This was Bruce's third ascent of Noonmark (3556') but the first time that I , Dickens, had ever attempted it.  I can see why it is one of his favorites, since it is a very scenic mountain. 
     We arrived at 9:45 AM at the parking lot on Route 73 where we met a bunch of people going all the way to Dix Mtn.  They had a border collie with them named Shiraz.  Bruce was skeptical about them starting so late for a 13.6 mile trek, since the four times he climbed Dix he always started at dawn. 
     The weathermen predicted a sunny day, and it started out sunny, but by late afternoon it became mostly cloudy.  It got up to 80 degrees F. with a sporadic and pleasant light wind.
      Round Pond was pretty.  When Bruce arrived there at dawn on past trips he has seen beavers and a loon, but this late in the day we didn't see any wildlife on the pond.  The lower part of the trail was very humid and we did see three spring peepers off the sides of the trail.  We were making decent time and we passed two young men about 25 years of age who seemed to be going rather slowly.
     By 11:15 we reached Boquet River.  The flow of it was very dried up although there was enough for me to drink and bath in. 
     After that the trail gets steep and there are a series of interesting rockfaces to clamber up.  We met some friendly hikers.   The people on this trip were very nice to me, petting me, calling me a well behaved dog, and saying I am "gregarious." 
     By 1:00 PM we reached the summit and had lunch at a lookout towards Marcy and Gothics.  I had a sandwich and part of Bruce's sandwich too.  While we were eating a party of about 12 young people came up and occupied the highest boulder area on the summit.  They seemed to be having a great time and they thought it was very funny to see me take a bath in one of the pools of rainwater on the summit.
     Bruce did also have a dish of clear water for me to drink out of.
     Two young people came up with their very well behaved German shepherd named Kira. 
     The views were gorgeous and Bruce and I roamed all around taking photos.  Noonmark is surrounded by dramatic high mountains such as Gothics, Dix, and Giant.  Bruce especially enjoyed the views because he has climbed these high peaks and made friends with them.
     At 1:40 PM we left the summit and started back.  When we reached the stream we met up with the two young men we had seen before.  They had only made it this far and were going to give up and go back.  They said they were from Manhattan and were on vacation here.  Tomorrow they were planning to take a canoe trip on Indian Lake.
     We went back down the trail and Bruce took a picture of a large split boulder.  He said the photo should stand as an allegory of his broken tooth.  He is getting this tooth pulled July 9.  Poor fellow!   He'll have to subsist on mushy food for awhile.
     Down near Round Pond we came across a large Green frog, about four inches long, with a green head and a brown body.  This seemed very odd, like the hero in Iolanthe who was a fairy down to the waist but whose legs were mortal. 
     We were back out at 5:10 PM. 
    

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