phoenixfighter
08-07-2010, 10:03 AM
I am Swiss, 24, and spend 2 to 10 weeks every summer in the Adirondacks. This is my fifth summer here and this week I went on a very nice overnight High Peaks trip.
On Monday, August 2nd, I was dropped off at the Adirondack Loj and hiked into Marcy Dam. Since all Lean-tos were taken there, I continued hiking and got to the Avalang Lean-tos. The first and second lean-to was taken. Luckily, the third and final lean-to in reach was still available. I cooked dinner, got everything ready for the next day and fell asleep very early.
On the second day, I got up very early and left the lean-to around 6:45 am. I hiked up to Lake Arnold and continued south to the trailhead of Redfield and Cliff. The trailhead was easy to find and thus I started climbing Redfield. After an hour, I reached the top of Redfield (# 29). Because of the many clouds, because of the heavy winds and because my day was to be very busy, I decided not to take too long a break.
After my hike back down and after refilling my water bottles, I started the ascent of Cliff. The way to the top was much shorter than the one to Redfield, however, the trail was much steeper with many cliffs. On the way up, I passed a group of hikers that caught up again on the top of Cliff (# 30). After a brief lunch break I continued my hike.
From the trailhead of Cliff I hiked down to Lake Colden. This trail is very impressive because of the nearby brook. There are many waterfalls and nice spots to take a break and some pictures. Once I got down to Lake Colden I started looking for the trailhead of Marshall. The trailhead was again easy to find and I therefore started my ascent of Marshall. It took me about one and a half hour to climb to the top of Marshall (# 31). Up there I met with a nice group of hikers. We had some nice chats, some chocolate bars and pictures taken.
After a long break on top, I continued my hike. By this time I was pretty tired and also a little wet because of some “liquid sunshine”. The hike back to the lean-to, therefore, appeared to take forever. Once I got down to the Flowd Lands area, I hiked north along Lake Colden and Avalang Lake. This area is my second favorite in the High Peaks (In my opinion only the views of Upper Ausable Lake from the top of Indian Head can beat this beauty). The rock slides, the lakes and trails just along and over the lake are very impressive. After hiking over Avalang Pass, I finally arrived in my lean-to, cooked dinner, ate and felt exhausted.
On the third day, I got up early again and left the lean-to at 7 o’clock. I hiked over Avalang Pass, hiked along Lake Avalang and Lake Colden and ascended Colden from the southwest side. The trail started out fairly flat but got steeper. After about half an hour I reached the rockface part of the ascent. At about 10 o’clock I reached the top of Colden (# 32). Unfortunately, there were many clouds and, therefore, Algonquin was never in sight.
After a long break I started my descent over the northeast trail. After some time, I reached Lake Arnold and took another break there. I then continued to the Indian Falls and had my lunch break there. Most clouds had gone by this time, which meant that my views of Algonquin were better from Indian Falls than from the top of Colden. After this break I went to the trailhead of Table Top and started my ascent. I hiked at a pretty good pace and, therefore, soon reached the top of Table Top (# 33). After another break I hiked back to the Indian Falls. Because of the nice weather I considered climbing Phelps as well but I was very exhausted by this time and I already climbed Phelps 3 years ago. I therefore returned to my lean-to and recovered from three very good days of hiking.
On the fourth day, I got up 6.15, cooked breakfast, packed all my gear and left the lean-to at 6.55. At 7.59 I reached the ADK Loj, signed out, refilled my water bottles and hiked to the trailhead for Street and Nye. I signed in and started my hike. Once I got to the “un-maintained” trail I dropped my heavy pack and only carried the essentials.
It took me exactly 2 hours to hike from the Loj to the junction between Street and Nye. From there I hiked first to Street (# 34) and afterwards to Nye (# 35). I climbed back down, ate lunch and recovered from a very hardcore trip: 7 Peaks in only 4 days.
I now only have 11 peaks left (Dixes, Santanonis, Whiteface, Ester and Allen). I might be able to get another trip (dayhike) done next week but afterwards I will fly back to Switzerland. It would be great to complete the Santanoni Range next Monday or Tuesday but I rely on other people to drive me, which makes it a little hard to get to the High Peaks (from Old Forge). I will probably have to come back next summer to finish all 46.
On Monday, August 2nd, I was dropped off at the Adirondack Loj and hiked into Marcy Dam. Since all Lean-tos were taken there, I continued hiking and got to the Avalang Lean-tos. The first and second lean-to was taken. Luckily, the third and final lean-to in reach was still available. I cooked dinner, got everything ready for the next day and fell asleep very early.
On the second day, I got up very early and left the lean-to around 6:45 am. I hiked up to Lake Arnold and continued south to the trailhead of Redfield and Cliff. The trailhead was easy to find and thus I started climbing Redfield. After an hour, I reached the top of Redfield (# 29). Because of the many clouds, because of the heavy winds and because my day was to be very busy, I decided not to take too long a break.
After my hike back down and after refilling my water bottles, I started the ascent of Cliff. The way to the top was much shorter than the one to Redfield, however, the trail was much steeper with many cliffs. On the way up, I passed a group of hikers that caught up again on the top of Cliff (# 30). After a brief lunch break I continued my hike.
From the trailhead of Cliff I hiked down to Lake Colden. This trail is very impressive because of the nearby brook. There are many waterfalls and nice spots to take a break and some pictures. Once I got down to Lake Colden I started looking for the trailhead of Marshall. The trailhead was again easy to find and I therefore started my ascent of Marshall. It took me about one and a half hour to climb to the top of Marshall (# 31). Up there I met with a nice group of hikers. We had some nice chats, some chocolate bars and pictures taken.
After a long break on top, I continued my hike. By this time I was pretty tired and also a little wet because of some “liquid sunshine”. The hike back to the lean-to, therefore, appeared to take forever. Once I got down to the Flowd Lands area, I hiked north along Lake Colden and Avalang Lake. This area is my second favorite in the High Peaks (In my opinion only the views of Upper Ausable Lake from the top of Indian Head can beat this beauty). The rock slides, the lakes and trails just along and over the lake are very impressive. After hiking over Avalang Pass, I finally arrived in my lean-to, cooked dinner, ate and felt exhausted.
On the third day, I got up early again and left the lean-to at 7 o’clock. I hiked over Avalang Pass, hiked along Lake Avalang and Lake Colden and ascended Colden from the southwest side. The trail started out fairly flat but got steeper. After about half an hour I reached the rockface part of the ascent. At about 10 o’clock I reached the top of Colden (# 32). Unfortunately, there were many clouds and, therefore, Algonquin was never in sight.
After a long break I started my descent over the northeast trail. After some time, I reached Lake Arnold and took another break there. I then continued to the Indian Falls and had my lunch break there. Most clouds had gone by this time, which meant that my views of Algonquin were better from Indian Falls than from the top of Colden. After this break I went to the trailhead of Table Top and started my ascent. I hiked at a pretty good pace and, therefore, soon reached the top of Table Top (# 33). After another break I hiked back to the Indian Falls. Because of the nice weather I considered climbing Phelps as well but I was very exhausted by this time and I already climbed Phelps 3 years ago. I therefore returned to my lean-to and recovered from three very good days of hiking.
On the fourth day, I got up 6.15, cooked breakfast, packed all my gear and left the lean-to at 6.55. At 7.59 I reached the ADK Loj, signed out, refilled my water bottles and hiked to the trailhead for Street and Nye. I signed in and started my hike. Once I got to the “un-maintained” trail I dropped my heavy pack and only carried the essentials.
It took me exactly 2 hours to hike from the Loj to the junction between Street and Nye. From there I hiked first to Street (# 34) and afterwards to Nye (# 35). I climbed back down, ate lunch and recovered from a very hardcore trip: 7 Peaks in only 4 days.
I now only have 11 peaks left (Dixes, Santanonis, Whiteface, Ester and Allen). I might be able to get another trip (dayhike) done next week but afterwards I will fly back to Switzerland. It would be great to complete the Santanoni Range next Monday or Tuesday but I rely on other people to drive me, which makes it a little hard to get to the High Peaks (from Old Forge). I will probably have to come back next summer to finish all 46.