possibilities (depending on weather) during our traverse include Colden's Trap Dike & 90's Slide, slides on Blake - Nippletop Slide - Grace (East Dix) Slide- Emmons Slide - Allen Slide - Twin Slide on Santanoni (rubble, upper 1 & 2) - Seward Slide - Wright Slide - Cliff Slide - Eagle Slide on Giant and bushwhacks on Street - Big Slide - Rocky Peak Ridge - Couchsachraga - Iroquois - Dial - Redfield - Skylight and Gray to name a few.
God Bless and Best Regards,
Rico & Kevin
Dix "V" Slide