Adirondacks COVID Style

 What's the first thing to do the day after swimming a 10K?  Hike the distance of a half-marathon?  Timing of our rainy-day hike was out of our control, and that's what was predicted for Monday so off we went into Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden, keeping us off of the summits, therefore out of the clouds, and with an early start, away from the crowds.  Of course, being the Adirondacks, a little rain fell every day.  This route also offers unlimited spots to sit, whether you're tired or not.

Features of this area, besides the mountains and lakes themselves, are the Hitch-Up Matilda walkway along Avalanche Lake, and the Trap Dike that extends a half-mile from the lake to the top of Mt. Colden, there's a change of elevation of over 1,600 feet and it's a popular climb.  It's also a popular spot for rescues when people leave the dike too soon and end up on the steep slabs of Colden, unable to go up or down.
 

I wasn't worried about leaving the dike too soon, I knew enough to climb to the top of the mountain.  The problem came when I couldn't find the trail to the bottom to get stated so I swam across.  Wouldn't you know it? I stubbed my toe when I got out and had to turn back.  Look closely at the bottom.

On the swim back across something came to me:

Wow.

We never heard what this State Police helicopter was doing flying less than 100' high in a wilderness area (no motors allowed), but if it was for a rescue it didn't make the DEC report for the week.

It eventually did rain for our rainy day hike, but after we'd gone back over the ladders and rock slabs along Avalanche Lake, so footing wasn't much of an issue by that point.  Except I had to pose under a sign that goes to my heart.  I slipped and fell twice trying to get in position a couple feet off the hiking trail.