http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/ This is a discussion forum powered by vBulletin. To find out about vBulletin, go to http://www.vbulletin.com/ . en Thu, 23 May 2013 04:11:42 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/ http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21580&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 15:22:02 GMT I am not a tree hugger per say but CO2 levels do worry me. It is a complex system with many confounding variables, but this is one variable that can... I am not a tree hugger per say but CO2 levels do worry me. It is a complex system with many confounding variables, but this is one variable that can move the operating point of the climate.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/...eaches-400-ppm ]]> DackerDan http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21580 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21579&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:20 GMT Hello Forum! I'm looking for info on hiking the Great Range and the ideal starting peak for the hike.

My hiking partner and I attempted the range while pursuing our 46 a couple years ago, starting from the Loj and hiking Marcy first. We ended up going down to Orebed Brook trail due to lack of water and food. Starting with the highest peak made sense to us at the time, but I've noticed quite a few hikers start on the other side of the range and end with Marcy. What's the reasoning behind this?

We're hoping to hike the Great Range in a month, any help would be greatly appreciated! ]]> General Hiking Information KTADK http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21579 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21577&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 10:26:45 GMT My first trip to the Catskills. Probably be a while before I get back again because it is so far from home compared to the ADK. Our itinerary: ... My first trip to the Catskills. Probably be a while before I get back again because it is so far from home compared to the ADK. Our itinerary:

Day 0:
Drove to Utica after work. Stayed in a skludgy motel with a pool that had a tree growing out of it.

Day 1:
Drove to Sprucedon and hiked Hunter and Swhunter. Lovely weather. The highlight of the hike was the Diamond Notch falls which was right near the end. What a beautiful spot. Full report and photos:
http://web.ncf.ca/mbowler/hiking/ne1...er/hunter.html

Camped at Woodland Valley state campground. Reminded me why I hate car camping.


Day 2:
Hiked Wittenburg, Cornell, and Slide via a loop from the campground. A soggy day with no views, but what a fantastic hike. Thank you very much to whoever left the beer near the top of Slide!
http://web.ncf.ca/mbowler/hiking/ne111/slide/slide.html

Camped again at Woodland Valley. Now that the hordes of screaming children and firewood scavengers had departed this was quite a nice spot.


Day 3:
A waitress in Phoenicia suggested that we check out Katterskill falls when we told her about our magical experience at Diamond Notch. So... for our last day we did a short cool down hike to check it out. That place is quite cool! Met another couple from Canada who were waterfall hunters. Too long of a drive home. ]]> Catskill Trip Reports mbowler http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21577 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21576&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 08:43:30 GMT 3 days Weekend : may 17-18-19 Black flies, black bear, ticks, sun, beautiful scenery and fun. *Smarts Mountain* *PHOTOS--------... 3 days Weekend : may 17-18-19
Black flies, black bear, ticks, sun, beautiful scenery and fun.

Smarts Mountain
PHOTOS--------



SquareLedge, Hibbard Mountain, Mount Wonalancet
PHOTOS--------



MountCardigan
PHOTOS--------

]]> New England Trip Reports yvon http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21576 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21575&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 04:51:30 GMT Hello everyone! This will be my 4th year of hiking the High Peaks and I plan on making my 1st hike of this year a big one.

Im at 11HP's right now conquering the majority of the northern peaks with the exception of nye, street, and the Sewards.

With a little advice what hike could I knock out 5ishHP's in a day?

Last year was a sluggish year only getting Big Slide, Iroqouis, Algonquin, and Wright. Im aiming to get 12 more peaks under my belt this year. ]]> Trip Planning. Questions and Answers. AdkHiker http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21575 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21574&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 19:52:08 GMT I once posted about hiking the NPT. I am still serious about it. Financial obligations will not allow me to gather the necessary equipment until... I once posted about hiking the NPT. I am still serious about it. Financial obligations will not allow me to gather the necessary equipment until sometime next year. I wont take on a hike like that until I know that the logistics part is taken care of. But, that is not the real reason for this post. The other important factor is being in the best physical shape to make the hike. I was checking the distance I would have to hike and by my estimates, I would have to do about 10 miles per day to make the trip in the time I will have.

I plan on taking 3 weeks vacation from work. I will head to Great Sacandaga Lake and stay at the motel for a couple of days to prep and get into the right frame of mind. I'm thinking I'll need two weeks for the trail hike while the 3rd week will be split between getting ready and where to place my car, when I do get a car, then getting a ride from Lake Placid back to the car.

So, the question is, how do I train?

Do I just keep on walking and doing what I am doing, dropping weight along the way?
I do not plan on doing the NPT for at least 3 years, so plenty of time to get lean and mean. ]]> General Hiking Information Gerard01 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21574 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21573&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 19:24:56 GMT Watching the weather outlook all week was tough. The plan was Panther, Slide, Cornell, Wittenberg from Woodland Valley on Sunday. As the forecast... Watching the weather outlook all week was tough. The plan was Panther, Slide, Cornell, Wittenberg from Woodland Valley on Sunday. As the forecast waffled back and forth, I did the same, alternately considering a Saturday hike or change of venue...but in the end, a Saturday 5K and my stubbornness won out. My last look at the weather indicated rain should hold off and possibly even admit some sun until noonish...by 7:30 am it was coming down pretty good and would vary between steady mist and wind-driven showers all day.

Starting up the trail from WV around 6:10, all indications were that it was going to be a stiflingly humid day. Thankfully, the stifling part broke pretty quickly as the oppressive humidity turned into a cooling mist. In general, the trail all the way to Panther was a pleasure. There were a half dozen or so groups camped on Giant Ledge. My rolled-up sleeves and short-shorts got some interesting looks from the jeans-and-sweatshirt crews that were just rolling out of bed. I can't blame them.

Since I had gotten about 19.5 miles total for the loop off of the NYNJTC maps, I decided to overshoot Panther by a quarter mile to make it a cool 20 (read: after descending for a while on a lesser-used trail than the one I had ascended on and with no indication of higher topography in front of me, I consulted the map and turned back around).



The picturesque Woodland Valley from Panther Mountain


Breathtaking...from Giant Ledge this time

Back to the junction and the woods road/easement; another fine piece of walking. A tad wet in spots but nothing bothersome...particularly since I was already sopping. The woods throughout that stretch are open and quite nice to be surrounded by. 30 minutes here and another casual 20 along the road to the Slide PL where rest, nourishment and foot-care measures were taken.


Obligatory eft photo


A scenic walk along the W. Branch of the Neversink


Not sure who this dude was, but this is the marker they put in at the halfway point for the loop

While I was tending to my needs, a somewhat large and not so slow looking but quite hairy character rolled up and mumbled something about some secret mission and then proclaimed his affinity for Talons before getting back into his car to "change" and then taking off as quickly as he had come.* We're a strange bunch.

I quite enjoyed the ascent of Slide; a pretty quick cruise to the top. Didn't bother to stop at the first lookout as there was a group (the columbia students?) occupying it and, well...the view hadn't changed much all day.


From Slide Mt; note how the perspective on Woodland Valley changes from peak to peak


My enthusiasm would be dwindling within the hour

The drop down to the col wasn't bad, but heading up Cornell I was starting to drag a bit, which continued through the descent.


From Cornell; I just love these semi-circular loops and the way the valley floor separates you from the peaks you were just so recently upon

At the crack, I met a group heading the opposite direction, helped them loop a rope, and then took advantage of my work...not that it was necessary, but it made that first drop trivial. At this point, I was still enjoying the day, but it's safe to say my feet were not, and I did a little bit of cursing at the PUD on the way to Wittenberg. Of course, upon reaching the junction to WV and Terrace Mt, I realized that the PUD was, in fact Wittenberg, and simultaneously cursed that I had missed out on the legendary views that I missed by not realizing where I was, and rejoiced as I was much closer to the car than previously thought.


Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties (in my brain), there is no snapshot of the ever-scenic Woodland Valley from Wittenberg; however, our technical experts have spent dozens of man-hours with unbelievable attention to detail in preparing the above rendering of what it may very well have looked like. As you can probably tell from the image (if you weren't already aware), Witt sits slightly northeast of and ~100' lower than Cornell.

Not much more to say about the return to the car. There were a few black flies in the lot. I have one bite on my ankle from the entire excursion. Now that I know the route, I'll have to go back sometime and get the views. Of course, I'll never get tired of stopping in Athens to recover at Crossroads either.



*that is, at best, a semi-accurate account of what happened...much like the rest of this report. ]]> Catskill Trip Reports FoulHooked http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21573 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21570&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 16:20:59 GMT After a quick loop over Big Slide and Yard, we left the now full Garden and parked between the lakes. We were looking at the first waterfall from the... After a quick loop over Big Slide and Yard, we left the now full Garden and parked between the lakes. We were looking at the first waterfall from the parking lot and we were quite intimidated.

Someone told me that it was a more difficult than the trap dyke and IMHO it is, mainly because the route finding is more difficult.

We had our climbing shoes on for that section and I was a glad to have them, but I guess that many of you would have preferred approach shoes.

Over that one, there is some easy sections up to another waterfall. On that one, we hit some nasty algae, so we decided not to push it and we moved to the side were vegetation could help.

After the long dried mud section, we got at the base of the headwall. It was a mix of dirt covered / wet slab. We weren't able to get good enough traction to feel safe scrambling it, so we bushwacked to the right until we hit the birch glade (I understand that we should have gone left to the old slide).

Overall, it certainly felt more challenging than Whiteface Brook Slide and Trap Dyke / Colden middle slide (?, not Irene's) that we did last year.

The next one will probably be on Wright. ]]> Slide Climbing Trip Reports sherbi http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21570 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21568&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 16:05:07 GMT Thinking of doing Sawteeth next week sometime. I'll be hiking with two inexperienced hikers and one that has some experience. Everyone is in decent shape. Which route up do you think would be best suited for a crew like that? Just plan on getting Sawteeth for the day, not looking to get Gothics or Pyramid on this trip. ]]> Trip Planning. Questions and Answers. curth83 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21568 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21565&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 13:44:25 GMT It had been a year since I had been to the Cats since I have been hiking in the ADK's and Whites more...so felt it was time to return. I had wanted to do this loop for quite some time so this was the weekend.

I got to Woodland Valley at about 4:30pm on Saturday and planned to hike to Terrace Mountain and camp. The trail gets pretty steep right away and it was pretty humid out - I was sweating in no time. It had been a little while since i had hiked in warm weather with a 35lb pack and I guess it kind of hit me. I think I had minimized this hike a bit mentally and thought it might be easier that it is. :) After all, I've been hiking in the ADK's for the past year so the Cats should be nothing, right? Ha ha. How conveniently I forgot how strenuous the Devil's Path was last July.

Got to Terrace Mountain and there was another gentleman there from the UK with a tent and a group of 8 Columbia college students at the lean to. Everyone was very friendly and respectful. The college kids were uber smart and out on their semi anual group outing for school. It was cool to chat with them. In the morning I heard drizzle on my tent and was hoping it was just dew dripping but alas, that was not to be. It was foggy and rainy, but not cold. Not really a big deal but it does take the wind out of your sails a little bit. I had been hoping for views from Wittenberg but alas that was not be be. On the upside, it was not cold out and the rain kept the bugs at bay. It was not pouring and there is a definite peacefulness to hiking through the quiet, misty woods. It also gave me a chance to further refine my wet weather camping techniques and system.

The hike over the Burroughs Range was nice. No views buy great climbs. IMO it is very Devil's Pathish. Shorter, but similar terrain. The Cornell Crack was fun - I had no issue getting up but I could see how someone with limited upper body strength and no assistance might have trouble. Heading up Slide I met the other group from Columbia University - they were each hiking the loop from opposite sides and meeting in the middle. I really liked the Burroughs Plaque at the summit of Slide. It was pretty cool to read that he had slept right under that rock overhang. Hike down slide was easy - I decided not to take the Ormsbee trail and come back around to camp as my knee was aching a little.

The campsite on the left coming down the western side of Slide is big and has space for several tents. I shared it with the Columbia students from night 1 again. Got camp set up, got in dry clothes, got in my bag, and hunkered down for the night.

Next day was misty in the morning but then cleared up - took the shortcut on the easement at the north end of the lake to the junction with the Giant Ledge/Panther trail. I was kind of tired and wanted to be home in time to get my son from school, so I skipped Panther this time. Sun came out and so did the bugs but not too bad. I was making great time until I hit those stone steps and the last climb on the PE. I knew it had been coming but it still kicked my butt.

Got back to the car at about 11:20 on Monday morning and had lunch at the Phoenicia Diner. I have to say, it was very good.

A very nice 2 nighter and a return to the Cats. I'll be back for more - I still need to see the view from Wittenberg :) ]]> Catskill Trip Reports mrsmileyns http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21565 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21564&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 13:02:07 GMT I'm planning a trip to the Dix's for a weekend in late June. I have been reading some threads on here and wanted to post my plan and ask a few questions. I would appreciate any insight.

Day 1 - Park at Elk Lake and hike to Slide Brook - set up camp and drop weight. Hike to Hough, traverse ridge to Beckhorn, Dix Summit, return to camp around the loop via Hunter Pass trail.

Day 2 - Macomb, South Dix, East Dix - out and back - pack up camp and hike back to car.

I guess I will ask my questions in order as they pertain to this trip:

1. If I get to Elk Lake at say 7am on a Saturday morning in late June will I have problems parking? (I have never been there)

2. Is the hike in from Elk Lake to Slide Brook basically flat? I want to know what we will be doing with weight.

3. Recommended route for going up Hough and then over to the Beckhorn to the summit of Dix? This will be my first trail less endeavor so as many details as possible would be great.

4. Day 2 I assume based on what I have read I should head up the Lillian Brook herd path to Macomb Slide to Macomb, over to South Dix, then East Dix and back. I also read I may not want to return via the slide. Can I get some advice on this and as much info as possible on navigating for these 3 peaks.

5. What do you think the mileage is for each of my days? The trailed stuff I can figure out no problem but the off trail is a little harder. My estimates are about 10-12 miles each day including the hike to and from the car at Elk Lake.

6. How hard is each day of this hike? I realize that is completely subjective but I will not be alone and want to properly prepare my hiking partner. How would it compare say...to Pyramid, Gothics, Armstrong, LWJ? Or Dial Nippletop loop?

7. Is the route I have described pretty easy to follow? I will obviously have my map and compass and also bring my GPS with tracks of others hikes loaded for reference if needed. But I'd like to get an idea of what I am getting in to to be prepared. I know MANY people do this hike - so it is obviously very do able of course.

8. Will I be able to find camping near Slide Brook during the time I have described? What are the chances we get there and can't find a spot? Tent, not lean to.

9. Bugs - maybe a silly question - I realize it is late June, probably the height of bug season. How bad "might" they be? I am hoping the Dix area will not be as bad as say the Sewards at that time. Again, I want to adequately prepare my hiking partner so she is mentally prepared. ;) We will have head nets and DEET.

I think thats it. Thanks a lot as always. I looked through several other threads and honestly there is SO MUCH info on this hike and doing it different ways I wanted to just sort of distill my questions down here. I am looking for the most direct way to do these 5 peaks as an overnight. ]]> Trip Planning. Questions and Answers. mrsmileyns http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21564 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21562&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 06:08:54 GMT An earlier thread briefly touched on the theme of checking items off of lists, such as the 46, and philosophy as to whether that goal should be long... An earlier thread briefly touched on the theme of checking items off of lists, such as the 46, and philosophy as to whether that goal should be long savored or methodically tackled. While that debate, I suspect, is ageless and unending, I am curious as to the subject of others lists people here may be keeping.

For instance I recently saw an Oriole for the first time on a hike in NJ after having seen a Great Blue Heron on a hike two months prior. So birds have been added to the list of things I'm now paying attention to - whether I'm checking them off of a list of north east birds or not (I'm not quite there yet...)

I think the point of such lists, at least to me, is memory in the rawest sense as well as keeping things interesting in a familiar setting.

Anyway :blah: What are your lists, if I may ask? ]]> Adirondack Mountain Hiking whistlerbrk http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21562 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21561&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 03:50:42 GMT http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/father-and-daughter-s-amazing-appalachian-trek-to-save-lives-183409182.html http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/fat...183409182.html ]]> Makwa http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21561 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21560&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 03:03:08 GMT The Garden's Sunday Special featured a tasty half-rack of the Great Range, Lower Wolfjaw to Gothics, and two yummy slide-dishes, Bennies Brook and True North. The meal was roasted in sunshine then smothered in a gravy of heavy fog and light showers. The entire feast lasted 8.5 hours and ended with a serving of Stewart's Chocolate Milk. I'm still savouring the experience. :tup:

Photo Album


Samples

Looking down Bennies Brook slide.


Looking back at Armstrong.


Gothics' western face from True North slide.


Heading down True North. ]]> Adirondack Trip Reports Trail Boss http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21560 http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21559&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 01:54:08 GMT I had a blast this Sunday doing the SaBaHa loop and while this was my longest and hardest hike thus far, it was also the most rewarding with the... I had a blast this Sunday doing the SaBaHa loop and while this was my longest and hardest hike thus far, it was also the most rewarding with the amazing views and a great sense of accomplishment.

Trailboss, it was nice meeting you towards the end of the hike on the way back to the garden. I think I could have kept up with your lightning speed for at least another 10 mins and would have loved to continue our conversation, but I had an exhausted colleague who I had to help keep moving and get back to the parking lot on his own power so I didn't have to end up carrying him out.

I had some questions from this trip, and also wanted some guidance on my trip next weekend.
- At the summit of Saddleback, if I am facing Basin, behind me was a trail marked with Blue trail markers. It was obviously not maintained and I tried to follow it for a bit to see where it went but couldn't figure out and decided to get back to the loop. Anyone know where this trail leads to?
- Below little haystack, there is a sign that has Haystack pointing to the left, and there is a trail to the right with blue markers. I was hoping someone would know where that leads to since there was no sign for it.
- Now that my legs are getting used to the distance and pain, For next weekend, I was thinking either Gothics-Armstrong-Wolfjaw, or Colvin-Blake-Dial-Nippletop. Any recommendation on which of the two I woiuld be able to complete as a one day trip given my recent accomplishment?

Thanks! ]]> Trip Planning. Questions and Answers. tkop http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21559