where to next?

[klip59]

First off, thanks for the forum and all the info provided. all very helpful.
I have recently completed Cascade/Porter as my first adventure. I enjoyed it very much. Views from Cascade were beyond expectation. My partner and I found the climb challenging but easily within our capabilities. We did realize that each of us, especially me, need better conditioning going further though as the trips will get more demanding. Can anyone suggest where to next?

Also when arriving at the Porter summit we could not locate a geographic marker. Does each Mt have one?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Paul

[TFR]

Welcome. Often the next choices are Phelps, Big Slide, Giant.

Mavs will have to answer the question about the summit of Porter. :twisted:Or perhaps Algonquin or Wright. Or both! :D

This is the 'problem' with the ADKs, you get to one peak, and the next one is so close, you want to keep going, but it's already been a long day, so what do you do?

[timmus]

Welcome. Often the next choices are Phelps, Big Slide, Giant.



Yes, but I would suggest that you keep some easy peaks for later. I mean, it can get tough if you are stuck at the end of the list with Allen, the Sewards, the Santanonis, plus Cliff and Redfield :eek:

Mountains like Pitchoff, Hurricane and Noonmark can also be good for training.


Have fun, and welcome !

This is the 'problem' with the ADKs, you get to one peak, and the next one is so close, you want to keep going, but it's already been a long day, so what do you do?

You kick your butt and you GO !!!

[Dick]

Are you suggesting he do Allen next? Sounds like he was looking to "build up" to some of the longer ones. After more hikes what is "easy" now will be different. He would have peaks like Iroquois, Colden, Street, Dial,...and he could always reclimb something if he felt like a hike but wasn't up for the Sewards. I suppose he should save something like Big Slide to finish the list on instead of Emmons too? ;)
I say he should reclimb Porter to find the real summit and make sure he got there and then sit with a map identifying peaks and picking out his next mountain. I'll bet he picks Big Slide. :D

I think timmus was suggesting that you can break up the 46 with other peaks. If one is trying to do them in some sort of progressive order, then Phelps, Big Slide, Giant are probably next, and of course saving an easy peak(s) for last is often done when one wants to have non-hikers join them - or to save themselves for some sort of post-hike bash. Of course, conditions can easily turn an 'easy' peak into a nightmare. Though they found Porter/Cascade "easily within their capabilities" they did say it was "challenging." I think that doing some of the so-called 'lesser' peaks can also give a better perspective on the high peaks area, rather than come/climb 46/leave.

Saving Tim the 'trouble' of describling Porter's summit :D I'll just suggest hiking until you come to the signpost pointing to Blueberry Mt/Marcy Field (Rt. 73). If you reach that sign, you've gone only seconds past the true summit.

Dick

[peak_bgr]

RPR/Giant Loop. 12 miles car to car. Killer views, a decent challenge.

[Boreal Chickadee]

You've gotten some good suggestions for your next few hikes.

What Julie (Timmus) says about saving some of the middlin' hikes is good advice.Keep that in mind as your progress in the challenge level of the hikes. That way you WON'T be left with the ones that we have. Scattered here there and long. Allen, Grace, Couchie, the Sewards, Redfield, Cliff,Haystack, Basin...the shortest hike left is either Grace or Seymour....I just wish now that we had saved some of the easier hikes so not every trip to the high peaks was loooong.

[klip59]

Thank you all, for all your input.
Sounds like a good idea to keep some lesser time climbs for those times when you may not have all day. Thank you.
I also plan on doing some of the mts lower than 4k as fun, training type efforts. Also working on getting in better condition. All things will help improve the experience.

As far as the Porter summit, we had lunch on a rock clearing of about 20 yds in diameter with an excellent view of Cascade. In my estimate(yes very beginner) the actual highest point had to be within yds of there if not there. We continued on the trail for maybe 100yds from the clearing(fairly level) until the grade started decreasing. Without any sight of higher points in close proximity we returned to the clearing and followed the trail back assuming we had hit the summit just no marker in plain view. Is there in fact a marker? Is there one on every summit?

Again, thanks for the help, Happy Climbing!

Paul

[AlpineSummit]

Most summits have markers, but not all. Most are obvious when you're at the top, but not all. That's part of the fun - "Are we there yet?"

Bottom line is: if you think you're on the top but not quite sure: you're close enough. If a path or trail stops, that's your first clue. Please avoid trampling thru fragile summit growth looking for the tippity-top - there is always a path right to it and even tho you may be surrounded by trees, you're there when it ends. Only real exception that readily comes to mind is Sawteeth summit where the lookout is usually considerd the destination altho it's a coupla feet lower than the actual top - which has no path to it. Again - close enough is close enough.

Happy Trails - Enjoy the mountains

PS - Gray is another one that is very difficult to discern the uppermost point and now that I think about it, Phelps may be the hardest. Anybody disagree on that?? I've been up there several times and gotta say that I may have never figured it out.

[Gandalf]

I agree with you concerning Phelps, Alpine. I've only been there once (nearly ten years ago when I had precious little ADK climbing experience), but I remember having absolutely no idea where the highest point was. I haven't felt like that about any other of the 46, before or since.

My guess was that it was somewhere in the trees inside that semi-or-three-quarters-circle of open ledges. Wonder if I'd have better luck now, on some non-foggy day...

[adkdremn]

I was planning of introducing my extended family to the High Peaks with a trip up Phelps in a couple weeks. I don't want to take them up there and miss the summit. Any advice on locating the summit, no disk or marker on this peak? How are the views?

[pete_hickey]

You'll tend to go past it rather than not reach it. There are lots of paths in the area from people wandering around looking for the summit. IMO, it is pretty much obvious that it is the summit... at least within +- 2 feet.