NSR: Adirondacks beta?

Heading to the Dacks this weekend for camping and hiking. Last year we drove up to North Hudson (east side of the Dacks) and west a ways and found a money campsite. We will probably head there, and do day hikes from the campsite. Marcy is on the hit list--what is the best route? Which is the fastest/shortest? I have two non-hikers (although athletic) with me, so Im thinking shortest route... What other good day hikes are there? Or other attractions (falls, swimming holes, etc)? I have some map software, but I think Im gonna need more than "you should do XYZ trail" (rather, "you should do XYZ trail, which you can hop on at the trail head at XYZ. To get there, go up 87 to route 73, bang a left onto Lake Road, and the trail head is up ~3 miles").

Any help? Paging BanditPete??


BTW: any recent snowpack info is also appreciated. Last year during Memorial Day weekend we lounged at camp and didnt hike--so I have no idea what the snow depths (if any) will be...

This article just ran in the NYT: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/18...es/18trip.html The route that he talks about (from the north of Marcy) is the shortest, I'm pretty sure.

Man, are you playing with fire with black fly season. Any day now. Good luck.

I second the blackfly comment. Those nasty little bastards - when out in force - can literally skin you alive! I remember one day last year, not only were attacking me, but also my damned camera and tripod! :eek:

Yeah, last year was horrific. Im guessing it will be the same this year. Hopefully therell be some wind.

Thanks for the article, BP.

ADK, is the ADK in your screen name for Adirondacks? If so, thats all you have to say?!?! :p

Shortest Route up Marcy would be from the ADK LOJ out past Marcy Dam and up that way....Not hard, just long.

Other hikes id suggest would be Algonquin and Wright, also done from the LOJ.

Pitchoff is also a reall cool loop, but need 2 cars or hitchhike. You can also do a short out and back to the North Summit or the Blancing rocks on the South summit....short trip for doing an out and back, but great views.

I could go on and on.....feel freee to PM me.

Cool beans... Whats a good hike thats close to 87 between Schroon Lake and St Huberts? There are some neat barren/slide ridden peaks (Im Google-Earthing) just west of Lower Ausable Lake--anything around there?

Also, whats considered 'long'? What kind of mileage?

Yes ADK has to do with Adirondacks, but I'm not there anymore. Don't know about the different Marcy routes, as I haven't done them yet. However, I have played around near the southern approach, starting at the Upper Works in TAHAWUS. While this is the longer approach, the views and history along the way might be worth it. There are swimming holes near the trailhead on the Hudson River.

If you take the Northern Rt up Marcy from ADK Loj, swing up to Mt. Jo. It's a short little hike, but the views are incredible...

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/4957352-md.jpg

Other good day hikes that I would suggest in the area would be throughout Keene Valley on Rt. 73. Just to name a few short hikes I've done would be Giant Mt., Hopkins Mt., Roostercomb, Snow, Nun-da-goa Ridge, Cascade & Porter, the Brothers and Hurricane.

As for current conditions up there, I don't know them. I'm living in SLC now. For the best TRs and trail conditions check out http://www.viewsfromthetop.com.

I hope this helps. Enjoy your time in the Daks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ski_adk

Yes ADK has to do with Adirondacks, but I'm not there anymore. However, I have played around near the southern approach, starting at the Upper Works in TAHAWUS.

---

Cool! We camp right down the road from there. Definitely want to check that out. Whats the skinny, can you drive up Route 25 almost into town? We drove on a bunch of old dirt roads last year along Blue Ridge Road Route 84?) and came up to private property signs. Since we were out in the middle of absolutely no where, we didnt push our luck. Are you allowed to walk around Tahawus?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Natedogg

Cool beans... Whats a good hike thats close to 87 between Schroon Lake and St Huberts? There are some neat barren/slide ridden peaks (Im Google-Earthing) just west of Lower Ausable Lake--anything around there?

Also, whats considered 'long'? What kind of mileage?

---

Most easily accesible stuff is off 73.....

Giant is a great one. about 3k vert in 3miles. Beautiful views. Ill second Rooster Comb and Hurricane...as well as everything else Ski_ADK said.

West of Lower Ausable would be the "Great Range" or The Wolfjaws, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, and haystacks up to Marcy......Lower Wolfjaw is the Closest....you can go in from the Ausable Club or from the Garden, but the Garden might be mobbed this weekend......then again, maybe not. Regardless, the Great Range is a must sometime in your life.....

Also in the Johns Brook valley would be Big Slide....a nice day hike and wonderful when going over the Brothers.....

Walking around in TAHAWUS might be considered trespassing. However, follow the dirt road, (staying left will avoid the private property) all the way in and you'll pass the blast furnace and some old decrepit houses. I wouldn't suggest entering any of them unless you want to take the express to the basement.

At the end of the road is a small parking lot and the Upper Works trailhead. Try to get some local knowledge about trail conditions though...there might be some water to contend with. Either way, it's really cool up that way. Check out these links for more beta:


http://www.adirondackjourney.com/Upper_Works.htm (Topos show the route in)

http://www.adirondackjourney.com/Lak...owed_Lands.htm

am heading up to do some hiking, maybe giant or marcy on oct 6th or 7th. are the black flies as bad in the fall as they are in the spring? anything else that sucks about going then that i am overlooking?

It's awesome this time of year.
No black flies.
Was just up there for a few weeks- amazing weather...trails are in great condition. This summer has been very kind to the trails- little rain, no blowdown...etc.

Have you done algonquin? That's a great hike. Gothics is sick too. Take the lake road trail (AMC property) to the trail past rainbow falls and up around pyramid, over gothics and then down to the col between gothics and armstrong and down via the beaver meadow falls trail.

dont be afraid of black flies this time of year, this was always my favorite time to be up in the 'daks climbing. Ive never had a problem in fall with the little beasties.

Adirondak lodge , is the easiest way in, nice camping at south meadows and you can hike in the road to the dam. then rally up marcy

i wouldnt touch the dacks in spring with a 100ft pole though, as i get nasty welts from black flies

thanks guys. i've not hiked much up there, done a lot of fishing way up in wilmington. probably doing a day hike with the gf. our confidence is up after doing a ten miler in the tetons this summer so i'm leaning towards marcy via Van Hoevenberg Trail, gorp says its a 14 miler so i'm thinking we can manage that given plenty of time. i'll look up algonquin and gothics too. these mostly hikes or is there climbing involvled? we don't have any experience with that.

Usually black fly season lasts from May - July. Black flies need cool moist conditions to thrive. Watch the weather as hot & dry will kill them off. In bad years, they last into late July. In good years with a random late frost, they can disappear in early June. By autumn, those bastards are long gone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kokomas

am heading up to do some hiking, maybe giant or marcy on oct 6th or 7th. are the black flies as bad in the fall as they are in the spring? anything else that sucks about going then that i am overlooking?

---

No bugs now. best time to hike. marcy will be packed, so will giant. brothers to big slide is a nice hike with tons of views. park at garden parking lot in keene valley.

Oct 6 and 7 you really should also attend the flaming leaves festival and 50 day to whiteface party with new york premiere of meatheads new movie.

www.orda.org for info on events.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kokomas

thanks guys. i've not hiked much up there, done a lot of fishing way up in wilmington. probably doing a day hike with the gf. our confidence is up after doing a ten miler in the tetons this summer so i'm leaning towards marcy via Van Hoevenberg Trail, gorp says its a 14 miler so i'm thinking we can manage that given plenty of time. i'll look up algonquin and gothics too. these mostly hikes or is there climbing involvled? we don't have any experience with that.

---

nothing techincal at all on algonquin and gothics. wright peak and big al can be done easily--can also add iroquois and boundary, especially if you plan to spend the night in the woods.

a plan is forming...thanks for the info on the goings on at whiteface

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nurbs

i wouldnt touch the dacks in spring with a 100ft pole though

---

I ended up getting up there after I posted the original message. The black flies were absolutely terrible (my girlfriend reminds me of that to this day) until about 10PM.

We ended up looking around the blast furnace and old buildings, but no hikes. :cussing: Finally got up to see Lake Placid though--beautiful drive in from the Northway.

I'll second the Ausable Club's Lake Road > Weld Trail > Pyramid Peak > Gothics. I did this one on snow a few months back w/ my dad and brother. But the fall colors should be peaking pretty soon so it'll be even better now.

And if you do go up Pyramid the short spur trail to the waterfall (sombody fill in the name please) is well worth the minimal extra time and effort. But you'll still catch a decent view of the falls from above even if you don't walk up the spur.

Also you can miss most of the dirt road and walk the creek trail instead which will take you by a few waterfalls and through some gorgeous meadows. It does add some time and effort so maybe just do it in one one direction and walk the road back. Or loop back around over the wolfjaws if your feeling perky. There are escape routes at each saddle so you're not too committed if you start slowing down or run out of daylight. My appologies if I've got any names mixed up but it'll make sense if you scope out the map. But note that pyramid isn't one of the high peaks probably look for references to Gothic.

Also might check out http://www.adkforum.com/archive/index.php?t-65.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Natedogg

I ended up getting up there after I posted the original message. The black flies were absolutely terrible (my girlfriend reminds me of that to this day) until about 10PM.

We ended up looking around the blast furnace and old buildings, but no hikes. :cussing: Finally got up to see Lake Placid though--beautiful drive in from the Northway.

---

i dont hike from late may til august--if i have to, i'll wear a bug net over my head regardless of how stupid it looks. thats why i bought a road bike!

i almost hate deer flys more though in july and august. they drive me to temporary insanity.

if it werent for the nasty bigs the dacs would be grand central station all summer. i am happy to have them!

Edit -- dbl post ---Doh!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by madturtle

But the fall colors should be peaking pretty soon so it'll be even better now.

---

Peak Oct 6 and 7 - his timing is perfect.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by madturtle

And if you do go up Pyramid the short spur trail to the waterfall (sombody fill in the name please) is well worth the minimal extra time and effort. But you'll still catch a decent view of the falls from above even if you don't walk up the spur.

---

Rainbow falls. It's awesome - the pictures don't do the falls justice

from the lookout
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1190999151

from below
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1190999151

http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1190999151


Also if you take this trip- you can take on indian head too. It's s steep little climb but the views are stellar.
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1190999338

This weekend and the weekend after should be THE time to hike. Colors were nice down in Saratoga last weekend, and the temps will be in the 70's. Bon apetit.

I got a hiking book and it helped me understand what you all are talking about! so the plan is to drive up from nyc friday night, stay in some motel or other, then get out early to the dec parking lot at the ausable club, take the weld trail to rainbow falls, pyramid, and gothics and back via the beaver meadows trail, as lionelhuts and madturtle suggested. we will be taking our time and making a full day out of it. looks like maybe some showers, hoping for good weather. can anyone recommend a reasonable place to crash on the way up, the gf not to keen on car camping at this point. it could be in warrensburg or something, i guess i'll just hit the yellowpages. if anyone is looking for hiking partners let us know, what we lack in 'dack experience we will make up in enthusiasm! Saturday night and sunday we may try and hit the festivities up the highway at whiteface and lake placid.

thanks all for helping me out, the adirondacks are pretty daunting without some tips!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kokomas

I got a hiking book and it helped me understand what you all are talking about! so the plan is to drive up from nyc friday night, stay in some motel or other, then get out early to the dec parking lot at the ausable club, take the weld trail to rainbow falls, pyramid, and gothics and back via the beaver meadows trail, as lionelhuts and madturtle suggested. we will be taking our time and making a full day out of it. looks like maybe some showers, hoping for good weather. can anyone recommend a reasonable place to crash on the way up, the gf not to keen on car camping at this point. it could be in warrensburg or something, i guess i'll just hit the yellowpages. if anyone is looking for hiking partners let us know, what we lack in 'dack experience we will make up in enthusiasm! Saturday night and sunday we may try and hit the festivities up the highway at whiteface and lake placid.

thanks all for helping me out, the adirondacks are pretty daunting without some tips!

---

On the way up, you could stay in Lake George, but you will probably have more luck in scroon lake. Its a busy weekend--lake george probably has 3-night minimums, as does lake placid. your best bet is to just find a place and drop in and if they have a room, they'll give you one. you maybe able to get a place in keene valley last minute. try trails end inn or Keene Valley lodge are nice. you could probably get a room at the ausable inn--i never see that place full. its a cool place--a bit outdated and a bar/restaurant downstairs. its walking distance to my house so its a regular hangout for me when i am having a few! it gets pretty crazy at night sometimes - keene valley has a bunch of crazy old drunks living here. if you stay in keene valley, you can have din-din at the great range, which is new and really good food. then you are close to ausable club too for your hike. You really have to go to the whiteface party too--its at lisa gs in lake placid saturday night starting at 6--meatheads ski movie is at 8. it will be a good local skier crowd. i would love to go for a hike with you this weekend, but i am working during the day. the weather looks to be mostly cloudy, i think the rain will hold off till maybe later at night. Have fun--i'll keep an eye out for you.

Have fun dude...it's a great trek.
As a note of caution...there are some open rock parts that if wet can be SLICK as hell. Take note of the weather- you don't want to be tired and slip on one of these wet rock faces. Not that it's fall and die terrain but fall and break ankle sucks too.

Otherwise..enjoy.

Oh yea...have some pie at the noonmark dinner after your hike. It's fucking worth it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Have fun dude...it's a great trek.
As a note of caution...there are some open rock parts that if wet can be SLICK as hell. Take note of the weather- you don't want to be tired and slip on one of these wet rock faces. Not that it's fall and die terrain but fall and break ankle sucks too.

Otherwise..enjoy.

Oh yea...have some pie at the noonmark dinner after your hike. It's fucking worth it.

---

I am very defensive of my town and i will always talk it up--but the noonmark pie just doesnt do it for me. everybody loves their pie. its really not that good and I swear they dont make it there. have you ever been there when it smells like a pie baking? I saw a delivery truck with pie in it! its a hoax!

If you're a carnivore, stop in Warrensburg and go to Oscar's Smoked Meats Everything is fabulous, the bacon is amazing. Benny turned me on to the place and he was right on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iceman

If you're a carnivore, stop in Warrensburg and go to Oscar's Smoked Meats Everything is fabulous, the bacon is amazing. Benny turned me on to the place and he was right on.

---

i'll second that

To be honest...the pie isn't the best part about the noonmark...I prefer the breakfast for dinner aspect of the diner. Nothing is better than an ham and cheese omlet with rye toast after a long day of hiking.

thanks again for all the info, we will try and make it to lisa g's for the movie. if anyone spots my green dorothy mantooth shirt, come over and say hello, i'm buying

Thanks again all for helping me piece together this weekend, we had a great time. I wanted to post the pics so other newbie 'dacks hikers like us will have some idea what they are up against! I apologize for being so lame for not going to meatheads premiere, but we were pretty beat after scrambling down 3000' in the rain and close to 14mi on the day. Hope everyone had fun there and i owe some beers. We are hoping to make a trip up again in early november so maybe then if anyone is in the area. We thought the hike was really tough, were used to a lot of switchbacks and stuff. This was basically a straight shot up a dried out creek bed averaging about 25 degrees over the last mile. The reward up top was so worth it though! For reference, the last hike we did was in teton park, amphitheatre lake, 9.6 miles and 2960 ft gain. This one was more difficult because the trail went straight up the gut. The small exposed rock faces and bouldering were more difficult as well.

We rolled into wilmington around 2am friday night after getting a late start from nyc. ended up staying at adirondack holiday lodge for $89/ night. I probably could have done better but needed something last minute. place was okay and the restaurant there was decent enough. i've driven around up there looking for food late in the evening on fishing trips before, its no fun!

anyway, got breakfast at noonmark it was yummy. then down to the adr trailhead and it was packed. After signing in at the start of the lake road trail, we took east river trail for a warmup and some great views of foliage and the east branch of the ausable, (although i did get stung several times in the leg by a hornet:eek: ):

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0138.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0144.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0148.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0150.jpg

Then we got to lower ausable lake, about 4 mi from the parking log, heading towards pyramid and gothics on the weld trail, stopping along the way to see rainbow falls:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0152.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0156.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0160.jpg

Then up the the steep rocky trail for a LONG time
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0172.jpg

Found a friend and some great views for some encouragement
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0168.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0179.jpg

Summit of Pyramid after about 2.7 miles of grueling hiking (for us), looking onto Gothics:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0183.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0181.jpg

Then we went down the col and up to Gothics with views of Pyramid:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0189.jpg

From the summit of Gothics, another 0.6mi:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0191.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0194.jpg

And, then the rain came as we descended via Beaver Meadows trail
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0196.jpg

You all were right, wet rocks are DANGEROUS:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0203.jpg

It let up just enough for our picnic:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0197.jpg

I stopped for long enough to rescue this rock from falling:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0199.jpg

West River trail back, did you know a wine bottle keeps you dry in the rain?
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0207.jpg

Next day we took the easy way up Whiteface. Gothics are the second tall ones from the left:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/DSCN0229.jpg

Good for ya on that. How many other hikers did you see?

crowded parking lot, 2 hikers on east river, 3 hikers on rainbow falls, passed 5 or 6 hikers coming down while we were heading up. the summit was randy with people though, wouldn't have bothered me too much but it started to pour and people were milling around all the trails as we were trying to lose elevation. i was surprised to see people up there with no gear in tee shirts and stuff. i have no idea how or when they all got down, we didn't see anyone on the west river trail, they must have made a beeline for the road.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kokomas

i was surprised to see people up there with no gear in tee shirts and stuff.

---

That shit happens all the time in the adirondacks. So many people go unprepared and regret it. I wonder myself how these people make it down.

You picked a nice hike. Another option is to keep going over Gothics to Armstrong and Upper Wolf Jaws and then down. Distance is about the same (14 miles), but you take advantage of the elevation gained and pick up two more summits. Did that one in early December a few years back. Maybe on your November trip? Get a very early start in November because you don't want to be coming down in the dark. Then go to the diner for pie.

excellent! it ended up being a pretty crappy day, but glad you had fun. i cant see your pics--but i am sure they are awesome. i also see the same people without proper gear all the time. they dont understand how different the weather can be at the top. keeps the rangers busy, thats for sure. the first time i did gothics--i started with sawteeth, pyramid, gothics, armstrong an upper wolf and went down through johns brook. that was a long day.

Choucas, i was eyeing up some pecan pie for breakfast but was so full i had to abort.

Woodlandclown, sorry the pictures don't work, i put in links from photobucket.com and they work on my computer. sometimes at work the TR pics from other people don't work because of my firewall, maybe thats it. perhaps there's a better host i can use like flickr. that is a long hike you made!

if we go up again in november i think we'd try a little different area, perhaps one of the others suggested here like algonquin or brothers. And i would like to get to the top of Marcy despite crowds/lack of recommendations here.

A question for you experienced 'dacks hikers about gear for a long day hike, we had the following: plenty of water, gore tex shells, a warmer layer, utility knife/pliers thing, firestarters, food, trail shoes, headlamp, duct tape, cell phone, compass, topo/trail map for general area, detailed hiking book

We did not have: rain pants, serious hiking boots, camping gear, trekking poles, first aid kit

So that I can graduate from being a liability on the hill, what gear would you all bring?