tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13865684913549143292024-03-13T01:57:46.868-04:00Adirondack HikesAdirondack Hikes: An Upstate NY Hiking DiaryDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-16145436469998218392016-08-20T20:16:00.002-04:002016-08-20T20:17:45.821-04:00Haystack of Ray Brook<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Track/Trail from AllTrails app</td></tr>
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Trailhead: McKenzie/Haystack Trailhead, Rte. 86, Ray Brook, NY</div>
Distance: 7 miles (AllTrails); 6.6 miles (Guidebook)<br />
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Difficulty: Moderate/Hard<br />
Date: 8/20/2016<br />
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We are ON A ROLL! Louise and the boys have now been hiking three weekends in a row! I've joined them for the last two to <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2016/08/goodman-mountain-and-tupper-lake-triad.html">Goodman</a> and today to Haystack (not the high peak). Having completed the Tupper Lake Triad, it was time to move on to its bigger, meaner brother, the <a href="http://saranaclake6er.com/">Saranac Lake Six</a>. We've already done Baker Mtn. twice (sorry, no blog posts) and I've done <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/02/mckenzie-mountain.html">McKenzie</a>, Ampersand, and <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2010/12/return-to-regis.html">St. Regis</a> (almost <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/02/st-regis-mountain.html">twice</a>) on other trips. We (I) decided that with a beautiful weather forecast, and the upcoming return of students to Clarkson University, where I work, today was the day to try Haystack. <br />
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We were on the trail, dogs and all, at 10AM. The trailhead is right along rte. 86 in Ray Brook, on the way to Lake Placid. There were a few other cars in the lot, but nothing crazy. The trail is, as advertised, easy to start, and we banged out the first 2.4 miles in about an hour and a little more, without any breaks. This section of the trail gradually creeps along up and down until about 1.8 miles, when it starts a gradual uphill along Little Ray Brook. This section of the trail is serene and beautiful, with small waterfalls punctuating the small stream's steady babble as you gradually hike along its length. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruins below the junction</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old dam and small reservoir</td></tr>
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Just before the trail junction where one goes right to McKenzie and left to Haystack, there are some ruined foundations from an earlier age. Immediately after the junction there is a small dam and reservoir. At this point the trail starts to climb in earnest and the going started to get pretty tough. But with less than a mile left to the summit, spirits remained high. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family climbing one of the steeper sections</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views of the High Peaks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views of the Ray Brook Prison and Western High Peaks</td></tr>
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As one gets closer and closer to the summit, the trail gets steeper and steeper, eventually becoming very steep, but the views also start to show up as the tree cover thins. Once this happens, the summit appears quickly. It is a moderately sized bare face looking to the south and east, with a beautiful panorama of the High Peaks Wilderness. But it is not the 360 degree view that we have had on some other trips (<a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2016/07/colden-via-arnold-lake-trail-and-marcy.html">Colden</a>, <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-mcintyre-range.html">McIntyre Range</a>). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama, with moving people pixelating</td></tr>
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After a brief rest on the summit, I went looking for views of McKenzie Mtn., but couldn't find a good opening in the trees to get a good look. I returned to eat lunch and rest up before heading back down. All in all it took us 5 hours to get up and down the mountain, including a relatively long rest at the dam to refill water bottles. Everyone enjoyed the hike, not least our two dogs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scooby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gigi</td></tr>
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With another peak in our pockets, we began the drive home, but before getting too far, we stopped, as usual, for <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48561-d4317377-Reviews-Donnelly_s_Ice_Cream-Saranac_Lake_New_York.html">Donnelly's Ice Cream</a> where we got a big surprise - today's flavor was Black Cherry twisted with Blackberry. It was delicious. <br />
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Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-69768929973647538432016-08-18T21:36:00.000-04:002016-08-18T21:36:06.196-04:00Goodman Mountain and the Tupper Lake Triad<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Coney Mountain and south from Goodman</td></tr>
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Trailhead: Goodman Mountain, south of Tupper Lake on Rte. 30</div>
Distance: Total 3.5 miles<br />
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Difficulty: Easy<br />
Date: 8/14/2016<br />
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There is some great short hiking near Tupper Lake, NY. We have previously hiked <a href="http://www.tupperlake.com/hiking/mount-arab">Arab Mountain</a> (to the west of Tupper Lake) on a number of occasions (most notably, <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/04/arab-mountain.html">this time</a>). That is a short hike with a few steep sections and with beautiful views from its fire tower. We have also hiked <a href="http://www.tupperlake.com/hiking/coney-mountain">Coney Mountain</a> a couple of years ago while staying at <a href="http://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/lake-eaton-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NY&parkId=594">Lake Eaton Campground</a>. That is another short hike, this time to a bald peak (no fire tower). In early August, while I was off galavanting around Southern California with friends watching baseball, my wife, boys, and dogs, did another climb of Arab and heard from the steward about the <a href="http://www.tupperlake.com/recreation/tupper-lake-triad">Tupper Lake Triad</a> and the third of the peaks, <a href="http://www.tupperlake.com/hiking/goodman-mountain">Goodman Mountain</a>. Excited about the prospect of completing a list (even one we didn't previously know about) and with a trip to <a href="http://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/fish-creek-pond-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NY&parkId=574">Fish Creek Ponds</a> planned for the next weekend, it was clear what had to be done. <br />
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So, after a couple of days of off and on rain showers at Fish Creek, on Sunday the 14th the sky seemed to clear and we made our plan to climb Goodman Mountain. The trailhead is well-marked, with plenty of parking, and the trail itself is handicapped accessible for about a quarter of a mile. In fact the trail is paved and mostly flat for nearly an entire mile before turning sharply to the left and heading up hill. At that point there is a set of stone stairs and the trail climbs steadily (but not too steeply) as it winds its way around the northeastern side of the mountain and then up to the summit. It was pretty easy going the whole way. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of us (minus our picture-taker) at the top</td></tr>
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At the summit (about 1.75 miles from the trailhead), there are good views to the south (unfortunately not to the north towards Tupper Lake), and on the beautiful Sunday morning that we were there, our views were nearly endless.<br />
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Like the other two Triad peaks, this one is an excellent short day hike (2 hours) and would work well for any child two years old or older. In fact, the Triad would be very doable for most people in a single day. If coming from the North (Potsdam, Canton and environs) I would start at Arab, eat lunch at the <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48745-d4406417-Reviews-Main_Street_Restaurant-Tupper_Lake_New_York.html">Main St. Restaurant</a>, then head to Coney and Goodman which are practically right next to each other.<br />
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Unfortunately, on this day, as we earned our patch, the True Value hardware store in Tupper Lake was closed, so we couldn't get our patches, but we can't wait to drive through again to pick them up - one for everyone, even the dogs!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6v2HaHc1kptg0L0u21ZvE47Uoy67FOUPMrSx_2_7eanV7pEfSHja_GJliplaKhh2jFJG8-CfUybI1eIZ2oI-DmBUrsr0UQ88mO8Og9SYo27Veu00uNnJ0VwTmdPGinl0RlNrbtfZOb8/s1600/Tupper-Lake-Triad-Patches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6v2HaHc1kptg0L0u21ZvE47Uoy67FOUPMrSx_2_7eanV7pEfSHja_GJliplaKhh2jFJG8-CfUybI1eIZ2oI-DmBUrsr0UQ88mO8Og9SYo27Veu00uNnJ0VwTmdPGinl0RlNrbtfZOb8/s400/Tupper-Lake-Triad-Patches.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tupperlake.com/recreation/tupper-lake-triad">Summer and Winter Patches</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK5CEVGOCDjsxxu5ndGXR4trvHGB0FE9BqLKtH2JzkVIqvvDgGqJG5WO0ld2dqCE2lp7txwNn2XS3i0TIr_A3SNK1ESy9V4neHM32NWQy2AvH31XbMs8afU0MkEpoJmJlmojuD2ruc3M/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK5CEVGOCDjsxxu5ndGXR4trvHGB0FE9BqLKtH2JzkVIqvvDgGqJG5WO0ld2dqCE2lp7txwNn2XS3i0TIr_A3SNK1ESy9V4neHM32NWQy2AvH31XbMs8afU0MkEpoJmJlmojuD2ruc3M/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The AllTrails track</td></tr>
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Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-68852296788427994972016-07-30T09:55:00.000-04:002016-07-30T09:56:34.459-04:00Colden via Arnold Lake Trail and the Marcy Brook Lean-to<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colden from its North Summit</td></tr>
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Trailhead: ADKs Adirondack Loj, near Lake Placid, NY</div>
Distance: Total 13.5 miles or so<br />
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Peaks: Colden (#11, 4,714 ft.)</div>
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Difficulty: This is a long hike for a day, but an easy hike for 2 or 3 days. The climb to Colden is easy as ADK peaks go<br />
Date: 7/25/2016-7/26/2016<br />
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Colden is one of the most recognizable, and visible peaks in the ADK high peaks. It sits between the McIntyre Range and the Great Range, and its large and numerous slides on its west side make it stand out. Because of its location, it can be seen from most of the other high peaks. This also means, that from its summit, one can see nearly all of the high peaks region. I have wanted to summit Colden for years, but have always been scared off by the steep Lake Colden trail to the top. The Lake Arnold trail, on the mountain's Eastern side is much is less steep, but offers the same rewards. <br />
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With my 8 and 12 year old boys, I am always looking for accessible high peaks to conquer, and Colden fits the bill. We planned a 2-3 day trip, staying at the Avalanche Lean-to, with the attempt on Colden's summit scheduled for the second day. My oldest conquered his <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-wolfjaws.html">first backpacking trip</a> last year and was excited for another. My younger son was less sure about backpacking, but agreed to go along and test it out. When we left the trailhead at the Adirondack Loj at 9:30 on Monday morning, spirits were high.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the ADK Loj Trailhead</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Marcy Dam, looking South</td></tr>
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The weather forecast was calling for afternoon thunderstorms, and the radar in the AM was looking menacing. So, we tried to get an early start and move relatively quickly. The trail from the Loj to Marcy Dam is mostly flat and well-maintained. We made it to Marcy Dam around 11 and as we crossed the bridge below the dam, the rain began to fall.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new bridge below Marcy Dam</td></tr>
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We ducked into the Marcy Dam lean-to #2 to eat our lunch and waited out that first rain shower. As the rain slowed down, we got moving and headed up the trail towards the Avalanche lean-to. We got there around Noon, only to find that at least two people were already staying there and, against regulations, had set up their tent inside the lean-to. We debated trying to crash with them before deciding to head back down the trail towards one of the 3 or 4 other lean-tos further back towards the dam. <br />
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The next lean-to we came to was the Marcy Brook lean-to, about a tenth or two of a mile down from the Avalanche Lean-to. There were too women there, but they were planning to leave, so we squatted in the lean-to out of the rain and settled in. We spent the afternoon reading, napping, and playing cards, so, frankly, time well spent. Then we prepared our freeze-dried dinner to eat by the shore of Marcy Brook and finished with Freeze-dried Ice Cream Sandwiches (tasted good, but with the consistency of cardboard). <br />
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The next morning, we got going with our traditional breakfast of instant oatmeal and were on the trail by 7:30. The trail from Marcy Brook lean-to starts gently, but gradually increases in difficulty as the eroded trail becomes more and more an adventure of rock-hopping. It is still a pretty easy 1.7 miles up to Lake Arnold, which made for a great place for a scenic snack break. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWGBn2pw8N-KPON_oem16OkdvcwZKA-UNKFp7163mKFlK7xNlYKMrx4AoU2_2OhhoMETmPnXaIO5sHv5HB1Kl0qkxCU3FMppWY3MszrG6WMG44sFCs7FerLiSOGLLLlf5c4Dgv9Vbzfs/s1600/IMG_20160726_085906599_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWGBn2pw8N-KPON_oem16OkdvcwZKA-UNKFp7163mKFlK7xNlYKMrx4AoU2_2OhhoMETmPnXaIO5sHv5HB1Kl0qkxCU3FMppWY3MszrG6WMG44sFCs7FerLiSOGLLLlf5c4Dgv9Vbzfs/s640/IMG_20160726_085906599_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snacks on Lake Arnold</td></tr>
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From there, the trail gets steeper as it climbs up to Colden's ridge and eventually to the North Summit. As ADK high peaks trails go, however, it is not a particularly challenging climb. There are only a few places where one needs to scramble or climb over rocks, and there are several sections where it flattens out for a little rest. The trail opens up at the North Summit as you ascend above treeline, and you get beautiful views of Lake Placid, the McIntyre Range, and Colden itself. From here, the trail descends to a col before beginning the ascent to the true summit. The trail itself has gotten a lot of trail work in recent years, and is in excellent condition with ladders over most of the rocky stretches, making for a very easy final ascent. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIhSG6sMtwsLnIObKTQeGHyJQ8z2i7PHdlQJ_OKKlAjA2Fae1-ai440nae0UHZRku9vfvDUy1e8pTr_XENSofyLpCexJt7a1rOgEXpoB1JDnNBbTlobuCrYUf-ch-Fpw1Xrh9su62bkw/s1600/IMG_20160726_102150522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIhSG6sMtwsLnIObKTQeGHyJQ8z2i7PHdlQJ_OKKlAjA2Fae1-ai440nae0UHZRku9vfvDUy1e8pTr_XENSofyLpCexJt7a1rOgEXpoB1JDnNBbTlobuCrYUf-ch-Fpw1Xrh9su62bkw/s640/IMG_20160726_102150522.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long ladder climbs at least 3 stories</td></tr>
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Just below the summit, there is a neat little area where the trail goes under an overhanging boulder through something resembling a small cave. This is a great landmark indicating that you are near the top, and great fun for kids. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9G6buMW9gJ8ATrmnUiZMYkK2yhmk7rjngvvVtuQxXaqp6vizWUw_1V3wnrLYA69_0cU151igdUtS9JzVoDsjlXUWZ1SXS-Fp9WlFVG90arY31ONujCV_9G9QaPSsPho72y_vuo_lj7M/s1600/IMG_20160726_102946665_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9G6buMW9gJ8ATrmnUiZMYkK2yhmk7rjngvvVtuQxXaqp6vizWUw_1V3wnrLYA69_0cU151igdUtS9JzVoDsjlXUWZ1SXS-Fp9WlFVG90arY31ONujCV_9G9QaPSsPho72y_vuo_lj7M/s640/IMG_20160726_102946665_HDR.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "cave" just below the summit ridge</td></tr>
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After that, you reach the summit ridge itself. In the case of Colden, the best views are found along rock ledges that surround the actual summit, as the summit itself is surrounded by small trees that limit the views. But, as I mentioned above, these ledges allow views of nearly every peak and region in the High Peaks. I was able to identify Marcy, Gray, Skylight, Algonquin, Iroquois, Wright, Marshall, Big Slide, Giant, the Wolfjaws, and Gothics. It was great to see the mountains layered upon each other with low clouds hanging over the scene. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSa3CoIKzpeCQr0i86cC2ZqsUlNN_VZW_aGyiJB3U3CF758vxwQtX7B-SmML-AqkdZDfl4WMaqXyO1z5_kmh8reSBMYEQw8XyyUZuxZQP5A6nIvWcMYr6ffnMl5Qd4ZbGk0xQgT6F5bM/s1600/IMG_20160726_103947842_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSa3CoIKzpeCQr0i86cC2ZqsUlNN_VZW_aGyiJB3U3CF758vxwQtX7B-SmML-AqkdZDfl4WMaqXyO1z5_kmh8reSBMYEQw8XyyUZuxZQP5A6nIvWcMYr6ffnMl5Qd4ZbGk0xQgT6F5bM/s640/IMG_20160726_103947842_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The south end of the McIntyre Range</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggfmE1822khFqWjnI3gGW-LRBFsc_YVqSwkkY7nE98e9H62Kg0_aS43nX-PLXgxn9M7zU_rEGkAvxcujw5CMrTZZ9Q4ZCPErpGJ83nz-wIvN0ysxKMczIQa01umP5rTgwocx1Wtj2go8/s1600/IMG_20160726_104148701_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggfmE1822khFqWjnI3gGW-LRBFsc_YVqSwkkY7nE98e9H62Kg0_aS43nX-PLXgxn9M7zU_rEGkAvxcujw5CMrTZZ9Q4ZCPErpGJ83nz-wIvN0ysxKMczIQa01umP5rTgwocx1Wtj2go8/s640/IMG_20160726_104148701_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowed Lands and Lake Colden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7OpYaL-DZtRxQmnO6HS21IYbMgFSI9auVr53AedLffLHdBIJlUMmJJfXwzCIntm6BcHBaieiZt3bflmb0ok9vwcLKQ1_sU0jl5zX21LiZYfV_iXn4Lm04V7kgyCizmfbZnSUnq5kyBo/s1600/IMG_20160726_104305813_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7OpYaL-DZtRxQmnO6HS21IYbMgFSI9auVr53AedLffLHdBIJlUMmJJfXwzCIntm6BcHBaieiZt3bflmb0ok9vwcLKQ1_sU0jl5zX21LiZYfV_iXn4Lm04V7kgyCizmfbZnSUnq5kyBo/s640/IMG_20160726_104305813_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcy, Gray, and Skylight (in the clouds)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERc_hPrKa8Y-JeV1PBhdjgj9j1R6J1KM7fu9h7Swf-5ofyFGiRXUwINDPVQeWuuXuJPRf3JqSU95uIfEi7UamHXzwesKCdwXw367BrupTH9vHVT2S5YvlkUybkaYenQ-Alr-vwzJzMzU/s1600/IMG_20160726_105140989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERc_hPrKa8Y-JeV1PBhdjgj9j1R6J1KM7fu9h7Swf-5ofyFGiRXUwINDPVQeWuuXuJPRf3JqSU95uIfEi7UamHXzwesKCdwXw367BrupTH9vHVT2S5YvlkUybkaYenQ-Alr-vwzJzMzU/s640/IMG_20160726_105140989.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actual summit, helpfully labeled</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEDQOCGFGcZqXti0nSniqhw45atocEyujZ-ajoSivwC3selKEaeio9gAucVqtqYvTYxwBzk0lETH_iBSuoh9UJNSyQqNFO3Xktcp6Ni5hghZa7zGdRnBKrQuyy34bhcQ5QCATc5HE_Kw/s1600/IMG_20160726_112948862_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEDQOCGFGcZqXti0nSniqhw45atocEyujZ-ajoSivwC3selKEaeio9gAucVqtqYvTYxwBzk0lETH_iBSuoh9UJNSyQqNFO3Xktcp6Ni5hghZa7zGdRnBKrQuyy34bhcQ5QCATc5HE_Kw/s640/IMG_20160726_112948862_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Algonquin, emerging from the clouds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7YxRS-xqVAVVphJZsA3Vy54G5SlGwhCn-Fx5VlrIMxiKl2sUOevURZCZMSTs0mlKKkwVWoqRdCI2J6b3d6UEUSULydZRvP9DsEITO7rhAY9lh9PYdTnQCBgtP5gaEBa5tUq6gOwFqdI/s1600/IMG_20160726_105045627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7YxRS-xqVAVVphJZsA3Vy54G5SlGwhCn-Fx5VlrIMxiKl2sUOevURZCZMSTs0mlKKkwVWoqRdCI2J6b3d6UEUSULydZRvP9DsEITO7rhAY9lh9PYdTnQCBgtP5gaEBa5tUq6gOwFqdI/s640/IMG_20160726_105045627.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik and me, literally on the summit</td></tr>
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After thoroughly enjoying the summit views, we headed down, grabbed a snack in the cave, and then headed down the mountain in earnest. We then stopped again at Lake Arnold for lunch and a quick refill on our water bottles. The hike down went a little slower than hoped as we negotiated the rocks (with the exception of Erik, who loved the natural obstacle course and occasionally had to be reined in). We finally got back to the lean-to around 2:15. We took a 45 minute break, including soaking our feet in the brook, before making the decision to make it a 2-day trip rather than 3 and begin our hike out to the Loj. After packing up, we hit the trail at 3:50, and arrived back at the Loj by 5:35, chanting our mantra as we went, "Pizza, Donnelly's (Ice Cream), Chocolate Cake." That is, pizza at Little Italy in Saranac Lake, Red Raspberry Twist soft ice cream at Donnelly's, and a homemade chocolate cake that my wife had made to tempt us home. Quite the incentive! At the end of the day, we had hiked 10 miles, and were feeling it. Nonetheless, we were all proud, and were able to smile as we held up our Mt. Colden patches!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oTka50xW8RqNrL6Q8oS9dQFqKTcSK8Gg1zVYDwMK4n-7ejnePOjMDAeRlDCkkzv59wkuweHeVg2Sy7j7U-1VgH3YIywt1L5xzqz2o8Q7Vkwe7kwNruEoAYUnh1fjAT5UqfA1NBCK0Nw/s1600/IMG_20160726_175001206_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oTka50xW8RqNrL6Q8oS9dQFqKTcSK8Gg1zVYDwMK4n-7ejnePOjMDAeRlDCkkzv59wkuweHeVg2Sy7j7U-1VgH3YIywt1L5xzqz2o8Q7Vkwe7kwNruEoAYUnh1fjAT5UqfA1NBCK0Nw/s640/IMG_20160726_175001206_HDR.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAezr4_kw1CpbsKrWM26er_LE3iAPwmAWfyZs31U4Dh0ZJryfuf733-52M_ddYHL2ozWWWtdlz23bm6jmwm7K7-XkSyqEh3lEeuqJuUsSQycg5PEPLyRgF9pVfK5VbWzWmqxHlHg2geYk/s1600/IMG_20160726_162458603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAezr4_kw1CpbsKrWM26er_LE3iAPwmAWfyZs31U4Dh0ZJryfuf733-52M_ddYHL2ozWWWtdlz23bm6jmwm7K7-XkSyqEh3lEeuqJuUsSQycg5PEPLyRgF9pVfK5VbWzWmqxHlHg2geYk/s640/IMG_20160726_162458603.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Marcy Dam from below</td></tr>
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All in all, Colden is a beautiful mountain, relatively easy to climb, and a great adventure for adults and kids alike. It is my favorite mountain so far in the high peaks (I've now climbed 19 of the 46), and I look forward to climbing it again in the future!<br />
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Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-4287778314901709002016-07-24T09:59:00.000-04:002016-07-24T15:21:30.913-04:00The McIntyre Range<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhHI934UjGHMOuVNKI0tDMk_ASBbKZcTPwAE84G5kZqSIJf4xj9xEG5ZuRnV3LOgpEsvKMuNzfldQtgcTv8T_aFuGs6Gz5XrzHbZf7ZlqAZtvJoSu5kzJG4_7DqZZzeY_WBj3iflIegQ/s1600/IMG_20160723_103426657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhHI934UjGHMOuVNKI0tDMk_ASBbKZcTPwAE84G5kZqSIJf4xj9xEG5ZuRnV3LOgpEsvKMuNzfldQtgcTv8T_aFuGs6Gz5XrzHbZf7ZlqAZtvJoSu5kzJG4_7DqZZzeY_WBj3iflIegQ/s640/IMG_20160723_103426657.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Algonquin Peak, viewed from Wright Peak</td></tr>
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Trailhead: ADKs Adirondack Loj, near Lake Placid, NY</div>
Distance: 10.2 miles (book/map descriptions), 10.5 miles (estimated by phone)<br />
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Elevation Change: ~3776 ft.</div>
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Peaks: Wright Peak (#16, 4580 ft.); Algonquin (#2, 5114 ft.); Iroquois (#8, 4840 ft.)</div>
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Difficulty: This is a difficult hike, although with only a few very steep sections. Mostly it is just a hard hike, rather than a scramble<br />
Date: 7/23/2016<br />
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About 6 weeks ago, I was discussing my peak climbing aspirations in the Park with some parents at my son's little league baseball game. Overhearing the conversation, Abrahm DiMarco approached me and said, "if you make plans to do any hikes this summer, let me know." I fear that he is now regretting those words. Capitalizing on this opportunity for a new hiking partner, I quickly had us set aside a date to hike the McIntyre Range - a long day-hike over three high peaks - and a hike for which my sons are not quite ready. <br />
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After a one day delay due to an intimidating weather forecast, we set out from Potsdam at 6:30 on a sunny Saturday morning, heading for Lake Placid and the <a href="http://www.adk.org/page.php?pname=adirondak-loj">Adirondack Loj</a> trailhead. We were there by 8:15 and on the trail, signing in, at 8:22 AM (Abrahm is a military man, and is very precise about our times). The forecast was still threatening thunderstorms for later in the afternoon, so we were glad to have gotten an early start. We were well-supplied with water, having read the tale of m<a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674">y co-author's</a> <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/adirondack-deathmarch.html">ADK Death March</a>.<br />
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We set out down the Van Hoevenberg Trail which can take you nearly anywhere in the Eastern High Peaks region. After a mile, we turned slightly to the right to follow the Algonquin Peak Trail. The trail is rocky from beginning to end, being a great example of the damage that trails and hikers due to a landscape, but begins at a quite reasonable pitch and becomes "progressively steeper," to quote the <a href="http://www.adk.org/product.php?pid=1926&pname=High%20Peaks%20Trails">High Peaks Trails</a> guidebook. The next landmark comes shortly after as the trail crosses the Whale's Tail Ski Trail, and then ascends to McIntyre Falls, which is probably beautiful, when there is water. Our hot and dry summer of 2016, however, left it quite barren, unfortunately. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02EmU5wvJGgAhEQOSkGyP_lq060rpK7jpzIYTsH0H8psG6664ksMXjncn9bQ99d3kijewCYvgHAAY50INcGT4UytH5DrY8F3GaiT_YBvg5fGgMVK4ByJ7AssXQ7-s0IPCCwZmOpSCQX8/s1600/atphoto_gallery_map_26_36_1469300366623-1956019689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02EmU5wvJGgAhEQOSkGyP_lq060rpK7jpzIYTsH0H8psG6664ksMXjncn9bQ99d3kijewCYvgHAAY50INcGT4UytH5DrY8F3GaiT_YBvg5fGgMVK4ByJ7AssXQ7-s0IPCCwZmOpSCQX8/s400/atphoto_gallery_map_26_36_1469300366623-1956019689.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McIntyre Falls (?)</td></tr>
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After this, the trail continued to steepen towards the intersection with the Wright Peak Trail. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE47W2kYxXZizBL5eTIg5Qcb90hcoOpp_Jr23cGAAOxlu15UAwk0o4_PKZYYlCJRGpG17Gb-hOgXInaTOj6P-HSpYthiCJQFtcgyRQKF5xTWiW9eXKur_ejfofRMEQlbq6y3HlI-0jytk/s1600/atphoto_gallery_map_18_36_1469282897237-1956019689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE47W2kYxXZizBL5eTIg5Qcb90hcoOpp_Jr23cGAAOxlu15UAwk0o4_PKZYYlCJRGpG17Gb-hOgXInaTOj6P-HSpYthiCJQFtcgyRQKF5xTWiW9eXKur_ejfofRMEQlbq6y3HlI-0jytk/s400/atphoto_gallery_map_18_36_1469282897237-1956019689.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wright Peak Trail Intersection</td></tr>
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I expected, naively perhaps, that as the lowest of the three peaks on our schedule, it would also be the easiest. We were, however, clearly wrong. The short 0.4 mile ascent to Wright from the Algonquin Peak Trail was steep and open, with some significant scrambling. The view from the top, however, was beautiful, well, except for my hiking partner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzJ7BanRI83smI1gY9Qt54OTMzeWX4h2qKLi-J_I425k6rhQx1fGqLeliJ64U9HIvYT4VEwnKAlv4nU6QUZIbcyP4DAr_C0ArdZRJfJdyPiIRW6TfyKv3VsgOejVXp3wrXonSlP64l5E/s1600/IMG_20160723_103305219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzJ7BanRI83smI1gY9Qt54OTMzeWX4h2qKLi-J_I425k6rhQx1fGqLeliJ64U9HIvYT4VEwnKAlv4nU6QUZIbcyP4DAr_C0ArdZRJfJdyPiIRW6TfyKv3VsgOejVXp3wrXonSlP64l5E/s640/IMG_20160723_103305219.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama from Wright Peak to the North and East</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrKBA4z8Fl8nXXNjxOun3AaWHSdehrpFK4YSoAxnn8kQpH6gunbbhQyG2-qIy0QoasThyphenhyphenibIxFIWz6M-F4wGEf1StKhydzdnwUyZaZNxm078GFTZ_R77ron7LOIjhzuIkPRcRD3a0VLc/s1600/IMG_20160723_103422679_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrKBA4z8Fl8nXXNjxOun3AaWHSdehrpFK4YSoAxnn8kQpH6gunbbhQyG2-qIy0QoasThyphenhyphenibIxFIWz6M-F4wGEf1StKhydzdnwUyZaZNxm078GFTZ_R77ron7LOIjhzuIkPRcRD3a0VLc/s640/IMG_20160723_103422679_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colden was prominent in our views nearly all day</td></tr>
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Wright Peak is well known for being the site of a 1962 plane crash. We couldn't find the plaque associated with the crash, but did see what remains of the wreckage just below the summit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-14dyaRAAYz8qUPgKKowj62Ec6J0_L9YEXo-AnSg-rfl1FV2JTT4zVVwML61ycr6TjRfK8rc-ykFW_qfvYxu0QyWOhd7GDCQqJ_NoH4RSLnMW7E-XiWL_e_RCnasbPuW-HSlbC8T8jMU/s1600/IMG_20160723_103728070_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-14dyaRAAYz8qUPgKKowj62Ec6J0_L9YEXo-AnSg-rfl1FV2JTT4zVVwML61ycr6TjRfK8rc-ykFW_qfvYxu0QyWOhd7GDCQqJ_NoH4RSLnMW7E-XiWL_e_RCnasbPuW-HSlbC8T8jMU/s400/IMG_20160723_103728070_HDR.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wreckage</td></tr>
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We snacked in a slightly sheltered area just below "tree" line, made some boot adjustments, and also prepared ourselves for a change in plans. If the remaining climb to Algonquin was as hard as what we had just done we might have to give up on Iroquois. Then we were back on our way to Algonquin. From Wright, Algonquin has a few very steep and rocky sections, but is mostly more moderate. We did, however, fall for more than a few false summits, thinking we were almost there only to see a further peak just beyond.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwh_hAvwiT8ZNvJJEafWF4uxybBvS4gD0LnuSEJuiq2o2oK58-7fR-QB4PToEoh2y3h-qJFWetWzaPuES2N4SJaGqiFaE25fukJV_G5lMyo-bGidjTJymvlZFwJyCCSD4-EftT42JuFE/s1600/atphoto_gallery_map_25_36_1469297429217-1876665729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwh_hAvwiT8ZNvJJEafWF4uxybBvS4gD0LnuSEJuiq2o2oK58-7fR-QB4PToEoh2y3h-qJFWetWzaPuES2N4SJaGqiFaE25fukJV_G5lMyo-bGidjTJymvlZFwJyCCSD4-EftT42JuFE/s400/atphoto_gallery_map_25_36_1469297429217-1876665729.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A steep section climbing up to Algonquin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYRsYlgik-_fdwLCTLjZSCW-gkX3_9HKwm3OwZAo_CJFfVUqeAvArNf0sXcwUBI5tN_HfAA54Mhh_7a3kdL5FjRbKT0q9QjX0weaw8PAKq342-0DSPnNLq6EDfDt-_pyAVO6z4w_7qNc/s1600/IMG_20160723_115119511_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYRsYlgik-_fdwLCTLjZSCW-gkX3_9HKwm3OwZAo_CJFfVUqeAvArNf0sXcwUBI5tN_HfAA54Mhh_7a3kdL5FjRbKT0q9QjX0weaw8PAKq342-0DSPnNLq6EDfDt-_pyAVO6z4w_7qNc/s640/IMG_20160723_115119511_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian Pass and views to the west from the climb up Algonquin</td></tr>
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Once on Algonquin, however, the views were worth it. The summit steward was also an excellent resource and a source of positive-thinking with her contagious smile. She helped us think through our plans to go over to Iroquois, whether or not we should consider a loop hike through Avalanche Pass (following the above-mentioned Death March route - the answer was a resounding "No"), and what the immediate weather forecast looked like to her. Following this conversation we retreated to eat our lunches and discuss our plans. Following my statement that "If I don't do it today, I'll have to do the whole hike another time" Abrahm reluctantly agreed to add the 1.5 hour round trip hike over to Iroquois Peak, all the while being sure to blame me, in advance, for anything that went wrong.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbBJlCeVsBKy_ZicU01qqiPzZuBg4lTBfSYdfRC1aPXkjDh_i6cQcEggcIcFZM8mLWaPjwhtLGkJUMrA8jCOQd5swjpAwWTiEHw0b7MxevCQ5OSuMVJ8n9vaoVudGkZPbHw83ncckvPQ/s1600/IMG_20160723_115813640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbBJlCeVsBKy_ZicU01qqiPzZuBg4lTBfSYdfRC1aPXkjDh_i6cQcEggcIcFZM8mLWaPjwhtLGkJUMrA8jCOQd5swjpAwWTiEHw0b7MxevCQ5OSuMVJ8n9vaoVudGkZPbHw83ncckvPQ/s640/IMG_20160723_115813640.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFN6iUKY3JYjIQuiClM41UeOA9XdHanStsYYlBTG9CpyEdS2ywOQwknRablehEFnXwHFt7tTHLWLS8Teh8Mq-or5fby8vdGihEq-qPVY0bMjS2JJOQjTILgjI17EqHnbSRFaXY6bfOYo/s1600/IMG_20160723_115852783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFN6iUKY3JYjIQuiClM41UeOA9XdHanStsYYlBTG9CpyEdS2ywOQwknRablehEFnXwHFt7tTHLWLS8Teh8Mq-or5fby8vdGihEq-qPVY0bMjS2JJOQjTILgjI17EqHnbSRFaXY6bfOYo/s640/IMG_20160723_115852783.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramas from the top of Algonquin</td></tr>
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After lunch, we took off down Algonquin and across two small intermediate summits that lie between Algonquin and Iroquois. The trail, though not "officially" maintained by DEC was largely in good shape, with a number of boardwalks across what could be swampy areas. The trail was also almost entirely above treeline, making for beautiful scenery.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih07sBFLYgelkx8JRUEUocmOMYN9OI-k4AZ5_l-kKKPhkKZEBcpSNKRj9w-NsgIzONKLJZMJgXmXTJ_ULIPte1BKc6nxHiE_BrAK8vPdp6bv92kGMu525wskj6oTQhc-qQgjTttB49z3Y/s1600/IMG_20160723_124040888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih07sBFLYgelkx8JRUEUocmOMYN9OI-k4AZ5_l-kKKPhkKZEBcpSNKRj9w-NsgIzONKLJZMJgXmXTJ_ULIPte1BKc6nxHiE_BrAK8vPdp6bv92kGMu525wskj6oTQhc-qQgjTttB49z3Y/s640/IMG_20160723_124040888.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowed Lands and South, viewed from Iroquois</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiy1ztW-buLr-rLkse3tI16LMV5WHLSDL6euovUlD9E37rSr4xJ-SAFFTBKuYZQYDEXEciLQOT03ZSI3DbIC7WShTBIybIKr3_PM1T0phw9DlsWS1ewrN9P0ijGCXHiGNQ-WGpSuWSZM/s1600/IMG_20160723_124114159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiy1ztW-buLr-rLkse3tI16LMV5WHLSDL6euovUlD9E37rSr4xJ-SAFFTBKuYZQYDEXEciLQOT03ZSI3DbIC7WShTBIybIKr3_PM1T0phw9DlsWS1ewrN9P0ijGCXHiGNQ-WGpSuWSZM/s640/IMG_20160723_124114159.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly on Iroquois, with Algonquin in the background</td></tr>
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Once atop Iroquois, we raced quickly back to Algonquin, talked some more with the steward, this time about my upcoming plans to climb Colden with my two sons, and then after a quick snack began to race the weather back down to the Loj. With about 2.5 miles to go, we began to hear thunder, and were briefly rained upon as a large line of storms was moving over portions of the Adirondacks. None the worse for the wear, at least from a rain perspective, we made it back to the car, and were changing shoes and shirts for the ride home when the storm hit in earnest and the hail began to fall. We had just made it in time. <br />
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Deciding not to inflict our stench on unwitting bar patrons, we began our drive home, making one stop that is becoming a high peaks tradition for me - Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream outside of Saranac Lake. <br />
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Overall, this was another great hike in the high peaks. These three peaks represent numbers 16, 17, and 18 on my slow quest to have climbed the 46. Hopefully Abrahm will agree to come along for some more!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2W3wYS0DOS6EMRUMXhBotibyep6ZNm4519qO2-2_AxrP41ZyoB_eeJqVPrLTvBsv17lU-gujDkMHsive2-coVvBgRHBhatoTY_DEHjdhbSbhw0C8tKuwxlwagCBDBKqLWDQ7L1x_8FA/s1600/IMG_20160723_130659544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2W3wYS0DOS6EMRUMXhBotibyep6ZNm4519qO2-2_AxrP41ZyoB_eeJqVPrLTvBsv17lU-gujDkMHsive2-coVvBgRHBhatoTY_DEHjdhbSbhw0C8tKuwxlwagCBDBKqLWDQ7L1x_8FA/s640/IMG_20160723_130659544.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Algonquin from the descent of Iroquois. Note the boardwalks on the trail on the left side of the photo</td></tr>
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Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-88438828324019993582015-08-30T21:03:00.000-04:002015-08-31T13:44:31.847-04:00Giant Mountain, Rocky Peak Ridge, and the Nubble<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0WIjtAiUHNvnVwDlKzM9V_xNMwhjXfwvr5dgZ9lOBk0aWtSY78wZkNyJlXjqaf2Cu-EII_5deJZQMVfZLEz8Dq3HadAjHxIUBrhNwd5-NBn2M9Pe0Q37YiYaXsN7Vb4VqzaorTwvf10/s1600/IMG_20150829_162511248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0WIjtAiUHNvnVwDlKzM9V_xNMwhjXfwvr5dgZ9lOBk0aWtSY78wZkNyJlXjqaf2Cu-EII_5deJZQMVfZLEz8Dq3HadAjHxIUBrhNwd5-NBn2M9Pe0Q37YiYaXsN7Vb4VqzaorTwvf10/s640/IMG_20150829_162511248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span id="goog_1611615310"></span><span id="goog_1611615311"></span> View of Giant from the Giant's Nubble</span><br />
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Trailhead: Giant/Roaring Brook, St. Hubert's, NY</div>
Distance: 11.36 miles (GPS), 10.9 (book/map descriptions)<br />
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Elevation Change: 5343 ft.</div>
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Peaks: Giant Mountain (#12, 4627 ft.); Rocky Peak Ridge (#20, 4420 ft.); Nubble (2760 ft.)</div>
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Difficulty: Most stretches are only moderately difficult, with a few steep or very steep sections</div>
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I don't want to oversell this hike, but......actually, nevermind: this was a GREAT hike. The trails were in excellent condition, the weather was perfect, the people were friendly, and the scenery was beautiful. Not only that, but this area, the Giant Mountain Wilderness, has so much potential for future trips. I discovered so much on this trip that I wasn't expecting, and I will definitely be back for more. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkB3vBXRutcNCoR56oquzaWxwmNdfPPpaJI-LLftqd1k6SFN0BOFVGabwff7PTGvqboyF9N7_nV520xZ29Ywkyn4X4Uvy70qtbYzcP-hqNxrW04OYpWRHaIbWz28jtYFxIshqPuTcyNk/s1600/Giant+Mountain+Hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkB3vBXRutcNCoR56oquzaWxwmNdfPPpaJI-LLftqd1k6SFN0BOFVGabwff7PTGvqboyF9N7_nV520xZ29Ywkyn4X4Uvy70qtbYzcP-hqNxrW04OYpWRHaIbWz28jtYFxIshqPuTcyNk/s640/Giant+Mountain+Hike.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">My hike, portrayed in Google Earth</span></div>
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Over the many years that my family and I drove back and forth from Northern New Jersey to our home in Potsdam, NY, we often remarked on the very high waterfall visible from the road just before St. Hubert's, never knowing if there was a way to get closer. So, it was with delight that, in preparation for this trip, I read that there is a trail to these falls at the Giant/Roaring Brook Trailhead. I started this hike with the 0.2 mile detour over to the base of the Roaring Brook Falls. While the view wasn't much given the hot and dry late summer that we have had, I was still impressed by the potential of these falls given their great height and narrow cataract through the rock. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOqUq2_GREqiGDFqTSDUyklV1_W9kSN2ahM-i2z5EzGaCPaUz6P-ewqPOeRDFY1Ltl-HPMQx4WXdbN_P4y7t6ScK-4tzkIKOC94moQqsHS5OsK5nskRwX5qqBqHOu-qyknh5t9plWF2w/s1600/IMG_20150829_094808839_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOqUq2_GREqiGDFqTSDUyklV1_W9kSN2ahM-i2z5EzGaCPaUz6P-ewqPOeRDFY1Ltl-HPMQx4WXdbN_P4y7t6ScK-4tzkIKOC94moQqsHS5OsK5nskRwX5qqBqHOu-qyknh5t9plWF2w/s400/IMG_20150829_094808839_HDR.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Looking up at Roaring Brook Falls</span></div>
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After returning to the main trail, I began the .4 mile hike up to the top of the falls, which offered the first view of the High Peaks wilderness across Rte. 73 from Giant Mountain.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNjjm6EcOUIBNMISZhhmhO5BIhqs6sj-57w07J8i1EXVz5bXZPXWQ0excw_6LytectuoNApD7CYUHGNpMz5RKwxcVT8ACgY3rC5RxdqtsnUTwj5mknAsp3EsXTJW4nk-pkXByQgj2fq8/s1600/IMG_20150829_100738129_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNjjm6EcOUIBNMISZhhmhO5BIhqs6sj-57w07J8i1EXVz5bXZPXWQ0excw_6LytectuoNApD7CYUHGNpMz5RKwxcVT8ACgY3rC5RxdqtsnUTwj5mknAsp3EsXTJW4nk-pkXByQgj2fq8/s400/IMG_20150829_100738129_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">First views of High Peaks from the top of Roaring Brook Falls</span></div>
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At this point the trail begins the ascent towards Giant. The trail was hard packed dirt, and was very well-maintained. In several places the trail had been graded with rocks or, in one spot, a ladder had been added. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGodjvgbz1lTo-jBDAWp7-iX_H0bPOR_d2hIaiVUjNz-H96pWau4ebeys-A8ZKnfzIZGv9tDuh6ZNtgJzCbDoixZcy5EY57ZhSEVgR8drHR9HZMMT2LpnJYOJYDHIjKMgV2106SUh6P4A/s1600/IMG_20150829_104601163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGodjvgbz1lTo-jBDAWp7-iX_H0bPOR_d2hIaiVUjNz-H96pWau4ebeys-A8ZKnfzIZGv9tDuh6ZNtgJzCbDoixZcy5EY57ZhSEVgR8drHR9HZMMT2LpnJYOJYDHIjKMgV2106SUh6P4A/s320/IMG_20150829_104601163.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3906V5nxO968bUSiY2lCaY8c0MSwIfxIPxJ_NI_G5V-zP7Pak4dV0KO-DBbVqE8HgVKkkMlipG65DHN7Hu0Q6xvD0c0lgZD3vqZn3rJTY6YshFOm35D4pAIZqnP2o64PE4zDV7G4df8/s1600/IMG_20150829_112944616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3906V5nxO968bUSiY2lCaY8c0MSwIfxIPxJ_NI_G5V-zP7Pak4dV0KO-DBbVqE8HgVKkkMlipG65DHN7Hu0Q6xvD0c0lgZD3vqZn3rJTY6YshFOm35D4pAIZqnP2o64PE4zDV7G4df8/s320/IMG_20150829_112944616.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Excellent examples of trail workmanship</span></div>
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One of my concerns going into this hike had been boredom. That may sound crazy, but I hadn't hiked alone in a long time, and never for this length. I am used to talking with my companions as I hike, but on this hike I wouldn't have that conversation to pass the time. Thankfully, on such a beautiful late August day, I had plenty of other hikers on the trail, and spent about 2 miles of this climb conversing nicely with a 46er who was climbing this particular route for the first time. It is so nice to be able to chat casually with someone with many of the same interests. </div>
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After a little more than 3 miles, I reached the intersection with the Ridge Trail, the other primary entry point for Giant Mountain. Here I ate my lunch and took a short break before heading up the last .7 miles to Giant. These last .7 miles include a few short sections of exposed rock slabs, but are not too challenging. Considerably less challenging than sections on Cascade, for the most part. There are a few open views but nothing really spectacular. After passing the junction for the trail to Rocky Peak ridge, it is a short easy climb up to the summit of Giant, where the views speak for themselves. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaJ-sfQ4-DwDIU4zHMccRvWYgn2V8PLBb39h5dlCZuHlXkBxY411XR8TJ_eLGmwMDK2r36X0HrhQQ_dvRlaQciyYoboZYqsxG0ngPyrogFhd3lNOuVY2oFrN1ateCL_dvtiwa5LeAgIA/s1600/IMG_20150829_122436881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaJ-sfQ4-DwDIU4zHMccRvWYgn2V8PLBb39h5dlCZuHlXkBxY411XR8TJ_eLGmwMDK2r36X0HrhQQ_dvRlaQciyYoboZYqsxG0ngPyrogFhd3lNOuVY2oFrN1ateCL_dvtiwa5LeAgIA/s640/IMG_20150829_122436881.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Panorama from Giant's peak</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFH_4Qpxib3h5WkS3xLnNtVo3QO4idj_EFu3RzJm7ro0alml3duS5vyXeYLfywhiIFI-46Sm9w0xm-CYbecTda1mRwW1NP2Sywl-5ymE9p9SVMUkZut5u9wdueveZFQ6gz0BupJrr6sg/s1600/Aug+29%252C+2015+12_20_12+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFH_4Qpxib3h5WkS3xLnNtVo3QO4idj_EFu3RzJm7ro0alml3duS5vyXeYLfywhiIFI-46Sm9w0xm-CYbecTda1mRwW1NP2Sywl-5ymE9p9SVMUkZut5u9wdueveZFQ6gz0BupJrr6sg/s400/Aug+29%252C+2015+12_20_12+PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">View of the valley communities from Giant Mountain</span></div>
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After a quick break and more snacks, I headed down to the junction and began the 1.3 mile hike over to Rocky Peak Ridge. The section of trail to the col between the two peaks is by far the steepest section of trail I encountered on this day. Lots of exposed rock slabs. As I went down I was forced to confront what it would be like to come back up! Thankfully, I did get some views of my destination along the way. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CjH5RZgpRkh48SReq_81GM1sWf3CxdITMBM4VCsytazrkBAHIC7VioQFV5jCnDLBP_y56qCn9KEeWer82v89zgqM4EzTUiUIj0-A73UtSBKsWs6PE5PIruM8Ak-bCRIRVwKIEn2eKdw/s1600/Aug+29%252C+2015+2_24_46+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CjH5RZgpRkh48SReq_81GM1sWf3CxdITMBM4VCsytazrkBAHIC7VioQFV5jCnDLBP_y56qCn9KEeWer82v89zgqM4EzTUiUIj0-A73UtSBKsWs6PE5PIruM8Ak-bCRIRVwKIEn2eKdw/s640/Aug+29%252C+2015+2_24_46+PM.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Rocky Peak Ridge viewed from the descent of Giant</span></div>
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The brief uphill section to the top of Rocky Peak Ridge was mercifully much more gentle, and after less than an hour from Giant, I made it to the top of Rocky Peak Ridge. One hiker coming down made clear to me that not only was the trip to RPR worth it, but that the views were better than Giant. She was right. Also, she warned me, "just don't look back at the climb back up to Giant," and that was good advice as well, that I failed to observe. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquiEMJzSNck-9jWQn38bye9EwFbSTj0jhVJeONz6z-vPQSl2gfbY5ckpQKNy02K57vhAofrzUraT4aYS8fNqtFWw-x8doGI-4vXvPB4OlSiEJKycGeUwBGu_r0GoxyO5CX3aQkX9VLRY/s1600/Aug+29%252C+2015+1_31_00+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquiEMJzSNck-9jWQn38bye9EwFbSTj0jhVJeONz6z-vPQSl2gfbY5ckpQKNy02K57vhAofrzUraT4aYS8fNqtFWw-x8doGI-4vXvPB4OlSiEJKycGeUwBGu_r0GoxyO5CX3aQkX9VLRY/s400/Aug+29%252C+2015+1_31_00+PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">View looking back at Giant from Rocky Peak Ridge</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeggzK3lz0icYhj4ah3-XsYh84pKx3SZvLGLp07F9p6Go6udXJy4az6mGmXNOWPsKUQIncj8UbjsI31AgIqupUS27DD1JD3ePY-S65IMFG8rXmQPpwaJFUsKEZRvtri-NldD3g70Um0o/s1600/IMG_20150829_133419429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeggzK3lz0icYhj4ah3-XsYh84pKx3SZvLGLp07F9p6Go6udXJy4az6mGmXNOWPsKUQIncj8UbjsI31AgIqupUS27DD1JD3ePY-S65IMFG8rXmQPpwaJFUsKEZRvtri-NldD3g70Um0o/s640/IMG_20150829_133419429.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Panorama from Rocky Peak Ridge, towards the High Peaks and Giant</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgiKBqhg9VvGQMpCRx997UMpkOoTzYmeURxcpBNq8lAAx_l86TSRhEBTE6w96KyrFooMCWSKltHlMEqlM-T7_9jowng92DqHpiCo1Y1kHP5bfECJThODHPT8_Bo55sngtGqHxSuMZTfs/s1600/IMG_20150829_133542955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgiKBqhg9VvGQMpCRx997UMpkOoTzYmeURxcpBNq8lAAx_l86TSRhEBTE6w96KyrFooMCWSKltHlMEqlM-T7_9jowng92DqHpiCo1Y1kHP5bfECJThODHPT8_Bo55sngtGqHxSuMZTfs/s640/IMG_20150829_133542955.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Panorama from Rocky Peak Ridge towards Lake Champlain and Rocky Peak</span></div>
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While the view from Giant is mostly to the West and North, the views from Rocky Peak Ridge are in all directions and include great views not only of the High Peaks, but also of Lake Champlain and points east and south. Definitely worth the hike over from Giant.</div>
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After resting some and refueling, I began the trek back to Giant. Noticing that I was down to about a half liter of water, I thought about continuing away from Giant to Marie Louise Pond to filter some more water, but decided that the extra 1.2 miles roundtrip was not going to be worth it. I think I made the right call, but I was definitely thankful when I finally got back to Roaring Brook and was able to refill my bottles, several hours later. </div>
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The ascent of Giant from Rocky Peak Ridge certainly lived up to my fears, and there were a few stretches where I was just managing to put one foot in front of (or above) the other. After this hard climb I rested some more at the junction with the Ridge Trail, and noticed a strange feeling. As I began the descent I realized that I was already feeling sad to be heading down, rather than spending more time in this beautiful section of wilderness. In the interests of exploring as much of the area as I could, when I got to the fork with the Ridge Trail to the left and the Roaring Brook Trail to the right, I decided to head down the Ridge trail to make something of a loop of the rest of my hike, rather than going down the same way I had come up. The 1.1 mile stretch of the Ridge Trail down to the Nubble trail made for some gorgeous hiking. Lots of exposed rock with beautiful views to the West and South. </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">views from the Ridge Trail</span></div>
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At one point the trail divides into so that hikers can go either over or around "the bump." Again, in the interest of learning as much as possible, I chose to go OVER the bump. While the views were nice, they offered little that was unique given the many other exposed areas. </div>
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It was also in this stretch that I encountered that rarest of Adirondack creatures, the switchback! Thankfully, this relatively steep trail was made easier by using several switchbacks along the side of the mountain. I was sure to make note of this on my GPS track to show my son later....the lack of switchbacks is one his "favorite" things about ADK hiking. </div>
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Finally, I arrived at the junction with the Nubble trail. I finished off my water, and had an additional snack before resuming the climbing portion of my day with an ascent of the admittedly small peak between Giant and the pond known as Giants Washbowl. I struggled with this choice briefly, deciding between this climb and continuing down to cross on the washbowl trail itself (where I would also be able to fill my water bottles). Alas, the draw of more views, including some of the Giant itself proved too tempting. This was a great decision. </div>
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The nubble was only about .5 miles from the Ridge Trail, and the climbing was gentle. I met more friendly hikers and shared the trail with them for this short section. After a great little vista with views of Chapel Pond and its cliffs and the wash bowl, the trail continued up to the Nubble itself which has spectacular 360 degree views of Giant Mountain and the High Peaks Wilderness. </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Panorama from Nubble</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Giant Mountain from the Nubble</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Washbowl and Chapel Pond cliffs</span></div>
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Once I began the descent from the Nubble to the Roaring Brook Trail and then to my car, with nothing more to look forward to, my knees and legs began to really let me know how they felt about all the hiking I had done! I still had nearly 2 miles to go, and my legs were not happy! The descent to Roaring Brook is somewhat steeper than that to the Ridge Trail, which made for challenging hiking on tired legs. </div>
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After a little less than a mile, I made it to roaring brook, refilled my water bottles (and drank from them generously) at a beautiful pool and then headed down to my car. </div>
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The Giant Mountain wilderness is a spectacular area to which I will return! I have been intrigued by Giant for years, in fact, before I had even moved to NY I had gotten this particular mountain in my head. It lived up to every expectation that I had. Even more than this trip though, I am excited by the possibilities for future hiking. An excellent short hike with kids would be to park at Roaring Brook, see the falls in high water, and then head up to the Nubble, looping back by the wash bowl. This would be about a 3.5 mile loop with only a little bit of tough climbing. For those kids who want to be bagging high peaks, I recommend the Roaring Brook approach over the Ridge Trail. While it is not as scenic, it is a gentler, if slightly longer, climb that I think will prove less exhausting for kids. It also has no large rock slabs that would require little ones to be boosted! Of course, if your kids are like one pair I saw on this trip, doing their 16th and 17th high peaks, of THE SUMMER, then by all means, the Ridge Trail may be for you. </div>
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In case it hasn't been made clear, I highly recommend this small network of trails. Some of the best trails I have been on in the Adirondacks. Enjoy! Oh, and if you are heading back north afterwards, don't forget to stop at the <a href="http://www.noonmarkdiner.com/">Noonmark Diner</a> for dinner and pie and <a href="http://northcountryfolklore.org/rvsp/index.php?id=131">Donnelly's Ice Cream</a> in Saranac Lake for second dessert. What, you've never heard of second dessert? Well, I guess you just haven't been hiking hard enough then. </div>
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Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-15902479034461203612015-07-14T21:40:00.003-04:002015-07-14T21:48:01.267-04:00The Wolfjaws<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Upper (4185 ft) and Lower (4175) Wolfjaw Mountains </b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Level of Difficulty: Strenuous</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Date of Summit: 7/13/2015</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Total Distance: 13.2 Miles </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Trip Time: 2 Days + a short morning</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Weather: 70s and 80s and Mostly Sunny</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3BZa8D2_UAMGWtYetIkYD-EoZz5qI9ThrOPmPtUMGm7Wy_j5u0i_S635V-5KcGkSXiYIMWhtKYjZbIL9BNK3lDtQG9RlKvdJZkd_iSLZ9gCPojFWXnNhfIHwarNhXiJhP9t-Yc8OPD8/s1600/viewfirstpeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3BZa8D2_UAMGWtYetIkYD-EoZz5qI9ThrOPmPtUMGm7Wy_j5u0i_S635V-5KcGkSXiYIMWhtKYjZbIL9BNK3lDtQG9RlKvdJZkd_iSLZ9gCPojFWXnNhfIHwarNhXiJhP9t-Yc8OPD8/s640/viewfirstpeak.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View from Upper Wolfjaw Mountain</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">It has been a couple of years since I managed to make time to climb any High Peaks, but from 7/12 to 7/14, the weather cooperated during my planned trip window and Martin G. and I were able to go after, and get, Upper and Lower Wolfjaw Mountain. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Having already conquered the only "easy" High Peak day hikes, Martin and I decided to do his first overnight backpacking trip. We had, for 2 years now, had in our sights the Wolfjaws since an easy day hike would bring us in to the vicinity of Johns Brook Lodge and from there the Wolfjaws appeared to be a very do-able day hike. So, leaving Potsdam at 6:45 AM, we arrived at the Marcy Airfield to take a shuttle bus to The Garden trailhead. After unloading the truck and waiting for the bus for about 15 minutes, another car pulled in and alerted us to the sign pointing out that the buses were not running. So, we re-loaded the truck and drove the few miles down the road to The Garden and, low and behold, there were parking spots on a summer weekend! <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">We put our packs on, signed in, and at 9:19 AM began the 3.1 mile trip to the DEC Interior Outpost. Martin took the lead and set a good pace, about 2 mph. He was carrying his clothes, a little bit of gear, and our lunches in a pack that I generally use as a daypack. I carried my clothes and the rest of our gear, including a tent, just in case, in my behemoth of an external frame trekking pack. Seemingly unaffected by his load (his first time really hiking with a pack), we made it to the outpost in about 1.5 hours, crossed the suspension bridge, and promptly made a wrong turn right up the range trail rather than left down the abandoned South Side Trail! Frequent readers of this infrequently updated blog, will understand that this is the M.O. of yours truly (see "<a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2010/05/good-bad-and-stupid-not-necessarily-in.html">The Good, The Bad, and the Stupid</a>" for the most damning example.) </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">After sitting for a fluffernutter lunch, and examining the book and maps, we realized our error (only costing us at most 10 minutes) and returned to the South Side Trail, from which we connected to the ADK Range Trail towards the Wolfjaws. This last 0.8 miles or so to the Wolfjaw Lean-to was more severely eroded than the Phelps trail and others, and was also steeper than our previous mileage. Nonetheless, as we hiked this section, getting closer and closer to Wolfjaw Creek, we continued to make good time, and quickly arrived at the Wolfjaw lean-to and found it uninhabited at 12:30 PM. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">After relaxing and resting for a few minutes, we briefly contemplated a late afternoon attempt on Lower Wolfjaw, but the siren song of my cribbage board and our kindles was too strong, and we lazed away the afternoon in our shady shelter. We snacked on gorp, refilled our water bottles from Wolfjaw Creek, ate a dinner of <a href="http://www.mountainhouse.com/">Mountain House</a> Mexican Chicken and Rice, and prepared ourselves for our harder day hike up the Wolfjaws in the morning. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">A quick aside on backcountry etiquette. Adjacent to the Wolfjaw lean-to is a designated campsite. We walked over to explore and found some gear seemingly abandoned. Nonetheless, we didn't disturb it thinking that it was probably a hiker out for the day. Around dinnertime, a DEC Ranger stopped in to check on us, and investigated the campsite. She discovered that the tent has not been purposefully collapsed but had, instead, broken, likely soaking its inhabitants. Those inhabitants, rather than following proper backcountry behavior, decided to leave the tent broken in the campsite and hike off without it. This left our ranger with the unpleasant task of humping this abandoned gear out on her own. To paraphrase the Berenstein Bears, "Let this be a lesson to you - this is what you should not do." <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Wolfjaw Creek</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">After a good night's sleep, we awoke around 7AM, ate a quick breakfast of instant oatmeal, packed our daypack (this time destined for my back) with plenty of snacks and rain gear, and began our hike up to Wolfjaw Notch, between the two peaks. We began by crossing the creek where, unfortunately, Martin aggravated a scrape on his heel from the previous day. We bandaged that right up and continued on, up the moderately steep, but still straightforward trail. We passed the junction with the Woodsfall Trail which leads to the Johns Brook Lodge, and continued up to the Notch, no worse for the wear. After a quick snack, we turned right to head up to Upper Wolfjaw. This is where, predictably, things got difficult. This trail is typical of so many ADK high peaks trails: steep with plenty of scrambling up small rock faces, which are often damp and slick. Our spirits remained high however as everything was doable and we weren't having too much trouble. <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Then, out of nowhere, Martin slipped and skinned his knee, setting his morale back several notches. Band-aids didn't stick and the terrain only got harder. We reached the first lower, false, summit of the peak, and began to descend to a col. This was almost more than his psyche could take. However, he persevered, and, not without some tears, fought through to the top of Upper Wolfjaw. The peak itself has good views to the south and east, although the top of the mountain is quite small. <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> View of the lower peak of Upper Wolfjaw (foreground), Lower Wolfjaw (to the left) and more distant peaks (Nippletop?) from Upper Wolfjaw</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">We descended slowly, and morale improved. We talked about politics and baseball, and many other things, and we were again feeling chipper. Despite his earlier protestations that he "would never hike again" we chose to continue on to Lower Wolfjaw, and he was enthusiastic. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">The climb to Lower Wolfjaw, while half the distance, was no simple task either, being, again, very steep in many places. Martin came close to stopping and turning around once, but, with mettle in his eyes, soldiered on. Many of the steepest sections offered good views back towards Upper Wolfjaw which made these intermediate steps rewarding. We reached the summit and were, at first, underwhelmed. The views from Lower Wolfjaw are not unobstructed. There are views to the north and northwest, and the redeeming feature is a nice view of Marcy in the distance. This summit is even smaller than Upper Wolfjaw, but provides a nice sheltered area to relax and have a snack. We took good advantage of this. <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">view of Marcy from Lower Wolfjaw</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> shelter behind the summit rock at Lower Wolfjaw</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">After our quick break on the summit, we descended carefully to the notch, and then began the much easier descent to our lean-to. We stopped again at the creek crossing to fill our water, and decided to de-camp from Wolfjaw lean-to and hike out to our car. It had taken us about 6.5 hours to do the dayhike up and down the wolfjaws from the wolfjaw lean-to. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Screenshot of the Google Tracks profile of our day starting at Wolfjaw lean-to and ending at Deer Brook lean-to</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">We were again with our packs full, but enthusiastic about our dinner options in Keene Valley. We had high hopes to make it down in about 3 hours. We made good time, stopping frequently for water, but fell victim to one of the great traps of hiking - over-estimation of progress. After some time, I guess-timated that we had 1.25 miles to go to the car. About 10 minutes later, at about 6 PM, we came upon the Deer Brook lean-to and checked the guidebook - this lean-to was 1.3 miles from the car. This was more than we could take. We walked the 200 yards uphill to check out the lean-to, discovered it empty, and decided to call it home for the night. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">We filled our water bottles from the beautiful Deer Brook, soaked our weary feet, and prepared our dinner of dehydrated lasagna with meat sauce along with our special treat of apple cobbler, all by Mountain Home. We were suitably impressed as these dehydrated meals far surpassed the dehydrated food of my memory from my trip to Philmont. We enjoyed a couple more hours of cribbage and reading before falling asleep. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">After another good night's sleep, Martin and I awoke early at 6 AM, quickly packed up and were on the trail before 7. We arrived back at our car by 7:35 and were happy and excited about a successful trip. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Before the long drive home, we stopped for some breakfast at the <a href="http://www.noonmarkdiner.com/">Noonmark Diner</a>, which I hope was not the highlight of Martin's trip...but maybe that wouldn't be so bad anyway. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><br /></span></span>Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-27459964835919308142013-03-25T19:07:00.005-04:002013-03-25T19:09:01.550-04:00Lampson Falls, Late WinterLampson Falls<br />
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Difficulty: Easy</div>
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Distance: 2 Miles Round Trip</div>
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Date: March 24, 2013</div>
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Weather: Cloudy, low 30s, snow on the ground</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlu4XmoEfaP83GOd95Tr82_U3J2nSHJn-TllBZWmK46Gwazg7dTZ4ko5vLC_BcrLNjZ5xodvgXSGpZ3QVWB7EHJVsTMlKybyKsmJKYXyjpAO3ctq0cAqTL_zx1qBM-Y_bS0qOjuom180/s1600/Lampson+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlu4XmoEfaP83GOd95Tr82_U3J2nSHJn-TllBZWmK46Gwazg7dTZ4ko5vLC_BcrLNjZ5xodvgXSGpZ3QVWB7EHJVsTMlKybyKsmJKYXyjpAO3ctq0cAqTL_zx1qBM-Y_bS0qOjuom180/s320/Lampson+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lampson falls, in the Town of Clare is our go to short, easy, walk in the woods, with a great payoff. We have been here on probably 10 different occasions, but we enjoy it every time. On March 24, with an 8 year old finally recovering from his cold/flu, my wife decided we needed to get out of the house, and I am so glad we did. </div>
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The six of house (my wife and I, two boys (8 and 5) and two dogs) set out in the early afternoon. After the ~25 minute drive from Potsdam, we pulled into the parking area and began to walk. It is a flat easy walk, handicap accessible in warm weather. On this day, it was snow packed, but easy to navigate, as usual, as we walked along the old logging road. After reaching the falls (the guidebooks say about .25 miles from the parking area) we walked down to the base (this section was a bit slippery) and continued to walk along the low cliffs facing the falls. This is where the trail used to end. It is now marked to make a 3.5 mile loop to Harper Falls and back along the logging road. We set out down that path, but retreated when the boys began to get a bit tired. All told we walked about 2 miles round trip. </div>
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On the way out we stopped at the top of the falls for more pictures and to marvel at the water and ice curving and flowing around the rocks. </div>
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Our 8 year old got to take lots of great pictures and everyone enjoyed it. Lampson Falls is always worth the short drive for a quick retreat into the Adirondacks. </div>
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Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-70606171558621383972012-09-27T21:06:00.000-04:002012-09-27T21:06:08.617-04:00The Pinnacle (Santa Clara, NY)The Pinnacle (1838 ft)<br />
Difficulty: Easy, with some short steeper climbs<br />
Date of Summit: 09/09/2012<br />
Trailhead to Summit: 0.6 Miles<br />
Trip Time: 1 hr, 15 Minutes<br />
Ascent: 506 ft.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT6J1NLdoqg1X5pntZVPSyE9J39g615baePKmCjiV8TFS5AYDiON1FwDwt5uouWF7dACorWkNYM4HBL5RC3VjTvy34luuaxDAdEj8LyMPoOa8gqXcjOQC6wGFX5ySLWMYMtoxMtivBeU/s1600/Pinnacle+Hike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT6J1NLdoqg1X5pntZVPSyE9J39g615baePKmCjiV8TFS5AYDiON1FwDwt5uouWF7dACorWkNYM4HBL5RC3VjTvy34luuaxDAdEj8LyMPoOa8gqXcjOQC6wGFX5ySLWMYMtoxMtivBeU/s640/Pinnacle+Hike2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GPS Track of Pinnacle hike, including elevation profile</td></tr>
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This short hike near Santa Clara, NY is a great hike for families with small children. It is short in distance, light on serious climbing, and long on beautiful views. Louise, Martin G. (age 8), Erik (age 4), Gigi (black lab/dachshund mix, age 3) and I played hookie from church on September 9 to do this little hike for the first time. We had tried back in March or April, but, despite the warm weather and lack of snow, the access road, which is only seasonally maintained, was closed to traffic, with a locked gate. This time, no such trouble! This trail seems to be oft overlooked, and on our visit we had it to ourselves.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gigi, the mountain goat</td></tr>
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The access road is off of SR 458 just south of Santa Clara, NY on the left side of the road. The turnoff can be hard to see when coming from the North, but is obvious when approaching from the South. There is a traditional ADK signpost indicating "Pinnacle Trailhead" at the access point. Once off of 458, it is about a 4 mile drive along a narrow dirt road/track through the woods. There are two Y- style intersections along the way, and at each junction take the more heavily trafficked route (if memory serves, first to the right, then to the left). After about 4 miles, you will see an obvious parking area to the left and the trail starts off to the right with a trail register. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The View</td></tr>
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The trails begins easily and slowly climbs, passing by interesting boulders and LOTS of big-toothed Aspen. Eventually, you come to a point directly underneath a large cliff, and at this point, the trail turns to the right to begin the final ascent to the summit. At the top there is a picnic table as long as beautiful views to the North and West. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik, being himself</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The five of us at the top</td></tr>
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On our trip we saw a group of vultures soaring in the air as long as a beautiful hawk which, unfortunately, I was unable to positively identify. After snacking and snapping photos for about 20 minutes, we began the return trip happy that we had found another short, easy hike to share with visiting friends. If you have done much North Country hiking, it is our opinion that the Pinnacle compares favorably to the Owls Head hike in Franklin County (in Owls Head, NY, south of Malone), which has been a family favorite, and although it does not have the views of Mt. Arab or Mt. Azure, its shorter distance makes it very attractive and fun, particularly for families, or if you are trying to squeeze in a quick hike on the way to one place or another. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin holding a maple leaf that he found - fall is here!</td></tr>
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<br />Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-31855006602190421582012-09-27T21:05:00.004-04:002012-09-27T21:05:51.997-04:00New ContributorHello! My name is Martin D. Heintzelman. I am a good friend of Dave Beck's, and since he has moved on to Wisconsin, he has offered me the opportunity to become a contributor to this blog. I, and my family, can occasionally be seen in Dave's posts from his time in the North Country, and we love to hike, camp, and, just in general, be outdoors. I will do my best to keep posting as we have new experiences in the Adirondacks, and I hope you enjoy my contributions. With any luck, we'll have Dave back in New York on occasion to do some hiking, so you should see his smiling face every once in a while! He and his family are truly missed in Potsdam, and, I'm sure, treasured in Wisconsin. <div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My eldest son, Martin G. and I atop Cascade Mountain</td></tr>
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Martin Heintzelmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129724011180037125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-41865465933353353652012-07-31T16:12:00.000-04:002012-07-31T16:12:02.212-04:00On Wisconsin!This is just a post to say that (unfortunately) I've moved away from the Adirondack Region, and will no longer be posting new trips to this page. Please feel free to refer to my past posts for information on specific hikes and peaks in the park. Who knows - perhaps I'll begin another blog about the wonders of Wisconsin wildlife.<br />
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Cheers,<br />
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Dave BeckDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-73510930742366740402010-12-16T22:47:00.001-05:002010-12-18T17:08:41.042-05:00Return to Regis<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tower atop St. Regis</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>St. Regis Mountain (2865 ft) </b><br />
Difficulty: Gradual, and fairly steep for the last mile<br />
Date of Summit: 12/15/2010<br />
Trailhead to Summit: 3.4 miles<br />
Trip Time: 4.5 hrs<br />
Ascent: 1266 ft<br />
Temperature: between 5 and 10 degrees F<br />
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<a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/02/st-regis-mountain.html">Last time Martin Heintzelman and I attempted a winter summit of St. Regis Mountain</a>, we had to turn back due to the inability to find the trail and get beyond an area of blowdown. The experience was extremely discouraging, and caused us to keep our distance from that peak for quite some time. Well, on December 15th, 2010 (exactly three years after the first attempt - to the DAY), we decided it was time to give it another try.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white stuff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The snow levels in the park had not been as typical as usual (not nearly as much accumulation), so we made the decision to skip the snowshoes, as there only appeared to be between 4-5" of powder on the ground at the trailhead. While I used <a href="http://www.32north.com/Products/Play/STABILicersOriginal">Stabilicers</a> attached to my boots, Martin went sans-spikes, but had the advantage of using the tread of his new <a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/14774?page=gore-tex-cresta-hikers-leather">L.L. Bean Cresta's</a> for the very first time. Outfitted in full winter gear, we set out to reclaim our pride from our old foe, St. Regis Mountain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation Profile of St. Regis Hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5NXGtnbqEnHGV_PpAorsQkhsfbl6h1oygqFHj1Luuq0aDx7vuMkoA_wF2fmF2nRQuzdxmNFXGWGLUaBchp0eHypuQKRdDVoDx8nqGi89Mh9J8VwFHvsByFdOS-mZosM5HTh-zNS6Q38/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-15+at+7.33.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5NXGtnbqEnHGV_PpAorsQkhsfbl6h1oygqFHj1Luuq0aDx7vuMkoA_wF2fmF2nRQuzdxmNFXGWGLUaBchp0eHypuQKRdDVoDx8nqGi89Mh9J8VwFHvsByFdOS-mZosM5HTh-zNS6Q38/s640/Screen+shot+2010-12-15+at+7.33.53+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GPS track of St. Regis Hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>To get to the trailhead, <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=44.432121,-74.299926&spn=0.00208,0.005627&t=h&z=18">one parks in a small lot</a> about 2.5 miles down Keese's Mill Rd (which starts near <a href="http://www.paulsmiths.edu/">Paul Smith's College</a>). The trail begins about a tenth of a mile down a private gravel road that crosses a stream. As with many of our outings, we had already made a mistake. After walking for about a quarter of a mile, we realized that we had missed the trail and found ourselves at the gates of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Topridge">Camp Topridge</a>. After a bit of backtracking, we found the trail register and sign hidden behind a felled tree that was covered in snow. In addition to that small set-back, we found ourselves struggling to find blazes at certain points on the trail (especially in the first mile). The snow's drifting and falling had covered all evidence of human impact from the last time a hiker had been on the trail, four days before. To make it even more confusing, many of the blazes were older, and were WHITE. White blazes might be a good idea in the summertime, but that white blaze is nearly impossible to spot when 97% of your surroundings are covered in fresh, white snow. Luckily, just as our patience was beginning to grow thin, we came across evidence that others had done construction on the trail and added new red blazes as part of the renovations. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXaog5jDI/AAAAAAAABDg/CFUOVS_KxsM/s1600/IMG_4623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXaog5jDI/AAAAAAAABDg/CFUOVS_KxsM/s400/IMG_4623.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXczEwjpI/AAAAAAAABDk/hOqFxlFRDrM/s1600/IMG_4628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXczEwjpI/AAAAAAAABDk/hOqFxlFRDrM/s400/IMG_4628.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The hike was beautiful. Snow rested on every branch, rock, and needle throughout our trip, dampening the sound all around us to create an experience that felt as if the entire world had been put on "pause" while we hiked up this trail. We passed massive boulders, walked through impressive stands of hemlocks, admired assorted icicle clumps, and relished in the fact that we were the only ones on the trail that day. At about 2.5 miles into the hike, things began to get quite a bit steeper. For nearly the last mile, we steadily climbed up the east face of St. Regis Mountain. With the snow acting as a blanket of padding, it did not feel like the typical, joint-aching "adirondack rock staircase", which caused the ascent to go by much quicker (and less painful). Before we knew it, we were at the top of St. Regis Mountain. Although we didn't have a great view, it felt better to be atop that peak than many of our past victories.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXVcO6LGI/AAAAAAAABDY/a8Nv4HXANTo/s1600/IMG_4608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXVcO6LGI/AAAAAAAABDY/a8Nv4HXANTo/s640/IMG_4608.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The frostbitten fire tower of St. Regis Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm looking forward to returning to this peak again in warmer weather, as an almost completely bare summit is rare to find on a 2800 ft peak. It also has one of the last fire towers in the Adirondacks, and I'm not sure <a href="http://www.beebehill.info/stregis/stregis.htm">how much longer it will actually even be there</a>. The views from this peak are also supposed to be phenomenal, but the cloud cover severely limited our viewing distance. I was also hoping to use a nifty new booklet that I received as a recent present - <a href="http://www.adirondackpeakfinders.com/AdirondackPeakFinders/Welcome.html">Thatcher's Adirondack Peak Finder</a> - which allows one to easily identify what they see from atop a handful of popular peaks in the park. We decided not to eat our lunch on the summit - although a tradition of many a hiker, the windchill was just too much. We trekked back down the trail until we found a sizable boulder that would shelter us from the wind, and enjoyed a lunch of meat and cheese sandwiches, hot tea, and gatorade slushies (again, thanks to the chilly temps!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXSwxrdrI/AAAAAAAABDU/r2-88VDVulA/s1600/IMG_4606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXSwxrdrI/AAAAAAAABDU/r2-88VDVulA/s640/IMG_4606.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on the frozen St. Regis Pond from the summit</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> The trip back to the car was uneventful and relatively easy. Almost 4.5 hrs later, we once again stepped onto the snowplowed road and headed for the car. It was a wonderful return to such a great backcountry experience, and actually making it to the top made it all the more sweet. We celebrated our victory at the Riverside Bar in <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=st.+regis+falls,+ny&sll=44.672643,-74.545299&sspn=0.002071,0.005627&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=St+Regis+Falls,+Franklin,+New+York&ll=44.672865,-74.545026&spn=0.016694,0.045018&z=15">St. Regis Falls</a>, a favorite place of mine to enjoy a can of beer (yep, I said can, so be sure to bring your own koozie) after hiking in the area. With St. Regis Mountain finally checked off the list, there's now only one peak that Martin and I have to return to and settle the score with, as a result of the trail conditions being too icy on our last attempt. <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2009/04/debar-mountain-so-close.html">Debar Mountain</a>, you're next...</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXQiO_z6I/AAAAAAAABDQ/t-T4r2v8ANA/s1600/IMG_4603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQrXQiO_z6I/AAAAAAAABDQ/t-T4r2v8ANA/s640/IMG_4603.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin and the great, white, void</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-44907621176693272102010-12-11T21:31:00.001-05:002010-12-16T23:16:15.613-05:00Owen & Copperas Ponds - A Winter Wonderland<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQf-lWGGNI/AAAAAAAABCw/xCjb94WEQjg/s1600/IMG_4496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQf-lWGGNI/AAAAAAAABCw/xCjb94WEQjg/s640/IMG_4496.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Looking across Copperas Pond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Owen & Copperas Ponds<br />
Difficulty: Easygoing<br />
Date of Summit: 12/11/2010<br />
Distance: 3.4 miles (round-trip)<br />
Trip Time: 2 hrs<br />
Ascent: a whopping 174 ft<br />
Temperature: 34 degrees fahrenheit<br />
<br />
It felt SO GOOD to be back down in the park. After almost 7 months of no hikes in the Adirondacks, I was beginning to feel ashamed to even still have this blog. This all changed today, thanks to a visit from my in-laws. While the ladies took in all that Lake Placid had to offer (ie: shopped), Byron and I explored a little gem of a trail just <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=44.32343,-73.912282&spn=0.002076,0.005627&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=44.323511,-73.91225&panoid=PXYz0NQO8bJKrJRO8zMxtw&cbp=12,136.15,,0,4.42">a few miles northeast of Lake Placid</a>. I discovered this short hike via <a href="http://adk.org/portals/ADKBooksMapsGear/tabid/62/ProductID/300/Default.aspx?txtSearch=day+hikes&SortField=ProductName,UnitCost">Day Hikes for All Seasons</a> by Bruce Wadsworth, my go-to book for whenever guests come to visit the north country and are looking for a relaxing jaunt in the park to fill an afternoon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQfrkJTS_I/AAAAAAAABCQ/zXNuTdILi9U/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQfrkJTS_I/AAAAAAAABCQ/zXNuTdILi9U/s400/photo.JPG" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map from "Day Hikes for All Seasons" by Bruce Wadsworth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We chose the Owens & Copperas Ponds hike for a number of reasons. We wanted to relax. We wanted to take some nice photos of winter. We didn't want to get in over our heads (like so many times before). Perhaps most importantly, we wanted to finish in time to enjoy a beer in Lake Placid after the hike. All perfect goals, and all were attainable with this hike. A short 1.75 mile hike in, and the same back, totally about 3.5 miles of hiking. There was barely any climb in altitude, and no tough scrambling.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQft9N6PBI/AAAAAAAABCU/uEtleyTY9aY/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQft9N6PBI/AAAAAAAABCU/uEtleyTY9aY/s400/IMG_4511.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow Collected Around Buds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQgD85tUZI/AAAAAAAABC4/za-zMgFlxys/s1600/IMG_4488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQgD85tUZI/AAAAAAAABC4/za-zMgFlxys/s400/IMG_4488.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such Soft Snow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We were a bit concerned - as we drove down to the park from Potsdam - that we might have made a mistake in not renting snowshoes. The snowcover on the side of the road looked to be 12+ inches. Luckily, our decision was a good one, as the trail contained hardly more than 4-6 inches of the powdery stuff. It was also a beautiful rendition of snowfall in the park, looking more like someone had decided to hose down the forest with shaving cream, instead of snowflakes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQfvss9RtI/AAAAAAAABCY/htWEbI13ewo/s1600/IMG_4510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQf1Xm9K5I/AAAAAAAABCg/IrxcwM5iCGE/s1600/IMG_4505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQf1Xm9K5I/AAAAAAAABCg/IrxcwM5iCGE/s400/IMG_4505.JPG" width="300" /></a><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQfvss9RtI/AAAAAAAABCY/htWEbI13ewo/s400/IMG_4510.JPG" width="300" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></div><br />
What a beautiful hike this was! The trail was gradual and easy-going and there was hardly a need for more than hiking boots (in fact, snowshoes would have made it harder to hike, but Byron used his new <a href="http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php">Kahtoola MICROspikes</a>, which definitely helped). Every half-mile, a pond would greet you, sitting at the base of a small peak and crying to have its picture taken. We did just this for the first pond we came across - Owen Pond - which is accompanied by one of the Sentinel Mountains as its backdrop. I thought I'd test the strength of the ice on the pond, only to instantly find my right leg about knee-deep in icy water (thankfully, my <a href="http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/expedition_crocodiles.html">gaiters</a> and waterproof boots stopped most of the water from ruining my day).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQgCNQIDvI/AAAAAAAABC0/4A0AiRny-n0/s1600/owens_pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQgCNQIDvI/AAAAAAAABC0/4A0AiRny-n0/s640/owens_pan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Panoramic of Owen Pond</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We continued on to the next destination - Copperas Pond - where we planned to take a break at the lean-to overlooking the water. On our way, we ran into a hunter and his dog, who had been on the search for snowshoe hare that morning. It felt a bit strange to run into a hunter during the hike, seeing him stand on the trail with his gun, but I quickly realized that he was out there for many of the same reasons we were - to enjoy the wilderness on a beautiful day. After saying goodbye, we continued on to Copperas Pond. It was an equally majestic sight, with a small lean-to tucked into the hillside, across the pond.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQf8LiJRVI/AAAAAAAABCs/8cmQRgJ_gPE/s1600/IMG_4499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQf8LiJRVI/AAAAAAAABCs/8cmQRgJ_gPE/s640/IMG_4499.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bad lean-to site on Copperas Pond...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>At this point - 1.3 miles into the hike - we decided to push forward around the perimeter of the pond, to make the lean-to our midway point for the day. It was a short hike of about .4 additional miles, that included traversing a few rocks and boardwalks, to the lean-to. We enjoyed a quick break of trail mix and hot tea in the lean-to, and turned around to backtrack our path to the car. As we neared the end of our journey, we continued to find excuses to stop and snap another picture, as we were both taken aback by the way the snow had decided to collect on the flora of the park. I'm definitely returning to this peaceful part of the park in the summertime, as I'm fairly certain that it will be just as beautiful and relaxing in the warmer months as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQf5f33KQI/AAAAAAAABCo/eS1XIIz1V-Y/s1600/IMG_4501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TQQf5f33KQI/AAAAAAAABCo/eS1XIIz1V-Y/s640/IMG_4501.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking back to the car, from Copperas Pond</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-69747182317163466362010-09-19T19:53:00.016-04:002010-09-20T10:29:08.619-04:00Higley Flow: A Hike for All Ages<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="478" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518796372823450002" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0D63bIZI/AAAAAAAABBA/OIQANptDl4w/s640/IMG_0893.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Beaver Pond</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>Higley Flow State Park (Beaver Pond Trail)<br />
<div>Difficulty: Extremely Easy</div><div>Date of Hike: 9/19/10</div><div>Length of Hike: .9 miles</div><div>Trip Time: 1 hr</div><div>Temperature: Mid-60's</div></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0Eo-QOgI/AAAAAAAABBI/lCmvOwagqgk/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518796385200126466" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0Eo-QOgI/AAAAAAAABBI/lCmvOwagqgk/s640/IMG_0894.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="476" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the informational placards found on the trail</span></div></div><div><br />
</div><div><div><div>It doesn't get easier than Higley. Set in the village of South Colton, just off Rte 56 (between Potsdam and Cranberry Lake), Higley Flow State Park (<a href="http://www.nysparks.com/parks/58/details.aspx">Park Website Here</a>) is a place that has everything a family needs: a wonderful beach on the Racquette flow, hundreds of campsites, and a handful of walking (and mountain biking or skiing) trails to choose from.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0CzRkOmI/AAAAAAAABAw/3VsWGUr_x68/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518796353605745250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0CzRkOmI/AAAAAAAABAw/3VsWGUr_x68/s640/IMG_0891.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="476" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Littlest Hiker</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJanRzSaD1I/AAAAAAAABAk/YO3uaUcy66w/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-19+at+7.35.32+PM.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="430" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518782317656149842" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJanRzSaD1I/AAAAAAAABAk/YO3uaUcy66w/s640/Screen+shot+2010-09-19+at+7.35.32+PM.png" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">GPS plot of our hike, done w/ my phone</span></div><div></div></div><div><br />
</div><div>Since I'm sure we'll make it back to Higley many times, I'll keep this brief, sticking to just the short jaunt that my wife, daughter, and I took today. We hiked the Beaver Pond Interpretive Trail. It was a rolling trail that took the hiker through a variety of different habitats, including marshlands, ponds, and different forest settings. It was great for kids, as the variety keeps them interested, and the informational placards (w/ illustrations) helps for everyone to learn something new about where they are.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0FFT6N3I/AAAAAAAABBQ/TKpf3YUDAz8/s1600/IMG_0895.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518796392807151474" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0FFT6N3I/AAAAAAAABBQ/TKpf3YUDAz8/s640/IMG_0895.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forest planted by CCC</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0DRXD1BI/AAAAAAAABA4/p_F1XyRpqMQ/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518796361681851410" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0DRXD1BI/AAAAAAAABA4/p_F1XyRpqMQ/s640/IMG_0892.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Looking out over the wetlands</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>This trail was so well-blazed and easy that my 18-month old daughter hiked about half of it herself. I would say that if you live within a 20-minute drive of this trail, it's worth a visit. With other trails in the area - like the <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/11/stone-valley-trail.html">Stone Valley Trail</a> and the <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2009/01/snowshoes-on-sandstone-trail.html">Red Sandstone Trail</a> just up the road, Rte. 56 is a wonderful starting point for a great hike in the north country.</div></div></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0guDukRI/AAAAAAAABBg/DaVfjrla2-E/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518796867601600786" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0guDukRI/AAAAAAAABBg/DaVfjrla2-E/s640/IMG_3469.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></div></div></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hiking up the hill</span></div><br />
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</u></span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0guDukRI/AAAAAAAABBg/DaVfjrla2-E/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0fz7icGI/AAAAAAAABBY/tjm7x0YijlE/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518796851997995106" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/TJa0fz7icGI/AAAAAAAABBY/tjm7x0YijlE/s640/IMG_0896.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="478" /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Snack break</span></div></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-40689188822439224442010-05-19T22:01:00.163-04:002010-09-19T22:40:29.489-04:00The Good, The Bad, and The Stupid (not necessarily in that order)<div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X3PvxN--I/AAAAAAAAA_c/0TeTb2fMMVg/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473552772031708130" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X3PvxN--I/AAAAAAAAA_c/0TeTb2fMMVg/s640/IMG_2384.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">A view of the MacIntyre Range from atop Street</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nye Mountain </span>(3895 ft) (50th Highest Peak in the ADKs, but one of the "46")</div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Street Mountain </b>(4166 ft) (31st Highest Peak in the ADKs)</span></div></b><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Tabletop Mountain</b> (4427 ft) (19th Highest Peak in the 'ADKs)</span></div></b><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Phelps Mountain</b> (4161 ft) (32nd Highest Peak in ADKs)</span></div></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Total Length of Hike/Trip: 22.5 Miles (see charts & maps below)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dates of Trip: 5/18 - 5/19, 2010</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Trailhead: Heart Lake</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Campsite" Location: Adirondack Loj</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Temperature: Day 1: Slightly overcast (60's), Day 2: Overcast, wet, and rainy (high 50's)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Every summer, my good friend Martin Heintzelman and I try to squeeze in at least one overnight trip down to the Adirondacks. These trips are beginning to slowly make a dent into our "46 High Peaks" lifetime goal. This trip in mid-May was no exception - we had our sights set on four different peaks that are part of this collection. Often times, when one thinks of standing atop one of the highest peaks in the State of New York, visions of sublime landscapes and romantic vistas come to mind. Unfortunately, not all of the 46 high peaks possess that "natural charm" like Marcy, Algonquin, or Haystack are famous for having. Martin and I are realists - we know that eventually, we'll have to climb all 46 high peaks, so perhaps it would be a good idea to "spread out the beauty" and not leave the most unpopular peaks until the very end. With this in mind, we chose two pairs of those type of peaks that were relatively equidistant from a potential basecamp, thus - if all went well - we would be adding four new high peaks to our respective lists. This was our plan of attack, and I hope that - over the course of this post - you'll discover why our decision was equally good, bad, and very, very stupid.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 130%; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;"><em><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP3oYIjvI/AAAAAAAAA8g/s8eqXQyzmXE/s1600/phelps_tabletop_nye_street.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="416" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473509476777103090" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP3oYIjvI/AAAAAAAAA8g/s8eqXQyzmXE/s640/phelps_tabletop_nye_street.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;"><em><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The map of our two-day plan to hike Street, Nye, Phelps, & Tabletop </span></span></span></div></div></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span><br />
<b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline ! important;"><div style="display: inline ! important; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The two pairs of peaks - Street & Nye and Phelps & Tabletop, both shared the same origination point - the Adirondack Loj and Heart Lake Campground area. In looking at the calendar, we realized that our trip would happen to fall smack-dab in the middle of "black fly season", which can have the potential to make a trip </span></span></span><a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/06/return-to-mt-azure.html"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">extremely miserable</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">. This factor, coupled with both of us just finishing the semester at Clarkson University (where we both teach), led us to the conclusion that it might be a good idea to pamper ourselves - just this once - and stay at the </span></span></span><a href="http://www.adk.org/ad_loj/"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Adirondack Loj</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">. The Loj is a "rustic B&B" set back in the high peaks region of the Adirondacks. It offers clean cots, hot showers, and homemade meals. This "high peaks hotel" would not only remove black flies from being our nighttime guests in a lean-to or tent, but also allow us to devote two full days to strenuous day hikes (we would not need to bring tents, sleeping bags, bear canisters, stoves, or other necessary "backcountry camping" gear). After doing a bit of research on pricing and amenities, we were booked for a night's stay in the Adirondack Loj (more on that later).</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></em></div></span></b></div></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XWMkooE8I/AAAAAAAAA9w/feJMgzQar9c/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473516433619555266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XWMkooE8I/AAAAAAAAA9w/feJMgzQar9c/s640/IMG_2370.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;"><em><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><b><em></em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><em><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;"><em><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The view from Adirondack Loj on Heart Lake (w/ Street looming in the background)</span></span></div></div></div></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></em><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></span></b></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></em><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></span></b></span></span></span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em></em></div><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"></div></em><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></span></b></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><em></em></span></span></div></div></span></b></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><em></em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em></em></div><em></em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><em><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"></div></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></b></span></div></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></b></div></span></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline ! important;"><em><div style="display: inline ! important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Day One</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline ! important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline ! important;"><em><div style="display: inline ! important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline ! important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Attempting to Summit Nye & Street</span></span></span></div></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></span></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline ! important;"><em><div style="display: inline ! important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline ! important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The first day of our two-day journey found us beginning at a familiar spot. The </span></span><a href="http://www.adk.org/about/directions_ncountry.aspx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Heart Lake</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> area of the Adirondacks is one of three well-known starting points for conquering a majority of the high peaks (</span></span><a href="http://www.adk.org/about/directions_ncountry.aspx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The Garden</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> in Keene Valley and Upper Works in </span></span><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=+tahawus,+ny&sll=43.982193,-74.091797&sspn=0.067071,0.174065&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tahawus,+Essex,+New+York&ll=44.047375,-74.050941&spn=0.133995,0.348129&z=12"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Tahawus</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> being the other two locations). By 9:00 am, the both of us were on the trail towards Street and Nye, confident that we'd be back to the Loj by 4:30, soaking our feet in Heart Lake's crystal clear water and looking forward to a hearty dinner at 6:15.</span></span></div></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTgOSRrZJjHCv9G0riSmz5itcnvXs9V5OrbLoR271nbUhktcx9QzlETbwkPl4UH2fSCVT2WnkrFYG_FhHG5FwN_rRPZuvHlt7sl_tVjPtVUzQwDqqw0eUZ67t_C_2f2EKBfMai6AL0r4/s1600/street_nye_map.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="209" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473509493829443458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTgOSRrZJjHCv9G0riSmz5itcnvXs9V5OrbLoR271nbUhktcx9QzlETbwkPl4UH2fSCVT2WnkrFYG_FhHG5FwN_rRPZuvHlt7sl_tVjPtVUzQwDqqw0eUZ67t_C_2f2EKBfMai6AL0r4/s640/street_nye_map.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><em></em></b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><em></em><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The map of our route to Nye and </span></span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stree</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">t</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">But if you've read any of my posts before, I'm sure you know that </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">nothing seems to go as planned when you're in the Adirondacks</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">. It seemed simple enough - hike roughly 3.2 miles to a col (a saddle point for crossing between two summits), at which we turn right and hike .4 miles to the summit of Nye, then return to the col and go right on another trail for .6 miles to summit Street. All-in-all, we were looking at roughly 8.4 miles of hiking (most of it on "herdpaths" that are not as well maintained or blazed as the main trails) and 2400 feet of climbing between the two peaks. An intense day for sure, but nothing we couldn't handle. The first .5 miles of the hike was a peaceful jaunt around Heart Lake, following the very same path many would take to </span></span></span><a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/05/return-to-mt-jo.html" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Mt. Jo</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> or on to Indian Pass. Shortly after the trail registration box, we turned on to the "Old Nye Ski Trail" and began to wander through the foothills of what would eventually turn into Street and Nye. We followed a lively brook for roughly the first third of the journey, which proved both peaceful and slightly annoying, as the population density of various flying critters definitely spiked whenever we found ourselves within proximity to this water source</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">.</span></span></div></div></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></b></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></div></span></em></div></b></div></div></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;"><em><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></b></div></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XOzCJIF7I/AAAAAAAAA8A/8p3M58gMOts/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473508298282506162" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XOzCJIF7I/AAAAAAAAA8A/8p3M58gMOts/s640/IMG_2371.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">An interesting lowlands area</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on the Old Nye Ski Trail</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></span></div><div style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">At about 1.7 miles into the hike, we happened upon an abandoned lumber camp, of which rusting objects of survival and production littered the landscape. I actually enjoy happening upon artifacts of past human inhabitance whenever I hike, as it reminds me of how ephemeral human occupation can be when up against something as timeless and powerful as nature.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XOzbljoRI/AAAAAAAAA8I/cJsyulYLy4c/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473508305112637714" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XOzbljoRI/AAAAAAAAA8I/cJsyulYLy4c/s640/IMG_2372.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The abandoned lumber camp</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">After leaving the lumber camp behind us, we continued on a slow but steady climb to the base of the two peaks. At roughly 2.7 miles from the Loj, we came across a large cairn (pile of rocks used to signify a change in direction of a trail). Having read the </span></span><a href="http://www.adk.org/new_store/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=GHP"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">guidebook</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> and remembering that it described the junction between Street and Nye as being "marked by a cairn" (pg. 138), we knew this point to be the intersection of Nye and Street. We rejoiced at making it this far on the trip and quickly turned west (right, in this case) and began an extremely steep climb up to our first peak - Nye. The next .5 miles was the steepest and most difficult section of the day so far, proving that this was indeed a true Adirondack herdpath. After ducking under and climbing over countless felled trees from recent blowdowns, we finally found ourselves on top of Nye. Although we could not find a sign proclaiming it as the summit, we took the two giant cairns as a positive sign that we indeed had summited the mountain. We took pictures of each other by the cairns, and Martin began to take out his lunch for a feast atop the 50th highest peak in the park.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XO0S95XgI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/MnCs2Q4duJ4/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473508319978675714" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XO0S95XgI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/MnCs2Q4duJ4/s640/IMG_2374.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Could it be? The two-cairned summit of Nye?</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Then I noticed that there were two other trails diverging in different directions,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">in addition</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> to the trail we had just come from. We realized that we had made a stupid mistake. We quickly checked the guidebook to see what they had to say about this odd intersection. It turns out that there is some sort of "beautiful, but longer approach" that existed as well (pg. 138), so it was safe to assume that one of the two mystery trails was most likely a different approach and would not lead us to a summit. We started down the trail that would most likely lead to Nye (the trail that headed north, in the direction of Nye) only to find it dipping down into a valley, leading us to believe that it could only be the "longer approach" described in the book. We backtracked and took </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">the other trail</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> leading to the south instead. After walking for a bit under a quarter of a mile, we checked our bearings. To our surprise, this trail was leading AWAY from Nye, and we now deduced that </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">this trail </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">must be the ACTUAL "longer approach", and the previous trail in which we found ourselves descending into the valley must have been the ACTUAL herdpath to Nye! (If you're still following after all of that, congratulations). This now made it official - we made not only a stupid decision, but the series of decisions had now grown to be </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">very stupid</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">. Humbled by our obvious mistake, we</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">backtracked yet again </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">to the junction with two cairns and</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">yet again</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">climbed the northern-leading trail to what we hoped would be Nye.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP5YmawaI/AAAAAAAAA9A/T9otk-XH3KA/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473509506901787042" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP5YmawaI/AAAAAAAAA9A/T9otk-XH3KA/s640/IMG_2378.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Martin, sitting under the high-placed summit marker</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Finally, after almost half a mile of hiking and climbing, we found ourselves on a peak that had only a small yellow blaze signifying the Nye summit, and hardly a view whatsoever from any direction you looked. With our spirits slightly bruised and definitely humbled, we ate our lunches quickly, as we realized we still had the mighty Street to conquer, which meant descending that perilous half-mile of blowdown, rocks, and mud that we had previously ascended. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">I can't describe how satisfying it felt to reach that single cairn at the bottom of the mountain again. It's always an amazing experience to not only climb and descend a stretch of trail that tested your strength and will, but also to know that you will gladly never have to set foot on that perilous trail again. Since we knew that the book stated that the two trails branched off at the single cairn, we began to immediately search for the second trail that would lead us to the summit of Nye. Martin set off in one direction, and I in the other, keeping an eye out for fresh bootprints or broken tree branches. After a few minutes of looking, we were perplexed. Neither of us could find a single signifier of a trail to Street being present. We both began to digest this idea in our minds. Suddenly, Martin exclaimed "What if..." and before he could even finish the sentence, I said "...don't even think about saying what I think you're going to say". We both had realized it at the same time. There was no "longer approach". </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">That trail we had assumed to be the "longer approach" was actually the trail to Street.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> When the guidebook was last updated (2004), there must have only been one cairn at the top of what we just descended from, and since then someone had the bright idea of building a second cairn next to it (obviously to signify the two separate trails coming together, but inadvertently confusing others who might be following the books directions a bit too closely).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XXBV27Y8I/AAAAAAAAA94/TKsSb-bQB9Y/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473517340186076098" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XXBV27Y8I/AAAAAAAAA94/TKsSb-bQB9Y/s640/IMG_2386.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Yes there was still snow. Yes it was late May.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">What this meant was that - exhausted and feeling very, very stupid - we had to make a decision. Do we call it quits and return to the luxury of the Adirondack Loj, where hot showers, a dip in the lake, and relaxation by the fireplace await us (only to return another day to conquer Street with fresh legs), or do we man-up and climb all the way back up a stretch of trail that nearly beat everything out of us the first time we went up and back down? I did my usual "trail drama" of hemming and hawing about whether this will take everything out of me tomorrow, how my neck hurt from sleeping on it wrong, and how I was probably too fat and out of shape to make it back down. While this was going on, Martin (thankfully) made the decision for us - we've made it this far, so we're going back up, gosh-darnit. Since it would have probably taken me another 15-20 minutes of resting to make my decision to go back up instead of return to the Loj, I'm glad Martin was there to motivate us immediately. With that, we began again up that treacherous stretch of trail.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP4DJOsjI/AAAAAAAAA8o/-mdmTIEQgTI/s1600/street_nye_elevation.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="325" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473509483962348082" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP4DJOsjI/AAAAAAAAA8o/-mdmTIEQgTI/s640/street_nye_elevation.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Elevation plot of our Street & Nye hike</span></span></span></div></div></span></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">(w/ area of complete stupidity in red)</span></span></span></div></div></span></span></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">While this was only half a mile on the map, this represented roughly 625 feet of vertical climbing (if we had not made this major mistake, the area in red on the plot above would not exist). Anytime one has to climb at a rate of 1,000 vertical feet per mile, it is considered to be some of the steepest grade one would ever find on a trail. We were climbing - for the second time - at a rate of 1,250 vertical feet per mile. By the time we got to the top and saw the two cairns standing there and laughing at us (now for the fifth time), we had lost all pride in any orienteering skills that we ever imagined we had possessed in the first place. How could we be so stupid? Perhaps we were too involved in the conversation we were having to realize how big a mistake we were making. Perhaps we trusted the book too much and should have looked at the map or GPS more carefully. Whatever the reason might be, we were paying for it now. Our joints and muscles ached and we were starting to run out of water, and we hadn't even made it up to Street yet.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XUnKiKfDI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/zk7bGPLuzJQ/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473514691446340658" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XUnKiKfDI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/zk7bGPLuzJQ/s640/IMG_2385.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Martin, atop Street</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">(w/ MacIntyre Range in background)</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">After .6 miles of walking on the trail to Street (which we originally thought was the "longer trail"), we found ourselves on the summit. Just slightly less depressing than Nye, Street had a small view of the MacIntyre Range, which I've hiked on two separate occasions (</span></span><a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/adirondack-deathmarch.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Wright, Algonquin, Iroquois</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">, and </span></span><a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/06/first-overnight-trip-in-adirondacks.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Marshall</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">). We quickly snapped pictures of our accomplishment, drank the last sips of water we had, and descended back to the famous "two-cairns intersection" for a sixth and final time.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XUmqklocI/AAAAAAAAA9I/gzz9YUAT4YU/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473514682866573762" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XUmqklocI/AAAAAAAAA9I/gzz9YUAT4YU/s640/IMG_2383.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Atop Street, angry and tired</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">..</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">One can only imagine what the second time down that dreadful stretch did to the entire human body. Rather than going into detail about specific joints, tendons, or other parts of the body that were stretched, smashed, or jelly-fied, I'll just say that by the time we saw the Adirondack Loj in the distance, we had hiked an extra 1.5 miles, climbed and extra 700 vertical feet, and descended that same extra 700 vertical feet. Barely walking - more like limping - into the Loj lobby and smelling the Chicken Parmesan coming out of the oven felt like some sort of dream or sudden glimpse of the heavenly afterlife. We barely made it back in time for dinner, as we had been hiking for nearly nine hours straight. My mouth was dry, I smelled like death itself, and my entire body was screaming in pain. It was then I realized that we had to hike eleven miles the next day.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP44oKtYI/AAAAAAAAA84/cRw1u5CYlFs/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473509498319189378" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP44oKtYI/AAAAAAAAA84/cRw1u5CYlFs/s640/IMG_2381.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XUmqklocI/AAAAAAAAA9I/gzz9YUAT4YU/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">P.S. I noticed the above sign carved into a tree</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">at the "two-cairn intersection" on our way down</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">from Street, after our series of stupid mistakes.</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">All we would have had to do was look around...</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XP44oKtYI/AAAAAAAAA84/cRw1u5CYlFs/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Overnight in The Adirondack Loj</span></span></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Don't get me wrong - I love to "rough it" in the woods. Sleeping under the stars, a tent, or a lean-to is my idea of heaven. But I'm also someone who enjoys being pampered every so often. At first, I was skeptical - pay money to sleep in a cot, while I could sleep for free in a lean-to? But after hiking for over nine miles and making as many stupid mistakes as we made, that idea of "three-hots and a cot" all of the sudden seemed brilliant. The Loj, built by Henry Van Hoevenburg in 1890, was quickly (unfortunately) burned down in 1903. The current structure was rebuilt in 1927 by the Lake Placid Club. It's now owned and operated by the Adirondack Mountain Club, and has been welcoming hikers and backpackers through it's doors for decades since. With a moose head, maps, and old trail signs adorning its walls, the Loj is truly a haven for Adirondack Enthusiasts.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_Xaep0AzbI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/uXlI5ArBVEU/s1600/800px-ADK_Loj,_North_Elba,_NY.JPG.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473521142293646770" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_Xaep0AzbI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/uXlI5ArBVEU/s640/800px-ADK_Loj,_North_Elba,_NY.JPG.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The Adirondack Loj at Heart Lake</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">(Photo Courtesy </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ADK_Loj,_North_Elba,_NY.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Wikipedia</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">)</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Since we arrived within minutes of dinner starting, we only had time to check-in, drop our gear at our cots, and head down to dinner. Martin and I were staying in the 12-person loft, located in the attic of the Loj, offering the most affordable rate in the building (there are also 4 and 6-person rooms, as well as private rooms w/ single, queen, and king beds).<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XXCLd8TGI/AAAAAAAAA-A/HNWtN52VpyI/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473517354576792674" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XXCLd8TGI/AAAAAAAAA-A/HNWtN52VpyI/s640/IMG_2387.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The 12-person loft at the Loj</span></span></div></div><div></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">When the dinner bell rang at 6:15, Martin and I were more than ready to eat. We hobbled downstairs from the loft and into the dining room. The Loj's dining room is just as one would imagine it - long dinner tables that encourage conversation and storytelling about the day's hikes and future plans for the 'morrow. Because of the set-up, the extremely hospitable kitchen staff bring out plate after plate of all-you-can-eat family style dining. Since May is still considered the "off-season", we had the pleasure of barely filling one table. It was the two of us, another two men from Virginia, and a family of three from Pennsylvania. We enjoyed hearing about their adventures over the past few days, and we shared ours (embarrassing as it was) as well. The menu consisted of homemade black-bean soup, homemade bread, salad, garlic bread, fettucini with homemade pasta sauce, stea</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">med vegetables, and an entree of chicken parmesan. If that wasn't enough, they then brought out peaches 'n' cream pie for dessert. During the course of that dinner, I went from feeling famished a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">nd weak to feeling overstuffed and nearly sick to my stomach on nourishment overload. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat (and did, for breakfast).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XUoe9mAcI/AAAAAAAAA9g/8J0mlu-nseA/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473514714109968834" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_XUoe9mAcI/AAAAAAAAA9g/8J0mlu-nseA/s640/IMG_2390.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The Dining Room at the Loj</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">After the tables were cleared from dinner, everyone seemed to go their separate ways for a bit. Some went to relax with a cup of coffee or tea in the great room, while others (ie: Martin and I) headed straight for the showers. Because the Loj can hold up to 40 people, they have fairly large bathroom facilities. I must have spent 20 minutes under the shower head, letting the hot water do it's best at loosening up my sore muscles. After the shower, I headed down to the great room, which truly defines the essence of the Loj's facilities. Sitting by the fireplace, Martin and I discussed the next day's schedule and plans, while also getting the chance to meet a late-comer from Delaware who was passing through. Sitting in the rustic furniture and paging through old issues of </span></span><a href="http://www.adk.org/ad_mag/index.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Adirondac Magazine</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> made me once again realize why I loved this park so much - it wasn't just about "hiking a high peak" or "getting away from it all" - it was a wilderness area that is rich with human and natural history. I can only imagine that many other hikers who have had the pleasure of staying at the Loj have felt at home, just like I did. Earlier than usual, I retired to the loft and fell asleep to a phantom feeling of my legs climbing some infinitely high mountain.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X8zMVlJHI/AAAAAAAAA_o/xa6-QAzyjpg/s1600/IMG_2393.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473558878553973874" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X8zMVlJHI/AAAAAAAAA_o/xa6-QAzyjpg/s640/IMG_2393.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The Loj's Great Room</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Day</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Two</span></span></span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Attempting to Summit Tabletop & Phelps</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">There is definitely a downside to sleeping in a place like the Loj. After a long day of hiking and a long night of sleep, it's harder than one could ever imagine to get out of bed in the morning. The aches and pains that I thought I had the night before were nothing compared to what I experienced when my feet first hit the floor at 6:15 on Wednesday morning. After some stretching and a cup of coffee, I was feeling a bit better and began to pack for both our checkout and our 11-miler to Tabletop and Phelps. Just as the previous night's meal-bell, I was through those doors before it even stopped clanging. I sat down to a somewhat familiar party of guests and began to chow down on fresh fruit, bacon, and pancakes. After chasing our meals with some OJ and more coffee, we were ready to go and out the door. Believe it or not, but we were more motivated than ever to prove that we could still conquer what we set out to do - climb four high peaks in two days.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1AFqQkzI/AAAAAAAAA-c/faChIJ45HGc/s1600/phelps_tabletop_map" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473550304006935346" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1AFqQkzI/AAAAAAAAA-c/faChIJ45HGc/s640/phelps_tabletop_map" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="633" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Map of our route to Phelps & Tabletop</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">While the hike to these two peaks was definitely longer (the book said 11 miles, while the final GPS readout actually said 12.6...?), we had the benefit of taking one of the most popular - and "un-adirondack" - trails into near the base of these two peaks. The Van Hoevenburg Trail is extremely well manicured and traveled, due both to the popularity of it serving as an easy route for all types of hikers to Marcy Dam and also it being one of the most direct trails to the summit of Mt. Marcy. Because of this, the first 2.3 miles of the hike are extremely easy. We flew through this section in 45 minutes and arrived at Marcy Dam, ready to push on to the herdpath trailhead of Tabletop. We wanted to climb Tabletop first due to it being further away, as we knew that if we climbed Phelps first (which was closer to the Loj), we would be more likely to "call it a day" by the time we got back down and not give Tabletop a chance. In our minds, there was absolutely nothing that would keep us from summiting both of the peaks that day - we were determined to accomplish what we set out do do. Then it began to rain...<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1AUAclNI/AAAAAAAAA-k/gmSFqQzNJC8/s1600/phelps_tabletop.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="326" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473550307858093266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1AUAclNI/AAAAAAAAA-k/gmSFqQzNJC8/s640/phelps_tabletop.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Elevation Plot of Phelps & Tabletop</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Rain is never a good thing in the Adirondacks. Obviously, nobody who is hiking in the outdoors ever wants it to rain, but when you're walking on nothing but bare rock and mud puddles, you REALLY don't want it to rain. Despite the precipitation, we continued to move forward towards Tabletop. After only 4.4 miles of hiking from the Loj, we were standing at the beginning of the herdpath up to Tabletop. Stepping off the main trail and onto this less-maintained trail was quite obvious, as the grade became steeper and the rocks and trees closed in on us as we began the .7 mile ascent to the top of the peak. We were once again climbing over 1000 vertical feet per mile, and my legs and lungs began to remember what that felt like from the day before.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1BvZGoSI/AAAAAAAAA-8/XtedWAjplWY/s1600/DSCN0024.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473550332389138722" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1BvZGoSI/AAAAAAAAA-8/XtedWAjplWY/s640/DSCN0024.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Martin, atop the Table</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">After roughly half a mile of hiking up this path, we reached some sort of summit. No longer were we climbing on all fours, but walking on an almost flat terrain in an interesting high-altitude forest. This makes complete sense, as this fulfills the mountain's namesake of "Tabletop". Finally, after hearing Martin call out "Summit!", we were on the top of our third high peak in two days. Unfortunately, as we were climbing the peak, the rain had picked up and brought bunches of clouds with it. Despite what looked to be a sparse and poor view to begin with through all of the trees, the clouds completely cloaked any potential views of the surrounding peaks. With the fear that the weather might turn for even worse (and knowing that we had to get down this peak and up and down another one, all of which contained various sizes and shapes of already slippery rocks in the trail), we headed back down the peak.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1A1Os3bI/AAAAAAAAA-s/vAHWoIVRDEM/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473550316776250802" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1A1Os3bI/AAAAAAAAA-s/vAHWoIVRDEM/s640/IMG_2394.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">On the Phelps Brook bridge, at our lunch spot</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">After a somewhat leisurely, but well-deserved break for lunch at Phelps brook, we filtered some more water and made our way to the base of the final peak on our two-day list. While Tabletop was technically taller (by about 266 feet), the ascent to Phelps was both longer and steeper. It was much like the previous day's half-mile ascent that we did twice - we were climbing roughly 1,250 vertical feet per mile - only this time we were actually doing this for an entire mile. This, coupled with the fact that it was raining, began to pull on my morale as well as my energy. In a pathetic attempt to keep the wetness at bay, I threw on my poncho, only to find that it probably did more damage than good, by snagging on branches and getting stuck under my boots when climbing the near cliff-like trail. As always, Martin was in better shape than I was and led the way up the peak to once again call back to me the encouraging words of "Summit!" near the top. Eventually, we both found ourselves atop Phelps, with an extremely bad view. Once again, the clouds kept us from enjoying even a glimpse of any nearby peaks. It was especially anti-climactic because it was apparent that someone had unfortunately stolen the summit sign as a souvenir, forcing us to pose for pictures alone, wet, and cold on the bare rock that was shrouded by fog. Despite all of this, we were also thrilled - Martin and I had just added four more peaks to our running totals. Martin now had 9 peaks, while I had jumped to 14!<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1ZtyucQI/AAAAAAAAA_E/4aQgazvko-w/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473550744276594946" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1ZtyucQI/AAAAAAAAA_E/4aQgazvko-w/s640/IMG_2398.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">??!!!??!<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1aP9naYI/AAAAAAAAA_M/Xy6DYl3WEnI/s1600/IMG_2402.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473550753449077122" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1aP9naYI/AAAAAAAAA_M/Xy6DYl3WEnI/s640/IMG_2402.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The clouds atop Phelps, swallowing everything</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The descent was expectedly painful, yet refreshing, as we realized that the next 4.4 miles was nothing but downhill the entire way back to the car. Our conversation shifted from high peaks to hamburgers, as we began to plan our next conquest: what restaurant we should visit to celebrate our four peaks in two days victory.</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal;"><div align="left" style="display: inline !important;"><em><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">All in all, this was just as wonderful as the other overnight trips I've experienced in the Adirondacks. Even though we made some very stupid mistakes on the first day and endured both bad views and weather on the second; t</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">he Adirondack Loj was a good experience that I would gladly pay for again.</span></span></span></em></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> Because of these things, I'll always remember this trip as The Good, The Bad, and The Stupid!</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1BVvGHdI/AAAAAAAAA-0/jGNUeRSMWFY/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473550325502057938" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S_X1BVvGHdI/AAAAAAAAA-0/jGNUeRSMWFY/s640/IMG_2396.JPG" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Phelps Brook</span></span></span></div></div></em></div></span></b></span></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-54949260407429677142010-05-06T21:54:00.030-04:002010-05-07T08:28:32.871-04:00Hurricane Mountain: Back in the Swing of Things<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-OSKsICOBI/AAAAAAAAA64/kD6zc1l5_Tw/s1600/IMG_2150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-OSKsICOBI/AAAAAAAAA64/kD6zc1l5_Tw/s400/IMG_2150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468375084899121170" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The fire tower of Hurricane, peeking over the summit</span></div><div><div><div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Hurricane Mountain (3694 ft)</span></b><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></b><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Difficulty: </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Moderately Steep</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Date of Summit</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">: 5/5/2010</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Trailhead to Summit:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> 2.6 miles</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Trip Time:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> 4 hrs (which included a 30-minute break at top)</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Ascent:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> 2000 ft</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Average Walking Speed:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> 2.1 mph</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Temperature: </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Mid-60's</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It had been way too long since I was able to get down to the park and take in the view. It is amazing what an extra-snowy winter and 14-month old daughter will do to your availability and motivation for getting down to the Adirondacks for a hike. Luckily, the stars finally aligned for me to once again visit one of my favorite places on earth.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We had the pleasure of hosting my wife's sister, Molly, and her partner, Paul, for the past week. Molly and Paul live in London, England, so this visit was an extra special one, as it was not only their first experience of the North Country, but also their first official </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Poutine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> experience (but I digress...). I like to think that Paul and I agreed to endure a week's worth of shopping, baby oogling, and "sister talk" because we knew that one entire day would be set aside for just "us guys" to take a manly walk in the park.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSnM9eTDli9JQCXUDyRkKAXTAt8gWGxhhlvRAZRk3Fgrt16VYaXRC_BvmMlE58et6u4A3dc8y9zOb_HPWD61qatLb4a1fnRiislAitiEjH8qRmeIpf3Rb_VCVa0AeIoVDCSvq8jub_A4/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-05-07+at+7.53.33+AM.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSnM9eTDli9JQCXUDyRkKAXTAt8gWGxhhlvRAZRk3Fgrt16VYaXRC_BvmMlE58et6u4A3dc8y9zOb_HPWD61qatLb4a1fnRiislAitiEjH8qRmeIpf3Rb_VCVa0AeIoVDCSvq8jub_A4/s400/Screen+shot+2010-05-07+at+7.53.33+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468496813053163890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">GPS Track of the hike up to Hurricane</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Since this was Paul's first official "American Hike", I knew that it had to count. I spent some time researching hikes and asking questions of the helpful members on </span><a href="http://www.hikeadks.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">hikeadks.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and was beginning to realize that - although the recent days had said otherwise - there was a good chance we'd find some stubborn patches of snow and ice still atop the peaks. After much deliberation, I decided to choose Hurricane Mountain as Paul's first peak, as it appeared to not only be a challenging peak, but also a rewarding one - as far as the view is concerned.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Since there had been roughly 13 inches of snow fall in the park only a week before our planned hike (on April 28th), I knew that we had to be prepared. After packing the necessary materials and borrowing an extra pair of gaiters from my friend Josh, I was still short one pair of </span><a href="http://www.32north.com/Products/Play/STABILicersOriginal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Stabilicers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> for Paul, in case we ran into icy conditions in the upper portions of the trail. Per the usual procedure, the men dropped the ladies in downtown Lake Placid for a day of shopping and socializing. This proved to be doubly convenient, as I was able to duck into the EMS Store and purchase their last pair of </span><a href="http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kahtoola Microspikes</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> for insurance against any potential ice.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-QA3uSttLI/AAAAAAAAA7M/4UqYwLTBCPY/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-05-07+at+7.52.01+AM.png"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-QA3uSttLI/AAAAAAAAA7M/4UqYwLTBCPY/s400/Screen+shot+2010-05-07+at+7.52.01+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468496804853953714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 205px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Elevation Profile of ascent and descent of Hurricane Mountain</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By the time we got to the Route 9N </span><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hurricane+mountain,+ny&mrt=all&sll=44.669937,-74.973217&sspn=0.00792,0.021007&ie=UTF8&hq=Hurricane+Mountain&hnear=Hurricane+Mountain,+Keene,+NY+12942&t=h&ll=44.211418,-73.722875&spn=0,0.021007&z=16&layer=c&cbll=44.211422,-73.722879&panoid=dt86m_KPdOYPkCCH1glL2A&cbp=12,23.93,,0,6.29"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">trailhead outside of Keene</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> (hit the jump for a Google street-view) at around 11:30am, the air was feeling cool (mid-60's) and bunches of unthreatening clouds filled the sky. Knowing that we had a hefty 2,000 ft. to climb in just 2.6 miles, we set out on the trail with our spirits high. Our spirits were quickly humbled by the immediate vertical climb that welcomed us, in which we climbed roughly 450 vertical feet in just under a quarter of a mile.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-OSKZplb4I/AAAAAAAAA6w/270a4tublx8/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-OSKZplb4I/AAAAAAAAA6w/270a4tublx8/s400/IMG_2182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468375079939567490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center; ">Hiking through the pines</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After this initial altitude jump and a quick stop for water, we enjoyed a brief respite from the vertical climb, by way of a relatively easy stroll through flatlands that were filled with a large pond (caused by beaver dams). Coming across a "mountaintop pond/lake" is always a wonderful surprise, as it combines two of my favorites types of natural views into one convenient package!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORG2mk4sI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/NLmaxmCMd_U/s1600/IMG_2147.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORG2mk4sI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/NLmaxmCMd_U/s400/IMG_2147.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468373919480472258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Catwalk across a pond created by beaver dams</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This oasis was unfortunately the last time I smiled (and maybe breathed properly) until reaching the top, as it was ALL UPHILL FROM THERE. My hamstrings, thighs, knees, and lungs were once again reminded of why Adirondack hikes are some of the most challenging in the world. This trail went straight up the mountain, utilizing various old riverbeds and other rocky-havens for the main trail (in looking at the elevation profile of our hike, it seems that we climbed over 1,000 vertical feet in just under one mile). While my body was screaming "NO!", what I saw on the trail was causing my mind to scream "YES!". There was not a single flake of snow or shard of ice to find anywhere. In fact, the trail - for the most part - was relatively dry. On top of that, I never once had to bring out my bug spray, as I had not seen a single black fly or mosquito. All of this was very peculiar, as this time of year was both Black Fly Season AND Mud Season in the Adirondacks. Those factors, coupled with the previous week's 13 inches of snow, demonstrated to me that, just as I had thought and hoped, all the stars were aligned for this trip.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORHf8nw0I/AAAAAAAAA6g/OvSRz-TLUJw/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORHf8nw0I/AAAAAAAAA6g/OvSRz-TLUJw/s400/IMG_2178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468373930578789186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center; ">The abandoned fire tower (notice the steps removed) overlooking</div><div style="text-align: center; ">Lake Champlain and Vermont's Green Mountains</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finally, after roughly two-hours from leaving our car by the highway, we set foot on the bald, rocky peak. Having climbed a fair share of peaks in the park by now, I can happily report that Hurricane is one of the best views I've experienced in the park, and DEFINITELY the best view from a peak that is not included in the 46 highest (Hurricane is #72). The 360-degree view (click on panorama below) includes both the high peaks </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and V</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ermont (Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains). This, coupled with the abandoned and rusting firetower, make this a day-hike not to be missed. Paul and I enjoyed a lunch of beef jerky and sandwiches from the </span><a href="http://www.potsdam.ny.us/bigm/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Big M</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> atop Hurricane, and had it's vast summit all to ourselves that afternoon.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORF6IbDeI/AAAAAAAAA6I/96WTEJdvO1s/s1600/hurricane_panorama.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORF6IbDeI/AAAAAAAAA6I/96WTEJdvO1s/s400/hurricane_panorama.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468373903247871458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 61px; " /></a><b><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Panorama from atop Hurricane's Summit</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORIBLHSgI/AAAAAAAAA6o/u9wCSMvgY1w/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORIBLHSgI/AAAAAAAAA6o/u9wCSMvgY1w/s400/IMG_2179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468373939497945602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center; ">Paul, atop Hurricane</div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our trip down, although it actually seemed slower-going than the way up (doesn't it always feel like that for some reason?), went a bit faster than we had expected. So, four hours later, with our bones and muscles sore, we drove victoriously back to Lake Placid to meet the ladies for an after-hike-drink at </span><a href="http://www.greatadirondacksteakandseafood.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Great Adirondack Steak & Seafood Company</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> (they brew some of the best beer in the North Country). So, while I set out to give Paul a "truly American outdoor experience", I discovered a great peak nestled in the northeastern corner of the park that I would definitely return to again. Maybe next time I'll get a chance to actually use those microspikes ;)</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORGV1wNNI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/DD3Un9WWtfE/s1600/P1000812.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-ORGV1wNNI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/DD3Un9WWtfE/s400/P1000812.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468373910685758674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Enjoying a cold one after the hike</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-OSLC7OwKI/AAAAAAAAA7A/RuwCQOmwDRA/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/S-OSLC7OwKI/AAAAAAAAA7A/RuwCQOmwDRA/s400/IMG_2151.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468375091019432098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center; ">View from on top: the slides of Colden in the background</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></span></span></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-45370245896210485812009-07-13T11:03:00.060-04:002009-07-14T11:21:35.562-04:00Three Guys, Three Nights, and Three High Peaks<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SlvknBhq1HI/AAAAAAAAAzc/VWuAMCKVEL4/s1600-h/IMG_7765.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358127540763022450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SlvknBhq1HI/AAAAAAAAAzc/VWuAMCKVEL4/s400/IMG_7765.JPG" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Atop Mt. Marcy</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(L to R: Martin Heintzelman, Dave Beck, Joe Koval)</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><div align="left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cliff Mountain</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (3960 ft) (46th Highest Peak in the ADKs)</span></div><strong><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mt. Marcy</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (5344 ft) (#1 Highest Peak in the ADKs & NY!)</span></span></div></strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" align="left"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mt. Skylight</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (4924 ft) (4th Highest Peak in the 'ADKs)</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" align="left"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Total Length of Hike/Trip</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: 26.6 Miles (see charts & maps below)</span></div><div align="left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dates of Trip</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: 7/8 - 7/11, 2009</span></div><em><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Trailhead</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Upper Works Parking Lot (near Newcomb, NY)</span></span></div></em><em><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Campsite Location all three nights</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Lake Colden (McMartin Lean-to)</span></span></div></em><em><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Temperature</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Day 1: Rainy & Wet (60's), Day 2: Overcast (high 60's), Day 3: Sunny (70's), Day 4: Overcast (high 60's). Down to around 45-55 at night.</span></span></div></em></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Two years ago my wife and I moved to Potsdam, NY from Madison, WI. Although I was excited about my new job at Clarkson University and getting the opportunity to be new citizens in a North Country village, I was perhaps most excited about Potsdam's proximity to the great Adirondack Park. Now that I have returned from a momentous three-night, four-day experience in the park, I am happy to report that my love of "America's First Wilderness" is stronger than ever before. The overnight backpacking trip, accompanied by Martin Heintzelman and his friend, Joe Koval, was a fitting celebration of my two years in the North Country.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" align="left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" align="left"><i><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltSMzvWb5I/AAAAAAAAAx8/ETtDXGJmgPk/s1600-h/adk2009overnight.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357966561688055698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltSMzvWb5I/AAAAAAAAAx8/ETtDXGJmgPk/s400/adk2009overnight.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Elevation Diagram of Hike over the course of four days</span></div></span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" align="left"><i><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The goals of the trip were loftier than most of the park's mountains. We had plans to summit five separate peaks, all ranked within the hallowed "46 Highest Peaks" (there are 46 peaks above 4,000 ft. in the park). We had planned it perfectly: Day One: Hike 5.7 miles to a lean-to and set-up "base camp", Day Two: spend entire day hiking two high peaks (Cliff & Redfield), Day Three: spend entire day hiking three more high peaks (Marcy, Skylight, & Gray), Day Four: hike back out to our cars (via the same trail we came in on). But, as Martin said about halfway through our trip, "Sometimes, one's eyes can be bigger than one's leg muscles." Toss in a massive amount of mud, a delayed plane flight from Atlanta, and a lack of detail in our book's trail descriptions, and you're all of the sudden looking at a trip that is a bit different than what was expected.</span></div></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" align="left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><div align="left"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day One: </span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hiking in from Upper Works Parking Lot<br /></span></strong></div><div align="left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="left"><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIiTmbcrquDCgIWHuO4kC5q_OOj6ZuoJJJerx7srizCtwgv2alZnCBM0onYeF7F8XjwldrDO3dTKvvoLbG5BHzV6tdBd2c40F1yeIf1wHIZgzXDpoOkRFZ_O-3VL83MrauMrZhTEQ9yI/s1600-h/IMG_7783.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964695303982706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIiTmbcrquDCgIWHuO4kC5q_OOj6ZuoJJJerx7srizCtwgv2alZnCBM0onYeF7F8XjwldrDO3dTKvvoLbG5BHzV6tdBd2c40F1yeIf1wHIZgzXDpoOkRFZ_O-3VL83MrauMrZhTEQ9yI/s400/IMG_7783.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Boarded-up house in Upper Works</span></div></span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Up to this point, I have always entered the park from either the Heart Lake parking area (near Lake Placid) or the Garden (near Keene Valley). Since Martin's friend, Joe, was flying into Rochester airport and we had no interest hiking through Avalanche Pass with our 40 lb packs again, we decided to give Upper Works (near Newcomb, NY) a try. Having read </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Adirondacks: A History of America's First Wilderness</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, by Paul Schneider, I knew that Upper Works was more than just a parking lot - it was the name of a mining town from a bygone era. I had heard that some of the buildings where the miners and their families lived were still standing, so I was eager to discover this possible ghost town before starting on my journey. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltQfsNHRuI/AAAAAAAAAxk/GxX_i1Hhh9Q/s1600-h/IMG_7778.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964687059666658" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltQfsNHRuI/AAAAAAAAAxk/GxX_i1Hhh9Q/s400/IMG_7778.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Collapsed house in the abandoned </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">mining town of Upper Works</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In Upper Works, circa 1845, nearly 400 people lived and worked in a village centered completely around mining iron. According to Schneider, there was "a large boardinghouse and sixteen other dwellings, a school, a store, a carpenter shop, a blacksmith shop." To my surprise, I discovered a small collection of dilapidated dwellings in the former village of Upper Works. Built along the river, these (what looked to be) tenant buildings sported the traditional cedar-sided shingles and river stone fireplaces that one would find in the area.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0iVk7p4I/AAAAAAAAA0E/PKMZFlFTCrI/s1600-h/IMG_7789.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358145052432115586" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0iVk7p4I/AAAAAAAAA0E/PKMZFlFTCrI/s400/IMG_7789.JPG" /></a></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Remains of McIntyre Furnace, </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">near Upper Works</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Just down the road a few miles, I found the old McIntyre Furnace, a 50-foot tall chimney, built from massive granite stones ripped out of the sides of the surrounding mountains. Although it was only used for roughly three years in the mid-1800's, its impressive size translates the power it emitted over 150 years ago. The furnace, used to melt and cast the iron-ore into usable material, was powered by immense bellows, which were in turn powered by equally massive waterwheels made of wood, which were powered by the water from the river, which was dammed and directed uphill to this behemoth. I really believe that things such as the old Upper Works village and the McIntyre Furnace are why I'm so passionate about this park - it isn't just a large swatch of "nature" - it's a massive history lesson about our nation's social and economic history, set in one of the most beautiful areas of our country. Now, getting back to the hike...</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltSNOkx6hI/AAAAAAAAAyE/zmEwKYXDmuk/s1600-h/day_1_and_4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357966568891476498" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltSNOkx6hI/AAAAAAAAAyE/zmEwKYXDmuk/s400/day_1_and_4.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Map of Day 1 (and Day 4) Hike (in yellow) </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">between Upper Works parking lot and McMartin Lean-to</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(5.6 miles each way)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><div align="left"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The three of us concluded that the best approach to this four-day trip would be to obtain and occupy a lean-to in the Lake Colden area. Since Martin & Joe would not be able to make it to the trailhead until around 7pm at the earliest, we all agreed that I would plan to start down the trail by myself, around 11am, in order to (hopefully) claim a lean-to for our use over the next four days. Just before arriving at the Upper Works trailhead, I got a call from Martin (before the bars disappeared from my phone, about 20 miles outside of Newcomb). He told me that Joe's plane was now going to be at least an hour late. This was very bad news for them, as it meant that they would now have to hike for three hours in almost total darkness. Because of this, they decided instead to camp somewhere closer to the trailhead, and hike in to meet me by 10am on the following day.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0hRrfiuI/AAAAAAAAAz0/ICsxNjOudfU/s1600-h/IMG_7725.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358145034206022370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0hRrfiuI/AAAAAAAAAz0/ICsxNjOudfU/s400/IMG_7725.JPG" /></a></div><div align="left"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">From the south side of Calamity Pond</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After briefly exploring the ghost-town of Upper Works, I signed in at the trailhead and began my journey. It was 10:45am on Wednesday, July 8th. There were nearly 20 people already signed in to the register that day. The weather was overcast, and had been raining off and on throughout the drive, so I was expecting a possibility of a rainy hike that day. I started down the trail with high hopes and excitement, as I had not set foot in the park for nearly three months. The first few miles were relatively "un-Adirondack", with a gravel path and extremely gradual elevation changes. Just when I finally realized that the trail I had been walking on was most likely an old utility road (Martin confirmed later that the region had been heavily logged), the trail evolved into the typical terrain one expects to find in the park - an undulating trail that is heavy on the large rocks and exposed roots. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:0;"><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0g9AOHPI/AAAAAAAAAzs/6K8JCZoEPus/s1600-h/IMG_7724.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358145028655815922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0g9AOHPI/AAAAAAAAAzs/6K8JCZoEPus/s400/IMG_7724.JPG" /></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ypical trail conditions in the park,</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">due to the excess of rain this summer</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div></span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">An additional obstruction made the trip more slow-going than normal (and would prove to be our party's arch-nemesis throughout the four-day excursion). The North Country had received an extensive amount of rain this summer. I have never seen so much MUD on a trail in my life. For almost the entirety of the 5.6 mile hike on the first day, I was playing hopscotch along the trail, hoping that my boots would safely come to rest on a semi-stable rock or tree-root. Upon guessing wrong, my boot would sometimes plunge shin-deep into the mud (sometimes a watery puddle, sometimes a quicksand-like mess). This, plus the rain that had started to come down, was not the proper beginning to the much-anticipated hiking trip I had expected.</span></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0geW4iUI/AAAAAAAAAzk/lkpqYIugukc/s1600-h/IMG_7723.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 292px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358145020429371714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0geW4iUI/AAAAAAAAAzk/lkpqYIugukc/s400/IMG_7723.JPG" /></a></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Suspension bridge crossing Calamity Brook, </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">roughly 1.5 miles into the hike from Upper Works</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:0;"></span><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The trail followed Calamity Brook for the entire 5.6 miles that I hiked the first day, sometimes crossing the brook via a well-engineered suspension or plank bridge. Calamity Brook is fed by a pond of the same name, which is located roughly 4.3 miles down the trail. Calamity Pond actually owes its name to something that happened at a specific spot nearby in 1845. David Henderson was one of the most famous iron-ore prospectors in the Adirondacks (the entire reason the mining village of Upper Works existed in the first place was because Henderson discovered a "mother vein" of ore with the help of an Abnaki guide named Lewis Elijah in 1826). In the fall of 1845, Henderson, accompanied by his son and the famous Adirondack guide, John Cheney, was on a scouting expedition for a stronger source of water to power his Upper Works mining facility. Upon reaching Duck Hole (Calamity Pond's former name), Henderson's pistol accidentally discharged in his belt, killing him almost instantly on the spot (it is said that Cheney had just used the gun and had forgotten to un-cock the pistol before returning it to Henderson). Because of this great "calamity", there now stands an impressive, yet very out-of-place, monument amongst the low waters on the north shore of the aptly renamed Calamity Pond.</span></div><div align="left"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltPji2HFnI/AAAAAAAAAwc/Ennv_IT9h3Y/s1600-h/IMG_7728.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357963653755115122" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltPji2HFnI/AAAAAAAAAwc/Ennv_IT9h3Y/s400/IMG_7728.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Henderson Monument on Calamity Pond, </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">erected by his children</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Henderson Monument and Calamity Pond mark the beginning of a very interesting section of the park, filled with bodies of water (such as Flowed Lands, Lake Colden, and eventually, Avalanche Lake) and numerous lean-tos (such as Calamity, Herbert Brook, and McMartin). I continued to hike along the Calamity Brook Trail, searching for an open lean-to amongst the five different possible locations. As I walked by McMartin for a second time (where Martin & I stayed last year), I noticed that there were a few hikers leaving the lean-to. To my relief, it turned out that the party of six was leaving that day, which meant that I would get the lean-to all for myself! The rest of the evening consisted of me setting up camp - filtering water from the nearby stream, getting a visit from the assistant ranger, hiding the bear-resistant canister in the brush (containing all of my food), attempting to ward off other potential hikers looking for a place to stay (although the lean-to's are spacious, I knew I had to defend this fortress in expectation of Martin and Joe coming the next morning) and hunkering down to an early evening with a newly acquired used book (Larry McMurtry's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lonesome Dove</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">).</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none" class="Apple-style-span"><div align="left"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day Two: </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Attempting to Summit Redfield & Cliff<br /></span></span></div></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><br /></b></div><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0hmTRNzI/AAAAAAAAAz8/tmxoFqU98xo/s1600-h/IMG_7732.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358145039741564722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/Slv0hmTRNzI/AAAAAAAAAz8/tmxoFqU98xo/s400/IMG_7732.JPG" /></a></span></span></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Cascading falls of the Opalescent River</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I woke up Thursday, July 9th around 8am, after a semi-uncomfortable night on the hard lean-to floor (I attributed this to "just not being tired enough", something I was sure to experience the next few nights...). After a breakfast of Kashi granola bars, I began to pack for the day's excursion to Cliff and Redfield Mountains. If for some reason Martin and Joe were not able to arrive by 10am, it was understood that I was to attempt these peaks solo, with the expectation that I would eventually run into them on the trail. At around 9:45am, I heard the sound of Martin's voice coming down the trail. He was happy to see that I had acquired a lean-to, while I was happy to have people to talk to after 24 hours of being alone. It was also great to finally meet Joe Koval, who is a meteorologist (and software engineer) who works for the Weather Channel, in Atlanta. Joe and Martin had gone to high school together, and had been on numerous group backpacking trips in the Tetons, Smokies, and White Mountains, to name a few.</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltSNa9l7zI/AAAAAAAAAyM/zdMod1ymT10/s1600-h/day_2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357966572216774450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltSNa9l7zI/AAAAAAAAAyM/zdMod1ymT10/s400/day_2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Map of Day Two (in Red) from </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">McMartin Lean-to to Cliff Mountain </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(5 miles RT)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:0;"></span><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After they had a chance to catch their breath and set-up camp for themselves, we were off on the trail again. I was looking at a day hike that would be roughly 5 miles total in length, while they would be adding five more miles to the 5.6 miles they had already hiked that morning. The hike towards the trailhead of Cliff and Redfield Mountains was along the beautiful and energetic Opalescent River. We passed water that was peacefully cascading down the falls in one moment and violently raging through a narrow and deep gully the next. Visually, it was a wonderful warm-up to what we looked forward to as far as views from the high peaks. Upon reaching the Uphill Brook Lean-to at about 1.8 miles into the hike, we found the trailhead to Redfield Mountain. After walking a few hundred yards, we came to a cairn that forked the trail into two distinctly different trails. What we didn't realize was that the cairn marked the trails for both Redfield </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Cliff Mountains. Due to a misinterpretation from the trail description in the book, we ended up accidentally taking the path to Cliff Mountain, instead of Redfield. We realized this about 1/3 of the way up the trail, but it did not matter, as we were planning to summit both. At least that was our plan until we hit the cliffs. </span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP8wlkgsI/AAAAAAAAAw0/-_01DyoEMz4/s1600-h/IMG_7738.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964086940566210" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP8wlkgsI/AAAAAAAAAw0/-_01DyoEMz4/s400/IMG_7738.JPG" /></a></span><span style="font-size:0;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It all of the sudden becomes obvious </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">why they named it “Cliff” Mountain</span></div></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It didn't take us long to figure out why the peak was named "Cliff Mountain". The second third of the trail was nothing but a vertical rock climb, consisting of a somewhat technical route that would require actual rock climbing gear if the slope had been any steeper. After slowly making our way up this muddy, vertical nightmare, we found ourselves at what we thought was the top of the peak, only to discover that the "true peak" was another quarter-mile, taking us down to a col and back up to another peak. After having lunch amidst an armada of bugs, we took a quick picture and headed back down the mighty cliffs again. It took us over two-hours to summit and descend this surprisingly challenging peak. I can only imagine that there have been multiple accidents when climbing this peak, due to the white-knuckled middle portion of this trail. This is one trail I would never climb alone, nor will I ever attempt it without a very well-stocked first-aid kit!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP8YflRkI/AAAAAAAAAws/aPRIowrsI30/s1600-h/IMG_7734.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964080472999490" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP8YflRkI/AAAAAAAAAws/aPRIowrsI30/s400/IMG_7734.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Atop Cliff Mountain </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(L to R: Dave Beck, Joe Koval, Martin Heintzelman)</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We decided it would be best to skip climbing Redfield. Not only did it appear to be a longer hike than Cliff, but we wanted to be as well-rested as possible for the following day's hike. After arriving back at the lean-to, we changed out of the muddy clothes and enjoyed a dinner consisting of "Darn Good Chili" and leftover cheese, Triscuits, and summer sausage from the day's lunch atop Cliff. Overall, it was an exhausting first full day in the park, which was extremely apparent after discovering that all three of us were asleep by 9pm!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day Three: </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Attempting to Summit Marcy, Skylight, & Gray</span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I woke up to Martin cooking his hot oatmeal and hot tang (not together, but surprisingly good, nonetheless). The sky looked like it was going to cooperate weather-wise (confirmed by Joe) and I was getting excited about our biggest hike - Mt. Marcy, Mt. Skylight, and Gray Mt. All in all, it would be an 11-mile day, round-trip. With our hopes high and our energy renewed, we hit the trail around 8:45am.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltSNs-Hu9I/AAAAAAAAAyU/oREegY7Y4Io/s1600-h/day_3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357966577050827730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltSNs-Hu9I/AAAAAAAAAyU/oREegY7Y4Io/s400/day_3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Map of Day Three (in Blue) from </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">McMartin Lean-to to Mt. Marcy & Skylight </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(10 miles RT)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The first portion of the hike was the exact same as the day before - towards Uphill Lean-to along the Opalescent River. After passing the lean-to, we continued on the same trail but followed a new body of water - Feldspar Brook. Following Feldspar, we began to climb at a reasonably quick pace, until we reached Lake Tear of the Clouds, which sits on a relatively large plateau, at the base of Skylight, Gray, and Marcy. Lake Tear of the Clouds has two significant elements to its history. First, this was where, late one night in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was camping when he received information that President McKinley's health was taking a turn for the worse (after being shot a week earlier), thus spurring his famous 10-mile hike to Long Lake, followed by a 40-mile, midnight stagecoach ride to the nearest train station. Secondly, this pond is actually the highest originating source of the Hudson River. It was refreshing to look out over this small pond, with Mt. Marcy looming in the background, and realize that the massive and polluted river that New York City comes to depend on for so many things actually begins as such a peaceful and natural body of water, high up in the pristine Adirondacks. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SlvZyJAeL9I/AAAAAAAAAy0/2EosVMMycgo/s1600-h/IMG_7744.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358115637121920978" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SlvZyJAeL9I/AAAAAAAAAy0/2EosVMMycgo/s400/IMG_7744.JPG" /></a></span> <div align="left"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lake Tear of the Clouds, with Mt. Marcy in the background</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Almost immediately after Lake Tear, we came across the Four Corners (four different trails converge there). It was at this point that it started to become obvious that while Joe was in pristine athletic condition, there was something else wrong - his feet were in a great deal of pain. Although he had been wearing the same hiking boots for almost 10 years, with not a single problem, they were all of the sudden causing him to develop a large amount of blisters and bruises. He had hiked nearly 11 miles the day before, and already 4 miles today. We knew he was in a lot of pain.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltPieUGT1I/AAAAAAAAAwE/miiIpt1Om9Q/s1600-h/marcy_panorama.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 41px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357963635358846802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltPieUGT1I/AAAAAAAAAwE/miiIpt1Om9Q/s400/marcy_panorama.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">360 Degree Panoramic View from atop Mt. Marcy </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(click for larger view)</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The final mile, from Four Corners to the summit of Marcy, was extremely grueling. The first half mile was straight up amongst the last holdouts of vegetation above 4,000 feet, which meant that most of the trail we were walking on was pure granite, with tree roots intermittently clinging to the sides of the rock face. The last half-mile of the hike took us above the tree-line, pushing us to hike at an extremely vertical pitch, up nothing but smooth and continuous rock. Try to imagine the steepest stairs you've ever climbed. Now take those stairs and replace the steps with a ramp of rock, while keeping the same pitch. Then climb that vertical rockface for an entire half mile. Once you're at the top, you've made it to the highest point in the state of New York. Mt. Marcy, originally dubbed "Tahawus" (meaning "Cloudsplitter"), was named after Governor William Marcy, who originally authorized the team to survey that area of the state in 1837. To be on the summit of a peak like Marcy is a special thing - you can see for miles in all directions and you truly feel part of the "community of hikers" who were also victorious in their ascent (30 people kept us company at the top). </span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SlvZyvUo7aI/AAAAAAAAAy8/Yjm-CEJ7EZI/s1600-h/IMG_7770.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358115647407058338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SlvZyvUo7aI/AAAAAAAAAy8/Yjm-CEJ7EZI/s400/IMG_7770.JPG" /></a></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Martin (background) and Joe (foreground) atop Marcy</span></span></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We enjoyed a long and leisurely lunch at the top, dining on sausage, cheese, and Triscuits. Because of its height, I actually had full bars on my phone, so we were able to call our respective spouses and share the good news with them personally. I even went a step further and cheated with technology - I took a picture of the view and sent it to my Twitter feed (don't tell the Luddites). After taking about a dozen pictures for a 360-degree panoramic stitch of the view that I was hoping to do (see above), we posed for a victory shot by the official plaque and made our way down the great beast. By the time we reached the bottom, at the Four Corners, my toes felt as if they were going to burst through my boots from walking down such a steep pitch for so long, but I was ready to summit the next high peak - Mt. Skylight.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP9ojVAvI/AAAAAAAAAxE/LwDq7So72CE/s1600-h/IMG_7766.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 323px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964101963547378" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP9ojVAvI/AAAAAAAAAxE/LwDq7So72CE/s400/IMG_7766.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Atop Mt. Marcy, by its plaque </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(L to R: Dave Beck, Martin Heintzelman, Joe Koval)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:0;"></span><br /></span><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In what seemed like a much quicker ascent than it should have been, Martin and I found ourselves at the top of Skylight after only hiking for 20 minutes or so. Because of Joe's blisters, he decided to head back to camp for the evening. In the end, this was a very smart move on his part - he had achieved his goal of climbing the highest peak in the state. He also realized that he had to hike another 4+ miles back to camp, as well as 5.6 miles tomorrow back to the car. </span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP-GljxPI/AAAAAAAAAxM/Qrl6CacTcq8/s1600-h/IMG_7774.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964110025966834" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP-GljxPI/AAAAAAAAAxM/Qrl6CacTcq8/s400/IMG_7774.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Atop Mt. Skylight, with Mt. Marcy </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">looming in the background</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Skylight had an equally impressive view, which included Mt. Marcy. We found ourselves in a rare moment at the top of Skylight, as we were fortunate to share the peak with another party that had a teenage girl who had just climbed her final of the 46 high peaks. She was now included amongst the brave ranks of the Adirondack 46'rs, a club that both Martin and I have been actively pursuing for two years now. Our descent down the mountain was unmomentous, and as we neared Lake Tear of the Clouds and Gray Peak's herdpath trailhead, we both realized that since we'd need to return for Redfield at a later date, it would make more sense to have </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">two reasons</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to return. So with that, we tabled Gray Peak for another time.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltQe_zgatI/AAAAAAAAAxU/J_VvpWDaJbg/s1600-h/IMG_7776.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964675141102290" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltQe_zgatI/AAAAAAAAAxU/J_VvpWDaJbg/s400/IMG_7776.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">View of Mt. Colden, from Calamity Brook</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Weary and sore, we finally arrived back to our lean-to, soaked our tired feet in the nearby river (with a great view of Mt. Colden), and enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by Joe, of macaroni and cheese and a side of twice-baked mashed potatoes. Shortly after that, the ranger stopped by to make sure we had bear canisters. Apparently, bears had raided the other four lean-to sites over the past few nights, because the campers had not been following park rules about sealing all food in the canisters. Before getting in our bags for the night, we treated ourselves to a small nightcap of fine tequila Joe had managed to pack along. After that, we all went to sleep with the feeling of great accomplishment and good memories from the days events.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP9UkhIBI/AAAAAAAAAw8/BZK3WmnK0ig/s1600-h/IMG_7741.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964096599826450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SltP9UkhIBI/AAAAAAAAAw8/BZK3WmnK0ig/s400/IMG_7741.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lean-to, sweet lean-to – the one and only </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">McMartin Lean-to</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:0;"></span><br /></span><div align="left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day Four: </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hiking back out to Upper Works Parking Lot</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></div></span></span></div></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The final day is always the hardest. There isn't a high peak to climb. There isn't a campsite to claim. There isn't an all-you-can-eat buffet at the trail's end. There's just a hot car waiting for you in the parking lot, with a long drive home through the rain. I kept an image of my smiling wife and newborn baby daughter in the front of my mind as I walked that last 5.6 miles, which helped me to ignore a majority of the pain that I was experiencing from being out of shape and extremely sore. So what if I ended up only hiking three of the five peaks that were on the itinerary? So what if my legs ached nearly every step of the trip? So what if, by the end of the trip, my boots had turned from burgundy to dirt brown due to the massive amount of mud they were subjected to? In the end, it was definitely a highlight of my summer and I can't wait to get back into that park again (don't worry honey, I promise I won't do something like this again until next year!).</span></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhB-2f11vtQTOYZw7EeDkY2khwjie0hFOrVpcVHIA8obPweexnOHq0mkiL2c2Ip7YwvIaZQp63fsL4LZSw9d3fJrrG-tlqq0FtwMM_AbvmvyC-wTp9iCBY6skTsUU7Q20Rzwig0-isok/s1600-h/IMG_7777.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 374px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357964677849423266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhB-2f11vtQTOYZw7EeDkY2khwjie0hFOrVpcVHIA8obPweexnOHq0mkiL2c2Ip7YwvIaZQp63fsL4LZSw9d3fJrrG-tlqq0FtwMM_AbvmvyC-wTp9iCBY6skTsUU7Q20Rzwig0-isok/s400/IMG_7777.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">T</span>hree tired, but victorious, warriors </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">(L to R: Dave Beck, Joe Koval, Martin Heintzelman)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div></span></div></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-68956305677794938132009-04-11T22:35:00.008-04:002009-04-11T23:28:26.476-04:00Debar Mountain - So close...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SeFZNYvTNyI/AAAAAAAAAic/hVu_Ex9lDqE/s1600-h/IMG_6448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SeFZNYvTNyI/AAAAAAAAAic/hVu_Ex9lDqE/s400/IMG_6448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323634321042650914" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Debar Mountain in the distance</span></div><div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Debar Mountain (3300 ft)</span><br /><br />Difficulty: Gradual, except the final push, which is steep<br />Date of Summit: 4/11/2009<br />Trailhead to Summit: 3.7 miles<br />Trip Time: 4 hrs<br />Ascent: 1700 ft<br />Temperature: mid-40's (Snow in mid-April? Why am I not surprised...)<br /><div><br /></div><div>We were so close. We could see the top. We knew that even if we made it past this harrowing final push, we would still have to descend that very same route, and that's what scared us. As my hiking partner, Martin Heintzelman, said more than once (probably hoping to make us both feel better), "discretion is the better part of valor". This proverb could never be more true, especially when you're staring up at a stepped-cliff, covered with a frozen waterfall of sheer ice.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SeFW7ZfS4gI/AAAAAAAAAiE/m2rBS-1gYlQ/s1600-h/IMG_6451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SeFW7ZfS4gI/AAAAAAAAAiE/m2rBS-1gYlQ/s400/IMG_6451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323631812983054850" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Martin Heintzelman and the deadly ice steps<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div>I'm starting to think that a failed summit attempt must have to occur roughly once a year for me, so that my humility is reset for the following season of hiking (this happened last year, attempting <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/02/st-regis-mountain.html">St. Regis</a>). Or perhaps this was karma, for me leaving my wife and 5-week-old baby home alone on a Saturday to hike with a friend! Regardless of why it happened, it was still an extremely enjoyable hike. 90% of the trail is gradual and relaxing, as it utilizes old logging roads, until it arrives at the base of Debar. That's when things get tricky.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SeFW6696OMI/AAAAAAAAAh0/kQEUx--vsIM/s1600-h/IMG_6455.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SeFW6696OMI/AAAAAAAAAh0/kQEUx--vsIM/s400/IMG_6455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323631804789962946" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Old Logging Road<br /><br /></span></div></div><div>We shared the trail with a group of 11 students from SUNY-Potsdam, who appeared to be a bit more prepared than us. After a bit of post-holing and slipping on the ice, it quickly became apparent that we just weren't equipped properly for this hike. Since it was mid-April, we didn't expect to see such a presence of snow or ice on the trail, so we didn't have snowshoes or Stabilicers with us. I firmly believe that an ice axe would be almost essential on the final section of the trail at this time of year (this was confirmed when I saw the SUNY student's carrying them). Overall, it was a beatiful hike with great challenges. I KNOW that I will return to this peak in order to properly bag it, but I can guarantee that I'll wait until things are a bit warmer to attempt that!<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SeFW7MNNksI/AAAAAAAAAh8/0WrCMW9g0H0/s1600-h/IMG_6453.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SeFW7MNNksI/AAAAAAAAAh8/0WrCMW9g0H0/s400/IMG_6453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323631809417548482" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">There's nothing we can do but turn around<br /></span></div><br /></div></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-79824717854427655022009-03-08T19:27:00.009-04:002009-03-08T20:44:58.743-04:00Azure Ascent #3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRXAPWbrYI/AAAAAAAAAfo/we2tQLvzzAs/s1600-h/IMG_5620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRXAPWbrYI/AAAAAAAAAfo/we2tQLvzzAs/s400/IMG_5620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310965522208894338" border="0" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Wooden steps leading up to Azure's firetower<br /></span></div><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Azure Mountain (2518 ft)</span><div><br /></div><div>Difficulty: Steep, slushy, and snowcovered</div><div>Date of Summit: 3/8/09</div><div>Trailhead to Summit: 1 mile</div><div>Trip Time: 2.5 hrs</div><div>Ascent: 700 ft</div><div>Temperature: High 30's</div><div><br /></div><div>I know I've said it before, but I never get tired of Mt. Azure. It's a quick hike to the top (1 mile) and the views of the surrounding area rival what one would find in the heart of the Adirondacks. I've found that this hike must be the un-official "Peak of Potsdam", as nearly half of the trail register is composed of people hailing from Potsdam - this is in no doubt thanks to the large college student population (SUNY-Potsdam and Clarkson University) that call Potsdam home.<br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRW_xBY-WI/AAAAAAAAAfg/mBCcZ3TGVe8/s1600-h/IMG_5617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRW_xBY-WI/AAAAAAAAAfg/mBCcZ3TGVe8/s400/IMG_5617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310965514067573090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Byron Bennett, taking some photographs</span><br /></div><br />It must be something about the accompaniment of the Bennett bloodline which draws me back to Azure, time after time. My first two ascents were with my wife, Emily, who was an amazing (and patient!) hiking partner. This time I was accompanied by her father, Byron Bennett (who is now a grandfather to my new baby girl, Eleanor Irene Beck), who I've had the pleasure of hiking (and canoeing) with on previous excursions. I've done this peak before in both the winter and summer months, but this winter/spring ascent was a new experience altogether. The snow was wet and slushy, due to the balmy high-30's temperature for an early March day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRW_DxmQEI/AAAAAAAAAfY/9vaJjI950UI/s1600-h/IMG_5614.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRW_DxmQEI/AAAAAAAAAfY/9vaJjI950UI/s400/IMG_5614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310965501921738818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The view, atop Azure</span><br /></div><br />Because of the snow pack being so temperamental (we found that, even though we were wearing crampons, two steps actually equaled about half a step forward in this wet 'n' white mess), our ascent took roughly an hour and a half - about 50% longer than normal (while our descent took roughly 50% less, due to our ability to slide down the trail by using our poles to stabilize while our boots did the "skiing"). Many of you are probably rolling your eyes at this, stating that I must be quite the amateur for not utilizing snowshoes instead of crampons, but I assure you - it unfortunately would not have solved many problems, due to the rapidly-melting and slippery snow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRW-7U-5MI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/c5tOOQCpCm8/s1600-h/IMG_5613.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRW-7U-5MI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/c5tOOQCpCm8/s400/IMG_5613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310965499654235330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Me, looking a bit small against the backdrop<br /></span></div><div><br />Once we made it to the top, it was all worth it, for we had a wonderful, 360-degree view of the surrounding area. Byron was able to take a few good black and white pictures, thanks to the early-afternoon sun light that was casting its rays on the nearby hillsides. After taking a short climb to the top of the fire tower and using the round-table map to pick out distant peaks and ponds, we started back down the mountain. As all Adirondack hikes tend to fare, this was a wonderful experience that provided great exercise, beautiful views, and new memories.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRaU-meHbI/AAAAAAAAAf4/MhmRUVbq5vQ/s1600-h/IMG_5622.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SbRaU-meHbI/AAAAAAAAAf4/MhmRUVbq5vQ/s400/IMG_5622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310969177024896434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Map roundtable inside the tower</span><br /><br /></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-27724052488222850452009-01-26T22:46:00.011-05:002009-01-27T00:09:02.135-05:00Snowshoes on the Sandstone Trail<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SX6HAu5QBVI/AAAAAAAAAfI/WH1-7R_6AOc/s1600-h/IMG_5386.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SX6HAu5QBVI/AAAAAAAAAfI/WH1-7R_6AOc/s400/IMG_5386.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295818658492187986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The map of the trail and the two snowshoers </span><span style="font-size:85%;">(Andy Sewell & myself)<br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Sandstone Trail</span><br /><br />Difficulty: Easy<br />Date of Hike: 1/25/2009<br />Length: 2.5 miles<br />Trip Time: 3 hrs<br />Temperature: 27 Degrees and snowy<br /><br />I think that I had been putting off hiking the Red Sandstone Trail (which is located in my hometown, Potsdam, NY) because it seemed both a bit too close to home and just not "Adirondacky" enough for my aspirations. While both of these assumptions proved true, that should have by no means been a reason for me to avoid this wonderful trail. Andy Sewell, who was visiting us for the weekend with his wife, Sarah Miller, accompanied me on this Sunday afternoon snowshoe hike. Andy is no stranger to hiking the region, as he was my hiking partner a few months ago, <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/11/owls-head-short-but-sweet.html">when we hiked Owl's Head</a>, down in the park.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLymVjFPANzfBoI12J_ZxsCZBJLErE3QS6ZxX6Ri3r97hHynKgDFbO4kwbDCMBd7NtC453WY9rtGKFr-W8U0UK6dw-gSomtmNnhL0GjIebuH3YPrN3V3pG22m5bItANLk03mkySQXplc/s1600-h/IMG_5397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLymVjFPANzfBoI12J_ZxsCZBJLErE3QS6ZxX6Ri3r97hHynKgDFbO4kwbDCMBd7NtC453WY9rtGKFr-W8U0UK6dw-gSomtmNnhL0GjIebuH3YPrN3V3pG22m5bItANLk03mkySQXplc/s400/IMG_5397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295817250138432722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Sunlight peeking through the clouds at Sugar Island Flow (old Clarkson Quarry)<br /></span></div><br />I have both my home chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club, <a href="http://adklaurentian.org/?page=redsandstone.html">the Laurentian Chapter</a>, as well as other organizations such as the local boy scout troop and Brascan Power for making this wonderful and relaxing walk through history possible. While it is a short hike overall (the total mileage is listed as 3.5 miles), we only ended up hiking about 2.5 miles of it, due to our schedule. The entire hike follows the Racquette River, which is a historically interesting body of water, due to it's importance throughout the last 200 years in the lumber, sandstone, and now hydro power industries. Over the course of our hike, we encountered two distinct sandstone quarries (one of which was the famous quarry where Thomas S. Clarkson met his tragic death, causing his sisters to found Clarkson University in his name), four powerhouse/dam structures, a half-mile long pipe/aqueduct section, and a beautiful wood-encased cylindrical water tower. Thanks to the many "interpretive plaques" along the way, one could get a sense of the river's powerful and evolving presence in the region throughout the past two centuries.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SX6FxDJNzEI/AAAAAAAAAew/3y0w8uGOJFM/s1600-h/IMG_5409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SX6FxDJNzEI/AAAAAAAAAew/3y0w8uGOJFM/s400/IMG_5409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295817289538325570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Broken Ice Exposing the Racquette after the Sugar Island Dam<br /></span></div><br />This was the perfect hike for winter sports, including both snowshoeing and cross country skiing, for much of the terrain (especially up near Sugar Island) is extremely flat while it follows the river. During this hike, more than any other I've been on, I found myself fascinated (and not at all annoyed) by the continuous presence of man-made structures nestled amongst the natural wilderness. Each one was a more amazing engineering feat than the previous, all of which focused on harnessing the Racquette River's power. From the various dams, to the massive pipeline (which measured at least 10 feet in diameter) and it's eventual end in the Sugar Island Powerhouse (which held two house-sized GE generators), I was awestruck by humanity's ability to control such a massive and powerful amount of earth's most abundant natural resource.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SX6FvxMZbzI/AAAAAAAAAeo/RxsLeqlyCTg/s1600-h/IMG_5407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SX6FvxMZbzI/AAAAAAAAAeo/RxsLeqlyCTg/s400/IMG_5407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295817267539963698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Half-mile Long Aqueduct running to Sugar Island Powerhouse</span></div><br />The weather was wonderful as well, with just enough snow to make using snowshoes practical, while not being too deep to make it not worth the effort. Since we were not able to finish the hike completely, I look forward to returning to this trail in the spring, perhaps with a boat, so that I might be able to experience and appreciate the Racquette's power from yet another vantage point as well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SX6FxZkanDI/AAAAAAAAAe4/eVgkqAXaZns/s1600-h/IMG_5415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SX6FxZkanDI/AAAAAAAAAe4/eVgkqAXaZns/s400/IMG_5415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295817295557991474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Water Tower Covered with Wood Planks near Sugar Island Powerhouse<br /><br /></span></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-21792882323589985772008-11-26T20:22:00.010-05:002008-11-26T21:49:49.412-05:00Stone Valley Trail<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34t-aLx0I/AAAAAAAAAbs/piEDqq7DjPo/s1600-h/IMG_5004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34t-aLx0I/AAAAAAAAAbs/piEDqq7DjPo/s400/IMG_5004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273144207451342658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Byron Bennett at the Racquette River<br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stone Valley Trail</span><br /><br />Difficulty: Gradual<br />Date of Hike: 11/26/2008<br />Loop Distance: 7.5 miles<br />Trip Time: 4 hrs<br />Temperature: 30's w/ wintry mix<br /><br />This trip once again taught me that going "local" is always the best choice - whether it be locally grown food, local businesses with great customer service, or an amazing 7.5 mile just 15 minutes down the road from Potsdam. The Stone Valley Trail takes the hiker along both sides of the of the Racquette River shoreline (3.2 miles on each side with a .9 mile stretch linking them together via a bridge on either end). If you're an amateur geologist, you'll love this hike because of the diversity in the rock types (and informational geology plaques) along the trail. If you're a fan of waterfalls, you'll also love this hike, due to the frequent pockets of cascading water formations that one comes across throughout the hike. If you're a rock lover who enjoys fast moving water, I can't imagine how much this hike would make your day.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34uN-IR0I/AAAAAAAAAb0/D_iZetnn_BA/s1600-h/IMG_4995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34uN-IR0I/AAAAAAAAAb0/D_iZetnn_BA/s400/IMG_4995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273144211628640066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Raging Racquette River</span></div><br />Byron and Cheryl Bennett were visiting us for Thanksgiving. After the <a href="http://adirondackhikes.blogspot.com/2008/02/mt-jo.html">treacherous Mt. Jo hike last year on this very same holiday weekend</a>, I wasn't sure if Byron would ever want to take a walk with me in the outdoors again. Luckily, he was very much up for another challenge, so after assessing the weather forecast and realizing that there was a likely chance that the roads to the Adirondacks would be covered with snow/ice, we thought it would be best to stick closer to home.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34uqgb4zI/AAAAAAAAAb8/LtV4HQzgmt4/s1600-h/IMG_5008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34uqgb4zI/AAAAAAAAAb8/LtV4HQzgmt4/s400/IMG_5008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273144219288724274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Two Falls</span></div><br />After parking near downtown Colton (which consists of a bar, a library, and a hair salon), we started our northbound journey along the Racquette River. The first 1.5 miles was packed with great views of the cascading falls, complimented by a gradual foot trail that was a welcome change to the "straight up the mountain" philosophy of the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. The sun decided to peek through the clouds for a few minutes, only to leave us in an overcast and desaturated wash for the rest of the hike. The middle 4.5 mile portion of the hike found the river at a more peaceful state, as the intensity of Colton Dam's open floodgates had lost their power this far down the river.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34tIxuAaI/AAAAAAAAAbk/HW1NjgXrTsk/s1600-h/IMG_5001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34tIxuAaI/AAAAAAAAAbk/HW1NjgXrTsk/s400/IMG_5001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273144193054540194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Colton Water Tower</span></div><br />With the Colton Water Tower serving as our beacon, we crossed the river on Brown's Bridge. After a quick (and light!) lunch of powerbars and tortilla chips, we began to follow the river back to Colton, by way of another trail on the other side of the river. This route turned out to be far superior to the first half, as it provided us with amazing views of the Racquette River. Even though we passed many of the same spots on the first half of the walk, it seemed almost as though the rock outcroppings on the second half of the trip existed specifically for us to walk out on them and catch dramatic glimpses of the river's power.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34u6i-VaI/AAAAAAAAAcE/PHd-laydKNM/s1600-h/IMG_5009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SS34u6i-VaI/AAAAAAAAAcE/PHd-laydKNM/s400/IMG_5009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273144223594337698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">"The Tub"</span></div><br />We ended the trip with a beer at The Finish Line, which turned out to be the perfect end (title and location) to the trip, perched atop the Colton Bridge, overlooking the distant southern rapids of the Racquette. Overall, this trip was quite a surprise - I didn't realize that something so special and majestic could be so close. Just as with Owls Head in the Adirondacks, this will surely be a hike that I frequent with visitors, due to the accessibility, convenience, and sheer "wow" factor it provides.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw7zsq6dskMGm3wescQkt-mxSJaeNARBWsjyHN8DYGlaY5_yOPRbYE2AxdDnUv9-wM6KB5O_pWodu2nFYWaqw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-68460184161469184832008-11-24T23:04:00.007-05:002008-11-25T00:04:21.341-05:00Owls Head - Short but Sweet<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSuCsR1Eq3I/AAAAAAAAAbc/q_kx3jp5ak4/s1600-h/IMG_0075.JPG"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSuCsR1Eq3I/AAAAAAAAAbc/q_kx3jp5ak4/s400/IMG_0075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272451485979159410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Atop Owls Head</span><br /></div><br />Owls Head (2120 ft)<br /><br />Difficulty: Easy<br />Date of Summit: 11/22/08<br />Trailhead to Summit: .6<br />Trip Time: 2 hrs<br />Ascent: 460 ft<br />Temperature: 'teens<br /><br />Over this past weekend, we were blessed to have two very good friends visit us. Sarah Miller and Andy Sewell, newlyweds and recently installed east-coasters, drove up from Northampton, MA to spend the weekend with us. It was quite a treat for me especially, for I was unfortunately not able to attend their wedding this past summer out in San Francisco, so this was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with them - and of course - do some hiking! After pouring over the map the night before, Andy and I decided to keep our options open with a few different peaks, and wait to make a firmer decision the following day when we arrived in the high peaks area of the Adirondack Park (near Lake Placid).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSt7QJfKZEI/AAAAAAAAAbU/0kIZhuWfnSM/s1600-h/IMG_1002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSt7QJfKZEI/AAAAAAAAAbU/0kIZhuWfnSM/s400/IMG_1002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272443306122044482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Chasm near summit of Owls Head<br /><br /></span></div>After dropping off the ladies in downtown Lake Placid (Shopping & Starbucks), we quickly realized that the combination of our late arrival to the region and the relatively early sunset time meant that it would be best for us to shoot for a smaller, shorter peak. We decided on Owls Head, which turned out to not only be the perfect size for our small window of free-time, but a wonderful peak to serve as a taste of the Adirondacks for Andy. The trailhead was about 10-15 minutes outside of Lake Placid, towards Keene, and was nestled back off of a private road, with only a small sign that said "trail" to signify it's location. Upon parking, we immediately set foot onto the trail - Andy in my stabilicer cleats and I with my hiking poles - prepared for the worst snow and ice the mountain could throw at us (Andy was so impressed with the Stabilicers that he purchased a pair of his own at the EMS in Lake Placid, immediately after the hike!).<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSt7P3JN0GI/AAAAAAAAAbM/aEl_hsp03Vg/s1600-h/IMG_0999.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSt7P3JN0GI/AAAAAAAAAbM/aEl_hsp03Vg/s400/IMG_0999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272443301198155874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Overcast but still beautiful</span></div><br />It turned out to be an extremely easy hike. After a climb that seemed to consistently reward us with rock outcroppings and miniature views, we found ourselves near the top much faster than we had expected. Due to the cloudy/snowy day, our views weren't superb, but then again I've always been a fan of those overcast days - the trees and landscape seem to evaporate into thin air as they mix with the fog and clouds in the distance. After a bit of snacking and hydration, we set foot back on the trail for our descent, which was equally simple, providing an overall sense of "relaxation" to this hike that one doesn't always find on an Adirondack trail!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSt7PvvgmeI/AAAAAAAAAbE/D2bJp28x0BQ/s1600-h/IMG_0995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSt7PvvgmeI/AAAAAAAAAbE/D2bJp28x0BQ/s400/IMG_0995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272443299211287010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Andy Sewell, atop Owls Head</span><br /></div><br />Overall, the hike was wonderful. I can see myself repeating this hike with many different people, thanks to its relatively short length and great view. After completing the hike, Andy and I both agreed that we needed to do this again - perhaps turning a two-hour hike like this one into a multi-day trip, as it appears that we both have a passion for the outdoors, and there's no better place to feed that passion than in the Adirondacks with good friends!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Special thanks to Andy for providing the camera and taking most of the pictures!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSt7PWYXg6I/AAAAAAAAAa8/z5maCE-zTcE/s1600-h/IMG_0994.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SSt7PWYXg6I/AAAAAAAAAa8/z5maCE-zTcE/s400/IMG_0994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272443292403336098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Me, atop Owls Head</span><br /></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-33875047701153637632008-11-05T19:27:00.011-05:002008-11-05T20:35:47.505-05:00Third Time's a Charm on Mt. Jo<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRJJDOPSl6I/AAAAAAAAAas/ZKp9_EtBXKw/s1600-h/IMG_4715.JPG"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRJJDOPSl6I/AAAAAAAAAas/ZKp9_EtBXKw/s400/IMG_4715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265351234060195746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My father, Bill Beck, halfway up Mt. Jo</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Mt. Jo (2876 ft)<br /></span><br />Difficulty: Moderate<br />Date of Summit: 10/30/2008<br />Trailhead to Summit of Jo: 1.2 miles<br />Trip Time: 2.5 hrs<br />Ascent: 710 ft<br /><br />It took me three tries, but I finally took the easy, more enjoyable way up this mountain. Accompanied by my father, Bill Beck, we climbed the back side of Mt. Jo, which was much, MUCH more gradual than the short and steep version that I had experienced in the first and second ascents. After dropping my mother, Kathy Beck, off in the Adirondack Loj for a few hours of serious reading and relaxing in their lounge, my father and I began to tromp through the 6-inch deep snow (that's right - six inches in late October!) towards the trailhead. While we knew that our route would be the longer and more gradual trail, we were still concerned about the snow. As we passed the off-shoot to the short, steep route, we knew that we had made the right decision, for there was not a footprint to be seen on that portion of the trail.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRI6f21l_ZI/AAAAAAAAAaM/ezfgTV4PiEw/s1600-h/IMG_4718.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRI6f21l_ZI/AAAAAAAAAaM/ezfgTV4PiEw/s400/IMG_4718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265335233320189330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Icicles made of...?<br /></span></div><br />As we slowly climbed around the backside of the mini-mountain, we came across some beautiful icicle formations which appeared, due to their color, to have a substantial amount of iron in them (that's my guess at least). We joked that perhaps this water source was not from a pure mountain spring but perhaps an extremely large animal who just couldn't hold it anymore. We felt lucky to have poles and crampons, for we didn't fall or slip even once on the climb, up or down the mountain. We passed one couple who was resting along the trail, which meant that the duty of blazing the trail through the untouched snow was now our burden, which we gladly accepted. This situation also meant something else - we would be the first people to reach the summit that day, which is always an extra bonus for any hiker.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRJJDzwTjPI/AAAAAAAAAa0/bWW2WzvwaPo/s1600-h/IMG_4730.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRJJDzwTjPI/AAAAAAAAAa0/bWW2WzvwaPo/s400/IMG_4730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265351244130782450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The clouds rolling over Algonquin</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br />By the time we reached the top, the clouds had left the immediate area, leaving us a nice and open view that could be seen until roughly just before the very top of Algonquin. This allowed for some wonderful pictures (of which we took many, for this was my father's very first Adirondack hike!). As we began to dig into our summit snacks of pretzels and summer sausage, the party we had passed earlier arrived to join us at the top of Mt. Jo. With their help, we snapped a few more pictures and made a call on their cell phone to my mother (we knew that she was worrying about our lives and talking to the ranger about "emergency mountain rescue" at that very moment, just 700 feet below us).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRI6gYhTuMI/AAAAAAAAAaU/TMrLAO-Dg4I/s1600-h/IMG_4722.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRI6gYhTuMI/AAAAAAAAAaU/TMrLAO-Dg4I/s400/IMG_4722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265335242361911490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Atop Mt. Jo<br /></span></div><br />Twenty minutes later, we were back on the trail, heading down to my anxiously awaiting mother in the Adirondack Loj. The descent was extremely easy. The six inches of snow made every step feel as if the ground was reaching up with a pillow to cushion your impact, thus easing your joints. Since the temperature wasn't too cold, it was nearly the perfect conditions for a hike in the late (snowy) fall. Having done this mountain three different times now, I can honestly say that it never gets old - the view, the trail, and the company is always changing, which keeps things extremely interesting!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRI6gkHKroI/AAAAAAAAAac/5JhdeFEoS6k/s1600-h/IMG_4734.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SRI6gkHKroI/AAAAAAAAAac/5JhdeFEoS6k/s400/IMG_4734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265335245473492610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Six inches of snow in October</span><br /><br /></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-30250644465625314402008-10-21T21:14:00.010-04:002008-10-21T23:19:42.836-04:00One Year and Seven High Peaks Later...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FxqeMjWI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/KTOpWLrBDBc/s1600-h/IMG_4630.JPG"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FxqeMjWI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/KTOpWLrBDBc/s400/IMG_4630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259788503076343138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Looking down to Keene Valley<br /><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Slide Mountain</span> (4240 ft) (27th Highest Peak in ADKs)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />Difficulty: Moderately Steep<br />Date of Summit: 10/18/2008<br />Total Distance Hiked: 9.5 miles<br />Trip Time: 7 hrs<br />Ascent: 2800 ft<br />Temperature: High 40's to Low 50's<br /><br />It's officially been one year since my first Adirondack hike. A year ago (almost to the day), Martin Heintzelman and I summitted Moose & McKenzie Mountains, which were covered in snow. While there were bets as to whether we'd find snow atop the mountain on this trip, we only spotted ice in a few of the higher regions of the trail. Snow or no snow, Big Slide Mountain was definitely one of the more majestic climbs I've done to date in the park. The fall weather was perfect, the views numerous and constant throughout the ascent, and the morale of the group was high and hopeful.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FLiYv48I/AAAAAAAAAZk/uGPhSNnLzVs/s1600-h/IMG_4636.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FLiYv48I/AAAAAAAAAZk/uGPhSNnLzVs/s400/IMG_4636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259787848070980546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Peaceful Brook on the Big Slide/Third Brother col</span></div><br />I was invited to accompany Martin Heintzelman and his friend, Greg Peter (who had flown up from Richmond, VA to speak to Martin's MBA students), on a hike in the park. Martin and Greg have been friends since high school, so their hiking history is as long and full of stories as their friendship. While they've backpacked in numerous parks and trails around the country, this was Greg's very first Adirondack High Peak. We arrived in Keene Valley around 10am, ready to hit the trail. As is custom for hikers in Keene Valley, we had planned to park our vehicle near the trailhead, at a parking lot titled "The Garden", that was managed by the town of Keene. Although I had heard stories about the Garden filling up quickly, we were quite suprised to find that it was completely full upon arrival. We had no choice but to park a few miles away at the Marcy Airfield and pay to take a shuttle bus back to the Garden & trailhead.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FLMtqGCI/AAAAAAAAAZc/lBy5EsYhtHo/s1600-h/IMG_4632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FLMtqGCI/AAAAAAAAAZc/lBy5EsYhtHo/s400/IMG_4632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259787842253101090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Just after the First Brother</span></div><br />By the time we finally signed the trail ledger and set foot on the trail, it was roughly 10:30am. Even though we were already a bit behind schedule, it felt absolutely wonderful to be yet again in the thick of nature, where one's mind could wander at the same pace as one's legs and eyes. The climb through the forest was moderate at first, with it picking up in grade as we neared the first of the three Brothers. The Brothers are a series of "mini-mountains" that lead up to the fourth peak beyond the set, which was our final destination - Big Slide Mountain. This hike will forever stand out in my memory, due to the constant view of the Keene Valley region and the Great Range accompanying my left side as I climbed. (The Great Range is my ultimate dream - You climb SEVEN HIGH PEAKS in a 14.5 mile hike, ending at the highest peak in the park (and in New York State), Mount Marcy. Someday it will happen. Someday...)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FKpB4AwI/AAAAAAAAAZU/I042TvXxkJg/s1600-h/IMG_4618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FKpB4AwI/AAAAAAAAAZU/I042TvXxkJg/s400/IMG_4618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259787832674222850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Martin & Greg, on the steep trail</span></div><br />Over the course of the next three or four hours, we slowly made our way up the spine of The Brothers, eventually finding ourselves in the col between the Third Brother and Big Slide. Just as with previous hikes in the park, we discovered quickly that although the book states that it is 9.5 miles, it was obvious that the distance is based on the map itself - measured as if the trail was flat. When one adds roughly 6,000 feet of elevation change to that as well, a 9.5 mile walk that takes 7 hours starts to make a bit more sense.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6Fwwe-cZI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/2HrwPcYXxUI/s1600-h/IMG_4648.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6Fwwe-cZI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/2HrwPcYXxUI/s400/IMG_4648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259788487510356370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Dave, Martin, & Greg atop Big Slide (end of the Great Range in the bkgd)<br /></span></div><br />When we reached the top of Big Slide, we were greeted by a small party of fellow hikers who also took advantage of the perfect weather for a high peak climb. At any given time, there was roughly 10-15 other hikers atop Big Slides relatively small summit, making it feel a bit cramped (but I must say that I do enjoy chatting up the veteran hikers, as they're able to point and label all of the peaks in the distance for me!). We spent roughly 15 minutes atop Big Slide, and it was off to the races again, for we knew that we were running far behind our schedule already, and we now had to consider how much sunlight was left (which meant warmth) so that we could finish the trip in a relatively comfortable (and safe) manner.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FMG0tYFI/AAAAAAAAAZs/XlJTJsbaljo/s1600-h/IMG_4644.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FMG0tYFI/AAAAAAAAAZs/XlJTJsbaljo/s400/IMG_4644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259787857851932754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Marcy (#1), Colden (#11), and Algonquin (#2) filling the horizon</span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The descent was a long one. We decided to take a different and longer route on the way down, which dropped 2,000 feet in just over two miles. We then followed Johns Brook along a ledge for the final 3 miles. This route was well worth it though, as it was an extremely peaceful meander through the woods, where you could hear the water rushing through Johns Brook a few hundred feet below. I'm not sure if it was the sense of peace that this area emitted or our tired bodies rationing their energy reserves, but we walked for a few hours without saying a word to one another - it was quite wonderful to spend the final leg of the hike in self-reflection and silence. This was definitely a hike to remember. It was Greg's first high peak, and it was without a doubt one of the more beautiful and visually rich ascents I've done so far. This is one hike that I would do again in a heartbeat - for if nothing else but to stare at that Great Range, because daydreaming about its conquest will never get old.<br /></div><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FKUVGyhI/AAAAAAAAAZM/yU_0Wrfsdws/s1600-h/IMG_4614.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SP6FKUVGyhI/AAAAAAAAAZM/yU_0Wrfsdws/s400/IMG_4614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259787827117738514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A View of Giant Mountain (perhaps the next high peak to tackle?)</span></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-40154256095227260222008-09-28T20:50:00.007-04:002008-09-28T22:10:14.519-04:00Autumn Atop Ampersand<span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApEdQpvxI/AAAAAAAAAVA/fkgo9vJin5A/s1600-h/IMG_4502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApEdQpvxI/AAAAAAAAAVA/fkgo9vJin5A/s400/IMG_4502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251242322064686866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Nikki & Joe Gerard on the summit<br /></span></div><br />Ampersand Mountain (3352 ft)<br /><br />Difficulty: Gradual for the 1st half, Steep for the 2nd<br />Date of Summit: 9/27/08<br />Trail head to Summit: 2.7 miles<br />Trip Time: 3 hrs<br />Ascent: 1775 ft<br />Temperature: high 50's<br /><br />I've finally discovered the perfect hike for out of town guests. Ampersand Mountain. Not too short, not too long, and about as close to Potsdam as one can get if you're shooting for a higher peak to climb with a 360 degree view. Emily's childhood friends, Nikki and Joe Gerard, were visiting this past weekend from Duluth, MN. Since Emily's art show is only a few days away, I had the honor of being the Gerard's "Official Adirondack Mountain Guide" for the day. I knew that they were up for nearly anything, as they both had climbed more than their fair share of peaks out west (Joe is an official "Fourteener", which means that he climbed every peak above 14,000 ft in Colorado!).<br /><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApDcONWjI/AAAAAAAAAUw/SZK6pdpzO08/s1600-h/IMG_4483.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApDcONWjI/AAAAAAAAAUw/SZK6pdpzO08/s400/IMG_4483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251242304606132786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Final Push<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Although the forecast said rain, rain, and more rain, we decided to laugh in weather.com's face and start driving down to the trail head anyway. Situated just 12 miles after Tupper Lake on Rt. 3, I was looking for the trail sign and packed parking lot I had always noted</span> while driving to Saranac Lake (which is roughly 8 miles further). Unfortunately, due to the sign being completely gone (it looked like someone actually had taken it off the post...), it took us a few extra minutes and drive-by's to find it. Once we finally found the trail head, we parked in the lot with two other cars, and we were on our way! The best part? Once we stepped out of the car, <span style="font-style: italic;">the rain completely stopped</span>.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApDBnjc0I/AAAAAAAAAUo/7KpHdOk8ZOA/s1600-h/IMG_4500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApDBnjc0I/AAAAAAAAAUo/7KpHdOk8ZOA/s400/IMG_4500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251242297464681282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Atop Ampersand</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For late-September in the park, the weather was quite unique. Due to the cloudy day, there was no sun, the air was cool, and just a bit of humidity lingered from the recent rain. Aside from the presence of water - both in the air and in puddles on the trail, it was perfect hiking weather.</span> We made fairly good time, as the first half of the hike was very easy - a well-manicured, rolling trail - nearly the antithesis of typical Adirondack trail conditions. This was of course because Ampersand was saving the best for last. The last mile of the trail was as steep as anything (well, <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SKXzo1pZzBI/AAAAAAAAAR0/4V0nfabGNQI/s1600-h/IMG_4050.JPG">almost anything</a>) in the Adirondacks. My new hiking companions showed no sign of stopping though, as we pushed steadily upward.<br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApD3LjmkI/AAAAAAAAAU4/TVmy2Hmo2kE/s1600-h/IMG_4495.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApD3LjmkI/AAAAAAAAAU4/TVmy2Hmo2kE/s400/IMG_4495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251242311842765378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Cloud Shroud<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We reached the summit in very good time - about an hour and a half after we left the car.</span> Due to the cloudy day, we were warned by every hiker who passed us that there was nothing to see but clouds from the summit. When we reached the top, we found ourselves immersed in a giant fog, enshrouding us from all sides and restricting our otherwise 360 degree view of the high peaks. As we began to drop our gear and set-up for a typical "trail lunch" of summer sausage, cheese, and Triscuits, something happened. The air became cooler. The humidity dropped. The clouds had parted! The veil on mountain lifted to reveal a beautiful quilt of early fall colors in the valley below! Although we could not see any of the high peaks in the distance, we were able to get short glimpses of the Saranac Lakes spreading out from the base of the mountain. We had the summit to ourselves that day, only sharing it with the remnants of a fire tower, the plaque remembering Walter Rice - the Hermit of Ampersand, and a vicious looking little spider that seemed interested in our presence atop its rock house. After our well-deserved lunch, we departed for our brisk walk down the mountain. In less than an hour, we were back at our car. It's such a great feeling to discover yet another wonderful peak to climb in the park - and there's no better way to do that than with friends!<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApCmBHFYI/AAAAAAAAAUg/XNmin9T4cig/s1600-h/IMG_4491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SOApCmBHFYI/AAAAAAAAAUg/XNmin9T4cig/s400/IMG_4491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251242290055681410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Could there be a connection here?</span></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386568491354914329.post-15502284913857134722008-09-17T20:20:00.016-04:002008-09-17T22:00:04.418-04:00Camping at Cranberry Lake<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfL8gjJpI/AAAAAAAAATA/MYaM2h-dIFM/s1600-h/download-6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfL8gjJpI/AAAAAAAAATA/MYaM2h-dIFM/s400/download-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150068433364626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">View from atop Bear Mountain, Overlooking Cranberry Lake</span><br /></div><br />Camping at Cranberry Lake & Climbing Bear Mountain<br /><br />Difficulty: Easy in camp, but a bit harder hiking the mountain<br />Date of Trip & Summit: 9/13 - 9/14, 2008<br />Trailhead to Summit: 1.2 miles<br />Trip Time: 3 hrs<br />Ascent: 742 ft<br />Temperature: Warmer than one would think in mid-September...<span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfMCbcZyI/AAAAAAAAATI/I2fmygk99_w/s1600-h/download-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfMCbcZyI/AAAAAAAAATI/I2fmygk99_w/s400/download-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150070022563618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Beck Bivouac next to the Heintzelman Hotel<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">I can't tell you how nice it is to get away from technology. No computer monitors, keyboards, email, or cell phones. The lack of technology, combined with the beauty of the outdoors and an excuse not to shower, represents a slice of my own personal heaven. Don't get me wrong - I love the email. I love the HDTV. I love the video games. But none of these wonders of the modern world can render the sound of a lapping lake, a hot fire, the taste of marshmallows, or an extremely small tent that causes you to become a claustrophobic insomniac. Ahhh, the joy and wonder of the great outdoors!<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGffZpnViI/AAAAAAAAAUY/4yzJPutOhTc/s1600-h/download.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGffZpnViI/AAAAAAAAAUY/4yzJPutOhTc/s400/download.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150402673530402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Little Martin Heintzelman, Contemplating Life's Great Mysteries...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In all seriousness, Emily and I were extremely fortunate to be invited by the Heintzelman family on their annual fall camping trip to Cranberry Lake. Cranberry Lake campground is located just inside the Adirondack Park, roughly 45 minutes south of Potsdam. It's run by the DEC as a state campground, only one of a few campgrounds like it in the park. Martin Heintzelman had reserved this special campsite (right on the lake, with our own personal beach!) over 9 months ago. The Heintzelman parents, Martin and Louise, brought along their two sons, Martin and Eric. While little Martin has a bit of experience camping and hiking in the great outdoors, this was baby Eric's first overnight outing in the wild!</span> <br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfMUnUhiI/AAAAAAAAATQ/4SwuiaccnZU/s1600-h/download-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfMUnUhiI/AAAAAAAAATQ/4SwuiaccnZU/s400/download-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150074904217122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Baby Eric and his dirty knees!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">After arriving at the campsite and setting up our tents (as you can see in the above picture, they were just a teensy bit different in their overall cubic space...), we all decided to take advantage of a lazy, Saturday afternoon. The Martins decided to take the kayak out for a spin around one of the islands on Cranberry Lake. While they were gone, baby Eric got an extra amount of attention from his mom, Emily, and even (surprisingly) me. It wasn't long before he was splashing in the water for his afternoon lake bath. After the Martins arrived back from their boating trip, it was time to head off to the mighty Bear Mountain, our mini-peak to climb for the afternoon.</span><br /></div> </div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfMg_Yb_I/AAAAAAAAATY/oVwZrjvu8So/s1600-h/download-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfMg_Yb_I/AAAAAAAAATY/oVwZrjvu8So/s400/download-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150078226362354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Coming back from a kayak trip on Cranberry Lake</span></span><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">With little Martin as our guide, we slowly made our way down the trail. All seemed fine, until about 2/3rds the way through the trip - we came to quite a steep pitch in the trail, which appeared to persist until the end of the trail at the top of the mountain. Although it was a struggle for some of us, we all finally made it to the top in one piece, with dad and his "baby backpack" leading the way in the final push. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfMv5ca4I/AAAAAAAAATg/wYoT-Sy69Bw/s1600-h/download-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfMv5ca4I/AAAAAAAAATg/wYoT-Sy69Bw/s400/download-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150082227989378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Heintzelman Family Photo - Before the Big Hike</span><br /></div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There was a wonderful view from atop Bear Mountain, as we could see the Adirondack High Peaks in the distance, as well as the expanse of Cranberry Lake, which surprised us with its extensive reach around the many different corners of the park's surrounding topography. After a short rest and photo-op at the top, we quickly made our way back down the mountain, enjoying the views </span>peeking through the trees intermittently throughout our descent.<br /></div></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfZirOJuI/AAAAAAAAATw/42s7Lt9eq4M/s1600-h/download-7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfZirOJuI/AAAAAAAAATw/42s7Lt9eq4M/s400/download-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150302016972514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Emily and me, resting atop Bear Mountain</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">After a long day of hard work and exercise, it was time for a well-deserved and hearty meal. Thanks to Louise, we had a welcomed surplus of hot chili and cornbread to replenish our energy. The men, having such manly appetites, took advantage of the campfire by cooking some brats</span> and hot dogs as well. Of course, no camping experience is complete without some marshmallows! I actually had the pleasure of being attacked by little Martin and his sticky marshmallow fingers, which made for a good excuse to finally wash some of my clothes!<br /></div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfZqA7FUI/AAAAAAAAAT4/_01yWNDOHOs/s1600-h/download-8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfZqA7FUI/AAAAAAAAAT4/_01yWNDOHOs/s400/download-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150303987045698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Heintzelman Family, saying "Cheeseburger!"<br /><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Before bedtime, there were two more activities in which we needed to participate. Little Martin had brought two camping essentials with him on this trip: a deck of (Uno) cards and a book (of Scary Stories). We had a few rousing games of Uno, complete with squeals, screams, and bouts of laughter, all of which successfully (but unfortunately) woke baby Eric, who was sleeping in the tent. After the Uno games, it was time for some scary stories out of Martin's book! We heard "In a Dark, Dark Room" and "The Teeth", both of which we certifiably scary and worthy of being nightmare-inducing for all who were present for the storytime :)<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfZ2j0GSI/AAAAAAAAAUA/b4YzPvznZfQ/s1600-h/download-9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfZ2j0GSI/AAAAAAAAAUA/b4YzPvznZfQ/s400/download-9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150307354614050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Father and son, taking a load off<br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Of course, every perfect trip needs to have a rusty lining. That rusty lining came at around midnight, as the rain began to pour down hard, and continued throughout the entire night and into the morning. The rain, combined with the hard ground and the cramped space, did not make for a sound night's sleep for Emily or me. The idea of fitting two people into my tent is <span style="font-style: italic;">practical</span>, but definitely not comfortable. My tent is meant for backpackers, who need the lightest and smallest possible shelter to carry - they are not concerned with space or comfort, because frankly, after a long day of hiking it's easy to fall asleep in a small space. This trip definitely taught me a lesson - if I'm lucky enough to have my wife agree to accompany me on a camping trip (and if you know Emily, that is <span style="font-style: italic;">quite a favor to me...</span>), I should treat her like a queen, pampering her with a spacious abode, much like that of Martin Heintzelman's (for the record, they had two adults, a child, AND a baby in a crib in that freakin' thing - now THAT'S A HUGE TENT!).<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfZ_rnw1I/AAAAAAAAAUI/wHexaIcJxEY/s1600-h/download-10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ryK_3FQMfU/SNGfZ_rnw1I/AAAAAAAAAUI/wHexaIcJxEY/s400/download-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247150309803279186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Attack of the sticky marshmallow fingers<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We woke up early the next morning and broke camp somewhat early as well, due to the rain that was looming in the distance. Overall, it was a wonderful trip - full of laughter, good friends, and great memories, set in a beautiful spot that is probably only one of a handful of ideal settings like it in the world! Thanks for inviting us along, Heintzelmans!</span><br /></div></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816066844860849674noreply@blogger.com2