I got back earlier this afternoon from a 3 day backpacking trip up to NY's Adirondack mountains. It was amazing! Im looking forward to many more weekends up there.
So I began early Saturday morning, waking up at 4:30am and getting on the road by 5 for the 3:30 hour drive from my house. I had about 4 hours of sleep so I already was a bit sluggish getting going in the morning. My initial plan was to get to the Adirondak Loj around 8am to begin my hike. Upon arriving at the gate I noticed cars being turned away and a sign saying the lot was full. When I pulled up the kid in the booth told me al the lots were full and Id have to park on the street about .8 of a mile away and walk up. As I was asking him if my car would be okay there for the 3 days I have planned to be in the mountains a car pulls out of the lot, whereas he tells me, "well, you're in luck, theres a spot!" Talk about timing! Worked out great.
I was still uncertain which route I was going to take. I stopped and spoke to the Park Ranger, who told me hike through Avalanche Pass onto the Uphill Lean-To, spend the night there, then hike up and over Mount Marcy to a tent site off the Van Hoevenberg trail just below the Phelps Mountain trailhead and then the next day hike out. Which was one of my initial plans. She then asked if I had a bear can, which are required when backpacking in the Adirondacks. Fortunately I had bought one the day before, though you can rent them at the Trail Center. And off I went....
Day 1 was amazing. the trail through Avalanche Pass was as AK said, gorgeous and breathtaking Upon getting to Avalanche Lake I didn't want to leave. On the way I kept leap foregone an older gentleman who had said he comes up just to hike this trail. I also caught up with a trio of French Canadians that I kept leap frogging as well. After going through the pass I would my way up past Lake Colden with fantastic views of Mount Marshall , Iroquois and Algonquin Peaks. Then on up the trail along the Opalescent Brook to a suspension bridge. The brook was moving very well and upon seeing the bridge out and not immediately seeing a place to cross safely I figured this was a great time to take a break and have lunch. While sitting on the rock eating away a couple with their 9 year old son and a dog appeared on the other side of the brook...and watching them cross gave me my clue as to where I was going to cross as well. Their son, only 9 was fully loaded with a pack and they were out there doing a 3 day trip as well. I have a 16 year old daughter and 12 year old son and I know neither of them could have done this for 3 days. I kept walking and arrived at the Uphill Lean-To fairly early, around 3. Exhausted, the lack of sleep was catching up to me. I set up my tent in probably the tightest most level spot I could find due to the two enormous 4 person tents set up, and the lean-to was occupied. I took a quick nap and was rudely awakened buy some more French Canadians, who literally walked right up to my tent asking me if I was awake and could give them directions... So I made dinner, filtered my water for the morning and stashed my bear can.
Day 2 started around 8am after having a quick breakfast and coffee and packing up. Yesterday was a bit muddy and rocky, and full of roots, but this morning it was even worse. Within 15 minutes my feet were soaked and covered in mud, but thats okay! I was loving it! I quickly arrived at the 3500 elevation mark and shortly after made it to Tear of the Clouds lake, the source of the Hudson River. This meant a bit to me having grown up on the Hudson River. It was amazing to think that this is where that river all began. From this point on the trail was a steady hike up, and up...onto the peak of Mount Marcy. Just kept going, taking my time. I came to the Mount Skylight trailhead just before the main climb to Marcy, stopped, and contemplated hiking up the .5 of a mile to the top, but I had Marcy on my mind, so I kept chugging away, cursing the bear can in my pack which was adding that extra weight. I made it to the top of Marcy at around 11 and besides the summit steward, was the only one there. I stayed for a while taking some pics and chatting with the steward. It was nice and cool up top and windy. Cloudy, but still an amazing view all around! It was well worth the trek up! Soon more hikers began summiting the peak. When I began down the trail was full of hikers on their way up. It was a steady descent down, passing so many people on their way up. I got to Indian Falls and the sun was shining and bright and it was a perfect spot for lunch. Aired out the feet, dried out my shirt and socks and filtered and filled up my water. I continued down the trail and passed the Phelps Mountain trail and onto the the tent site just past it. No one was there so I set up camp, unloaded my pack except my water, filter and rain jacket then proceeded to climb to the top of Phelps. This was straight up, just a climb all the way to the top, but once getting there the views were amazing. There were 3 kids hanging at top and Bs'd with them for a bit before heading back to camp. Filtered more water before heading back to camp, where I made dinner, read for a bit then retired to my tent for the night.
Day 3 I woke up around 6:30, had coffee and a light breakfast, packed up my stuff and headed down the trail around 7. I hiked steady until arriving at the Loj parking lot at around 8:30. Got in my car and back home!
Pics to follow!
So I began early Saturday morning, waking up at 4:30am and getting on the road by 5 for the 3:30 hour drive from my house. I had about 4 hours of sleep so I already was a bit sluggish getting going in the morning. My initial plan was to get to the Adirondak Loj around 8am to begin my hike. Upon arriving at the gate I noticed cars being turned away and a sign saying the lot was full. When I pulled up the kid in the booth told me al the lots were full and Id have to park on the street about .8 of a mile away and walk up. As I was asking him if my car would be okay there for the 3 days I have planned to be in the mountains a car pulls out of the lot, whereas he tells me, "well, you're in luck, theres a spot!" Talk about timing! Worked out great.
I was still uncertain which route I was going to take. I stopped and spoke to the Park Ranger, who told me hike through Avalanche Pass onto the Uphill Lean-To, spend the night there, then hike up and over Mount Marcy to a tent site off the Van Hoevenberg trail just below the Phelps Mountain trailhead and then the next day hike out. Which was one of my initial plans. She then asked if I had a bear can, which are required when backpacking in the Adirondacks. Fortunately I had bought one the day before, though you can rent them at the Trail Center. And off I went....
Day 1 was amazing. the trail through Avalanche Pass was as AK said, gorgeous and breathtaking Upon getting to Avalanche Lake I didn't want to leave. On the way I kept leap foregone an older gentleman who had said he comes up just to hike this trail. I also caught up with a trio of French Canadians that I kept leap frogging as well. After going through the pass I would my way up past Lake Colden with fantastic views of Mount Marshall , Iroquois and Algonquin Peaks. Then on up the trail along the Opalescent Brook to a suspension bridge. The brook was moving very well and upon seeing the bridge out and not immediately seeing a place to cross safely I figured this was a great time to take a break and have lunch. While sitting on the rock eating away a couple with their 9 year old son and a dog appeared on the other side of the brook...and watching them cross gave me my clue as to where I was going to cross as well. Their son, only 9 was fully loaded with a pack and they were out there doing a 3 day trip as well. I have a 16 year old daughter and 12 year old son and I know neither of them could have done this for 3 days. I kept walking and arrived at the Uphill Lean-To fairly early, around 3. Exhausted, the lack of sleep was catching up to me. I set up my tent in probably the tightest most level spot I could find due to the two enormous 4 person tents set up, and the lean-to was occupied. I took a quick nap and was rudely awakened buy some more French Canadians, who literally walked right up to my tent asking me if I was awake and could give them directions... So I made dinner, filtered my water for the morning and stashed my bear can.
Day 2 started around 8am after having a quick breakfast and coffee and packing up. Yesterday was a bit muddy and rocky, and full of roots, but this morning it was even worse. Within 15 minutes my feet were soaked and covered in mud, but thats okay! I was loving it! I quickly arrived at the 3500 elevation mark and shortly after made it to Tear of the Clouds lake, the source of the Hudson River. This meant a bit to me having grown up on the Hudson River. It was amazing to think that this is where that river all began. From this point on the trail was a steady hike up, and up...onto the peak of Mount Marcy. Just kept going, taking my time. I came to the Mount Skylight trailhead just before the main climb to Marcy, stopped, and contemplated hiking up the .5 of a mile to the top, but I had Marcy on my mind, so I kept chugging away, cursing the bear can in my pack which was adding that extra weight. I made it to the top of Marcy at around 11 and besides the summit steward, was the only one there. I stayed for a while taking some pics and chatting with the steward. It was nice and cool up top and windy. Cloudy, but still an amazing view all around! It was well worth the trek up! Soon more hikers began summiting the peak. When I began down the trail was full of hikers on their way up. It was a steady descent down, passing so many people on their way up. I got to Indian Falls and the sun was shining and bright and it was a perfect spot for lunch. Aired out the feet, dried out my shirt and socks and filtered and filled up my water. I continued down the trail and passed the Phelps Mountain trail and onto the the tent site just past it. No one was there so I set up camp, unloaded my pack except my water, filter and rain jacket then proceeded to climb to the top of Phelps. This was straight up, just a climb all the way to the top, but once getting there the views were amazing. There were 3 kids hanging at top and Bs'd with them for a bit before heading back to camp. Filtered more water before heading back to camp, where I made dinner, read for a bit then retired to my tent for the night.
Day 3 I woke up around 6:30, had coffee and a light breakfast, packed up my stuff and headed down the trail around 7. I hiked steady until arriving at the Loj parking lot at around 8:30. Got in my car and back home!
Pics to follow!
RIAP
The post was edited 1 time, last by A.T.Lt ().