Hear the Footsteps
04-10-2011, 10:48 PM
The goal for Saturday was nominally Redfield and Marshall both needed for my spring loop. Starting from the Upper Works trail at 6am I made good time as the trail was hard and skiers and a few bare booters ahead of me had packed down an inch of new snow. I used the microspikes all the way to Flowed Lands and at that point the bare boots stopped and the skis kept going. Figuring the ice was probably ok, but not really sure, I strapped on snowshoes and made my way to Lake Colden over the summer trail.
At the Lake Colden outlet another pair of showshoes from north joined and I started my way up the Opalescent. The going was good all the way and I took a break at the Uphill Brook lean-to to have a snack. Taking off from the state trail I following the broken path making my way climbing quickly paralleling the Brook which was still frozen in. At the top of the waterfall I was pleased to see the brook still completely frozen, although, I could hear the water and occasionally see it at the odd melted spot.
Turning off the Uphill Brook I followed the tributary all the way to summer turnoff. I’d done this same climb in February and I can say since then the snow-pak in the brook increased a lot. In February, I had to crawl under a certain downed tree but this time I straddled over the same one.
About a third of the way in the final stage of the climb I ran into a fellow from Ontario (the other snowshoes), whom I’d crossed paths with in the Santanoni’s. He had skied to camp out at Lake Colden and was doing Redfield and Cliff which would leave him with 5 peaks to go before finishing his 46.
As I began to tire up the final ascent and with warming temperatures, I began thinking to forego the Marshall climb. It could be wet and sticky and certainly a lot more vertical. Instead I could check out the traverse and climb across to Skylight and it’s signature rocky bump on it’s south side. I’d been on Skylight the last Saturday of the winter season with Peter, a climbing buddy I’d just met at the 4-corners, when this guy comes walking up from the South who introduced himself as Master Grasshopper and he describes the trek and pointed out the major features to us. It intrigued me.
After a nice break at the top of Mount Redfield, with no wind and good views and having eaten half of my pizza, I started back down and then walked off the trail to the east to see what was to see. The snow was supporting well and I could make out several significant swaths of open space as MG had mentioned and showed us.
The decision to go was easy. It was early, good snow, line of sight navigation, and the most important thing was when would I be here again in these conditions. Now or never, so off I go.
I start by walking down gentle glades and headed for a long patch of open space that turns out to be a col between Redfield and two significant bumps to the southeast. At that point I contoured around as far as I could go but then clear space ran out. I was still high above Moss Pond at this point and from this vantage I lined myself up with another large open space that ran south and east from Pond heading uphill for “the bump.” In the way was a large stand of spruce that I had to do a lot of pushing through but finally making it out to the open. The climbing begins again. After awhile the open space runs out and there’s more pushing for awhile and then I hit a clearing, going up, and it’s a false summit just before the bump. Onward to the bump and finally after an hour I’m there with a nice rocky dry ledge to take a break and enjoy the view.
After the break I continued on to Skylight. From “the bump” I walked through some semi-open space down to a brief opening at the col then starting up through more of spruce then into open for the final climb to Skylight.
It was a nice day to stop at Skylight, clears skies, sun, negligible wind. I took breaks at two spots. Near the summit spike for awhile to take in the views toward Allen and Redfield and then on a rock on the Marcy side. A number of people were on Marcy. None were on Gray. I set up my pack as a lounge chair and watched a group of 3 or 4 make their final climb onto Haystack. After having my pizza and watching the Haystack group start their descent I leave and make my way down to the 4 corners. I followed a recent broken path down and there was plenty of snow making for soft cushioned steps all the way. Never has been getting down Skylight as easy on the legs.
Well now for the long walk out. Not much to say about it except the snow was soft and it was much more difficult than in the morning. About half-way from Lake Tear I passed two climbers on the way to Skylight. After making the turn at Feldspar I passed a group of eight or so bare booting to Marcy and they asked me directions. They had a map and wanted to know 'how far to Feldspar Brook'. Later I’d meet up with a ranger at Lake Colden outlet who was skiing out to Upper Works. He asks me if I saw the bare booters whom apparently he’s going to meet up at the parking area and give them a citation. He said they were from Quebec, I thought Eastern Europe. Well, maybe they were from Europe, but by way of Montreal.
It was a great day. I only accomplished half of what I’d penciled in as a plan. But Marshall will be there later in the spring. The Redfield-Skylight traverse will be there too in future winters, but maybe not as accessible for me as it was today.
The pictures are of Gray-Marcy-Skylight from the traverse and Redfield from Skylight’s bump.
At the Lake Colden outlet another pair of showshoes from north joined and I started my way up the Opalescent. The going was good all the way and I took a break at the Uphill Brook lean-to to have a snack. Taking off from the state trail I following the broken path making my way climbing quickly paralleling the Brook which was still frozen in. At the top of the waterfall I was pleased to see the brook still completely frozen, although, I could hear the water and occasionally see it at the odd melted spot.
Turning off the Uphill Brook I followed the tributary all the way to summer turnoff. I’d done this same climb in February and I can say since then the snow-pak in the brook increased a lot. In February, I had to crawl under a certain downed tree but this time I straddled over the same one.
About a third of the way in the final stage of the climb I ran into a fellow from Ontario (the other snowshoes), whom I’d crossed paths with in the Santanoni’s. He had skied to camp out at Lake Colden and was doing Redfield and Cliff which would leave him with 5 peaks to go before finishing his 46.
As I began to tire up the final ascent and with warming temperatures, I began thinking to forego the Marshall climb. It could be wet and sticky and certainly a lot more vertical. Instead I could check out the traverse and climb across to Skylight and it’s signature rocky bump on it’s south side. I’d been on Skylight the last Saturday of the winter season with Peter, a climbing buddy I’d just met at the 4-corners, when this guy comes walking up from the South who introduced himself as Master Grasshopper and he describes the trek and pointed out the major features to us. It intrigued me.
After a nice break at the top of Mount Redfield, with no wind and good views and having eaten half of my pizza, I started back down and then walked off the trail to the east to see what was to see. The snow was supporting well and I could make out several significant swaths of open space as MG had mentioned and showed us.
The decision to go was easy. It was early, good snow, line of sight navigation, and the most important thing was when would I be here again in these conditions. Now or never, so off I go.
I start by walking down gentle glades and headed for a long patch of open space that turns out to be a col between Redfield and two significant bumps to the southeast. At that point I contoured around as far as I could go but then clear space ran out. I was still high above Moss Pond at this point and from this vantage I lined myself up with another large open space that ran south and east from Pond heading uphill for “the bump.” In the way was a large stand of spruce that I had to do a lot of pushing through but finally making it out to the open. The climbing begins again. After awhile the open space runs out and there’s more pushing for awhile and then I hit a clearing, going up, and it’s a false summit just before the bump. Onward to the bump and finally after an hour I’m there with a nice rocky dry ledge to take a break and enjoy the view.
After the break I continued on to Skylight. From “the bump” I walked through some semi-open space down to a brief opening at the col then starting up through more of spruce then into open for the final climb to Skylight.
It was a nice day to stop at Skylight, clears skies, sun, negligible wind. I took breaks at two spots. Near the summit spike for awhile to take in the views toward Allen and Redfield and then on a rock on the Marcy side. A number of people were on Marcy. None were on Gray. I set up my pack as a lounge chair and watched a group of 3 or 4 make their final climb onto Haystack. After having my pizza and watching the Haystack group start their descent I leave and make my way down to the 4 corners. I followed a recent broken path down and there was plenty of snow making for soft cushioned steps all the way. Never has been getting down Skylight as easy on the legs.
Well now for the long walk out. Not much to say about it except the snow was soft and it was much more difficult than in the morning. About half-way from Lake Tear I passed two climbers on the way to Skylight. After making the turn at Feldspar I passed a group of eight or so bare booting to Marcy and they asked me directions. They had a map and wanted to know 'how far to Feldspar Brook'. Later I’d meet up with a ranger at Lake Colden outlet who was skiing out to Upper Works. He asks me if I saw the bare booters whom apparently he’s going to meet up at the parking area and give them a citation. He said they were from Quebec, I thought Eastern Europe. Well, maybe they were from Europe, but by way of Montreal.
It was a great day. I only accomplished half of what I’d penciled in as a plan. But Marshall will be there later in the spring. The Redfield-Skylight traverse will be there too in future winters, but maybe not as accessible for me as it was today.
The pictures are of Gray-Marcy-Skylight from the traverse and Redfield from Skylight’s bump.