Eric
02-03-2006, 05:22 PM
Trail conditions very wet, heavy snow in many areas above 3000feet. Could bare boot from Ski approach to Marble Head, Rik and I used snow shoes for better traction. Once you pass the Esther Trail Head the trail has some blow down in few areas, hard to climb over some of the trees down so made path around trees. Road not to bad, not ski friendly, maybe in a couple areas. Trail to Esther easy to follow, looks like someone tied red ribbons to a few trees to make it easier to follow trail???? Maybe its there for a reason I don't know. Didn't follow trail to Whiteface once we made it to trail and road. Didn't want to chance it due to icy conditions.
If every time you had a day off for hiking was sunny wouldn't that be great. Unfortunately thats not the case. At the start of the week the plan was for Marcy, Gray, Skylight, as the week went on the plan turned to Street and Nye. But with this crazy winter weather or Spring weather, whatever it is were haviung this year, rik and I decided to go for W&E. We knew the conditions would be sketchy but again every time you have a day off for hiking you can't always get what you want. Rik and I parked at the Atmospheric Center. It was raining a little and we had hopes that as we would gain elevation the rain would turn to snow or no rain at all. The ski trail could be barebooted but for better tracktion we put on MSR's. The weather was mild, not cold, very foggy. We continued on with little difficulty, the trail had little snow on it but was icy in many areas. By the time we reached Esther trail head we dropped out packs and made our way to Esther. The trail had a bit more snow on it but well packed from the week before (as indicated on the ADKHighpeaks forum). No views, just fog. This was my third trip to Esther in 3 years and maybe its just me but it looks like the trail is much more open, a lot more dead trees in the swamp area, it looks beat up.
Back at the packs Rik and I decided that we would continue on until we got to the road and from there follow the road to the summit. Again the trail was easy to follow, some spots snow deeper. As we walked alongside the walls of the road Rik gained some distance, I was following in in trail and each step I just sanked and slide . By the time I got to the road I found Rik hiding along side the rock wall of the road. By this time the wind was wiping and sounded like a rollercoaster. Following the road was interesting, it was my first trip on the road. We figured that with the wet conditions and ice it would not be good to walk along the trail with exposed rocks. Didn't want to slip and fall. When we made it the the castle we put on warmer clothing had a snack and walked the stairs. It was not raining on the summit. It was very icy out and the wind was crazy, but believe it or not it was not ver cold. I checked the weather on the summit, it was 32 degrees. Following the road out was a good time. It stopped raining and it looked like it was clearing up somewhat. The road was more icy than anything not very skiable. When Rik and I reached the slide he though it to be a great idea to walk down it. Well we did and it was awesome, although I did find a couple real deep spruce traps and when trying to butt slide I butt holed instead :shock: . While walking the road there were some openings of the valley below. We also followed some possible dog tracks-coyote tracks. We also possibly followed some tracks that resembled a larger bear and a cub walking side by side. The tracks followed the road for about three miles. On another note I was using my trekking pole to throw snow at Rik, He though he was a Jedi with his pole and tried to cut a snow ball in half and ended up on his back :lol: .
4 trips left for Winter 46
If every time you had a day off for hiking was sunny wouldn't that be great. Unfortunately thats not the case. At the start of the week the plan was for Marcy, Gray, Skylight, as the week went on the plan turned to Street and Nye. But with this crazy winter weather or Spring weather, whatever it is were haviung this year, rik and I decided to go for W&E. We knew the conditions would be sketchy but again every time you have a day off for hiking you can't always get what you want. Rik and I parked at the Atmospheric Center. It was raining a little and we had hopes that as we would gain elevation the rain would turn to snow or no rain at all. The ski trail could be barebooted but for better tracktion we put on MSR's. The weather was mild, not cold, very foggy. We continued on with little difficulty, the trail had little snow on it but was icy in many areas. By the time we reached Esther trail head we dropped out packs and made our way to Esther. The trail had a bit more snow on it but well packed from the week before (as indicated on the ADKHighpeaks forum). No views, just fog. This was my third trip to Esther in 3 years and maybe its just me but it looks like the trail is much more open, a lot more dead trees in the swamp area, it looks beat up.
Back at the packs Rik and I decided that we would continue on until we got to the road and from there follow the road to the summit. Again the trail was easy to follow, some spots snow deeper. As we walked alongside the walls of the road Rik gained some distance, I was following in in trail and each step I just sanked and slide . By the time I got to the road I found Rik hiding along side the rock wall of the road. By this time the wind was wiping and sounded like a rollercoaster. Following the road was interesting, it was my first trip on the road. We figured that with the wet conditions and ice it would not be good to walk along the trail with exposed rocks. Didn't want to slip and fall. When we made it the the castle we put on warmer clothing had a snack and walked the stairs. It was not raining on the summit. It was very icy out and the wind was crazy, but believe it or not it was not ver cold. I checked the weather on the summit, it was 32 degrees. Following the road out was a good time. It stopped raining and it looked like it was clearing up somewhat. The road was more icy than anything not very skiable. When Rik and I reached the slide he though it to be a great idea to walk down it. Well we did and it was awesome, although I did find a couple real deep spruce traps and when trying to butt slide I butt holed instead :shock: . While walking the road there were some openings of the valley below. We also followed some possible dog tracks-coyote tracks. We also possibly followed some tracks that resembled a larger bear and a cub walking side by side. The tracks followed the road for about three miles. On another note I was using my trekking pole to throw snow at Rik, He though he was a Jedi with his pole and tried to cut a snow ball in half and ended up on his back :lol: .
4 trips left for Winter 46