This summer, over a period of about 23 days, I backpacked my way through the Adirondacks and finished 30 high peaks. It was a total of around 45,000 foot of elevation gain, the equivalent of hiking from the base camp of Everest to the peak over four times. Luckily, I had a friend to accompany me on my journey. He’s been really busy on the campaign trail lately but it’s been great to see him again.

1. Mount Marshall: Bushwhacking with Bernie. Ended up deep in the brush after following a herd path.



2 and 3: Algonquin Peak and Wright Peak: Entering the alpine zone–and your hearts.

4. Iroquois Peak: Bernie is bending over backward to serve the people (the 50-60 mph winds helped).

5 and 6: Mount Redfield and Cliff Mountain: Me giving Bernie a mountaintop pep talk. We discussed what it was like to be held captive by the DNC and forced to endorse.

Bernie has put America on his back, so I decided it was time to put him on mine.

7. Gray Peak: Dreaming of a nation “that works for all of us, not just the 1%”

8. Skylight Mountain: Still wearing his suit on top of the mountain, what a professional!



9. Mount Marcy: Putting Bernie back on top in New York. New York’s highest point: 5,344 feet.

10. Table Top Mountain – The Political Revolution continues…

After some encounters with rainstorms and pricker bushes, Bernie looked as though he had barely escaped a Trump rally. Luckily we have packaging tape! 11. Mount Colden and Esther Mountain: These thunderstorms and rain clouds wouldn’t stop Bernie from lamenting the disappearance of the middle class.

13. Whiteface Mountain – When someone tells you to vote for the lesser of two evils.

14. Street Mountain- “WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING IN NEVADA!?”

15. Nye Mountain – Picture Credit: Trump supporter with a good sense of humor.



Car battery ran out. Good thing Bernie is a man of the people and knows his way around jumper cables! Many thanks to the volunteer firefighter who helped us out. 16. Cascade Mountain – Bernie always keeps grounded, even in times of turmoil (rain storms and 40 mph winds). This is the kind of level-headed thinker we need in office.

17. Porter Mountain – The forecast calls for two things: heavy rain and an end to a corrupt political campaign finance system.

Bernie’s always waking up with a smile on his face.

18. Seward Mountain – Contemplating the pros and cons of moving to Canada if Trump becomes president. 19. Donaldson Mountain – Sometimes you gotta stop thinking about single-payer healthcare and just enjoy the view.

20. Mount Emmons – Bernie needed the bug net for this one. I told him I would loan it to him for when he returned to the Senate floor.

WARNING: WEATHER SUBJECT TO SEVERE CHANGE (AND ALSO THE POLITICAL CLIMATE)



21. Seymour Mountain – What a beautiful view, definitely a highlight of the trip!

22. Dial Mountain: Bernie was generous enough to lend me the bug net for this one. What a kind soul.

23. Nippletop: Candid mountaintop laughter.

When your best friend makes a horrible joke but his crush Jane is nearby so you feign laughter.

When your posing for a candid laughing selfie and don’t notice your pal fall over.

24. Mount Colvin: Bernie Bros

Other politicians are sleeping with Wall Street, Bernie’s sleeping with the trees.

25. Blake Peak: I don’t understand why people are so worried about his age. At 70 years old, boy can this man can hike!

Luckily Bernie is better at sparking political reform than he is at filtering water. He’s just been kneeling there for hours.

Those water droplets on Bernie’s face are not sweat from a long day of hiking or a full day of campaigning; Bernie fell into the creek while filtering water. 26. Sawteeth: I don’t know how Bernie does it, I’m exhausted! Building stamina for the long fight ahead of us after Philly.

27. Couchsachraga Peak: First, I carried Bernie…

28. Panther Peak: And then he carried me!

Bernie’s knees took quite the beating after carrying me up that mountain

29. Santanoni Peak: Bernie insisted on carrying my pack up the mountain. What a gentleman! He seems a little thin; must have been all the calories he berned.

After a long day of hiking, Bernie was famished. It was time to grab some food where any Upstate New Yorker would–Stewart’s!!!

Bernie is so kind, he’s been letting people in front of him in line for hours.

30. Allen Mountain: The Political Revolution continues… On to the convention!

After the 23 day trek, Bernie decided to stay and find himself in the woods in preparation for Philly.



Now that I’m looking back at these pictures, I’m beginning to think this isn’t the real Bernie…