Hear the Footsteps
05-12-2011, 10:37 PM
Today was the day Mount Marshall was added to my spring tally sheet. The weather was perfect, sunny, not a cloud, moderate temperature. Starting early from ADK Loj only three cars there the temperature was 39oF (70oF later). Trail condition all the way to Marcy Dam was excellent, the trail mainly dry and where there was some mud it was drying and later in the day on the return it was even better.
The trail to and past Avalanche Camp was also good. In the morning dry though later in the day some wet and occasionally there was a little mud. On the climb to the new slide the trail there was some ice on the trail but later it had melted a lot. The best snow was over the Avalanche Pass firm with occasional dirt and where there was no shade no snow. Around the rocky trail at Avalanche Lake occasional snow and ice in-between, no problems.
From Avalanche Lake to Herbert Brook snow spine was in and out there was some ice. Beyond the interior outpost a long section of soft snow. Beyond the Lake Colden dam there was a small stretch of standing water and mud but it didn’t pose a problem. There had been some blow down near the lean-tos but it’s been cleared and the nicer trees appear to be earmarked for trail improvements.
The section up Herbert Brook to the crossing at the slab section is a mixed bag. There’s been flooding, knocked over trees and blow-down. Dirt covers the snow in parts, making the snow spine invisible. The condition here seems to be due to mainly flooding and maybe some wind. I’m not always on the path. But the spine can be found it just vanishes every now and then.
At the first crossing I had to go further upstream than normal to cross and the summer path isn’t very clear but I followed the brook for awhile then head into the woods. Every now and then the snow spine is strong and then gone. Lots of flooding, occasional dirt carried over from the brook onto the snow. Small spruce bent, tilted, at 45o or more. There was a lot of water here, probably the flood of two weeks ago. At one point I estimated 4 or 5 ft of water in the brook when it flooded.
After the first crossing I’m able to put on the snowshoes there’s enough snow. Before that just bare boots and sometimes micro-spikes. I'm happy I carried the snowshoes here since I’m on and off the snow spine and though the woods looking for the snow spine. At one point I find snow spine that is very strong, I followed it and don’t think it’s right, too high above the brook, hoping someone found a new higher traverse. Then it ends. Turn around, climb down, and start over. I hate throwing away elevation.
After climbing back down I head for the brook and see the first of the series of crossings. A section of the summer path is visible. Half the time at a brook crossing some of the path to cross over to is visible. The other half the time when I arrive at the brook again all I know is that the other side looks a little familiar. Well you won’t go wrong here following the brook. For awhile I’m thinking maybe I’d be better off just climbing in the brook but I am climbing at a good rate and decide not to.
Finally I arrive at the point, the last little waterfall cascade, where I remember during the winter Rick and I left the brook to climb in the woods the rest of the way. From then on the snow spine is much easier to follow. It still vanishes occasionally but much less often.
Arriving at the beaver pond the view toward Iroquois is nice, a good spot for a picture.
Circle around to the back of the pond and start climbing again. After climbing above 4100’ the snow cover is complete and a little later I arrive at the last rock protecting the summit ridge. After that the biggest snow spine, about 3 ft high and skinny. Hold onto spruce for balance. After that it’s a pretty easy climb and I find the sign then walk over to the small rock where there’s a view to the south. Feet are cold, shouldn’t have worn the old summer boots and should have worn the gaiters. Stayed for a ½ hour taking in the view south. Took off my shoes and socks and in that little time the socks warmed up.
On the way down I follow my tracks. Where there’s sun no tracks, melted away. At the final brook crossing I overshoot and cross much lower than normal.
I met a single and two groups on the way. The single guy was taking pictures at Avalanche Lake and minimally equipped with plans to climb to Algonquin from Lake Colden. Later on I meet him. He turned around due to lack of traction. A met a couple climbing the path to Mt Marshall. Bare booting. They hadn’t reached the deeper snow yet. I wonder how they did. A group of three young guys I meet near Lake Colden on a camping trip said they tried to climb Indian Pass but they had no winter gear and had to turn back.
It was an excellent trip to Mt Marshall. On snow, not in the wet watery path like summer. Good views this time. Last winter only partial views, a year ago this June only fog. Trail conditions good and excellent between Marcy Dam and the Loj.
Don
The trail to and past Avalanche Camp was also good. In the morning dry though later in the day some wet and occasionally there was a little mud. On the climb to the new slide the trail there was some ice on the trail but later it had melted a lot. The best snow was over the Avalanche Pass firm with occasional dirt and where there was no shade no snow. Around the rocky trail at Avalanche Lake occasional snow and ice in-between, no problems.
From Avalanche Lake to Herbert Brook snow spine was in and out there was some ice. Beyond the interior outpost a long section of soft snow. Beyond the Lake Colden dam there was a small stretch of standing water and mud but it didn’t pose a problem. There had been some blow down near the lean-tos but it’s been cleared and the nicer trees appear to be earmarked for trail improvements.
The section up Herbert Brook to the crossing at the slab section is a mixed bag. There’s been flooding, knocked over trees and blow-down. Dirt covers the snow in parts, making the snow spine invisible. The condition here seems to be due to mainly flooding and maybe some wind. I’m not always on the path. But the spine can be found it just vanishes every now and then.
At the first crossing I had to go further upstream than normal to cross and the summer path isn’t very clear but I followed the brook for awhile then head into the woods. Every now and then the snow spine is strong and then gone. Lots of flooding, occasional dirt carried over from the brook onto the snow. Small spruce bent, tilted, at 45o or more. There was a lot of water here, probably the flood of two weeks ago. At one point I estimated 4 or 5 ft of water in the brook when it flooded.
After the first crossing I’m able to put on the snowshoes there’s enough snow. Before that just bare boots and sometimes micro-spikes. I'm happy I carried the snowshoes here since I’m on and off the snow spine and though the woods looking for the snow spine. At one point I find snow spine that is very strong, I followed it and don’t think it’s right, too high above the brook, hoping someone found a new higher traverse. Then it ends. Turn around, climb down, and start over. I hate throwing away elevation.
After climbing back down I head for the brook and see the first of the series of crossings. A section of the summer path is visible. Half the time at a brook crossing some of the path to cross over to is visible. The other half the time when I arrive at the brook again all I know is that the other side looks a little familiar. Well you won’t go wrong here following the brook. For awhile I’m thinking maybe I’d be better off just climbing in the brook but I am climbing at a good rate and decide not to.
Finally I arrive at the point, the last little waterfall cascade, where I remember during the winter Rick and I left the brook to climb in the woods the rest of the way. From then on the snow spine is much easier to follow. It still vanishes occasionally but much less often.
Arriving at the beaver pond the view toward Iroquois is nice, a good spot for a picture.
Circle around to the back of the pond and start climbing again. After climbing above 4100’ the snow cover is complete and a little later I arrive at the last rock protecting the summit ridge. After that the biggest snow spine, about 3 ft high and skinny. Hold onto spruce for balance. After that it’s a pretty easy climb and I find the sign then walk over to the small rock where there’s a view to the south. Feet are cold, shouldn’t have worn the old summer boots and should have worn the gaiters. Stayed for a ½ hour taking in the view south. Took off my shoes and socks and in that little time the socks warmed up.
On the way down I follow my tracks. Where there’s sun no tracks, melted away. At the final brook crossing I overshoot and cross much lower than normal.
I met a single and two groups on the way. The single guy was taking pictures at Avalanche Lake and minimally equipped with plans to climb to Algonquin from Lake Colden. Later on I meet him. He turned around due to lack of traction. A met a couple climbing the path to Mt Marshall. Bare booting. They hadn’t reached the deeper snow yet. I wonder how they did. A group of three young guys I meet near Lake Colden on a camping trip said they tried to climb Indian Pass but they had no winter gear and had to turn back.
It was an excellent trip to Mt Marshall. On snow, not in the wet watery path like summer. Good views this time. Last winter only partial views, a year ago this June only fog. Trail conditions good and excellent between Marcy Dam and the Loj.
Don