Neil
06-10-2012, 12:52 PM
Sylvie and I signed out from Upper Works at 9:40 yesterday for Skylight. The Calamity Brook trail was very slow. I usually only do it in winter ie. when hiking in the Adirondacks is a lot easier, and I couldn't believe all the water and rock hopping on that trail. I could tell that Sylvie was not impressed with my choice when she started saying how much easier and nicer Colden was from the Loj and how we would be getting out late. It took us 3 hours to Flowed Lands (I did Skylight in 4 hours from UW in micro-spikes a few years ago) and another 30 to Colden Dam through lots more mud and water. Slow and steady was the mantra of the day. I have never hiked up the trail from Lake Colden to Uphill Brook on anything other than deep snowpack and I lost more credibility when this turned into another mud wallow cum rock hop. Once at Uphill Brook Sylvie studied the map very attentively while I pumped water in full-on black fly conditions.
After counting up the hours, known and unknown (I "thought" the Feldsapr trail would be a lot easier but didn't dare prognosticate) and we settled upon Redfield after briefy considering Cliff. I had a hunch Redfield would be pretty tough compared to Skylight and now I know why I have done it 5 times in winter conditions and only once on a summer day 8 years ago. The entire trail was either a mud-wallow or a wicked rock hop in a copiously flowing brook except for the final few hundred feet of elevation gain. It took us 1:20 to the top - slow and steady. The views on the way up and from the viewing rock looking over to Allen were great. If I had been able to snap my fingers and make the black flies disappear I would have done so. After 30 minutes of summit time I figured I had enough fly bites and it took us just as long to get down. When you look at the cripple bush down off the south side of and on top of Redfield the trail starts to look pretty inviting. Nevertheless, I mused how folks get excited about doing winter rounds of the 46 when in actual fact it can be a hell of a lot tougher doing them in summer. I think I'll request an "S" designation after my name, not a "W". :D
After doing the entire hike in reverse with a couple of very nice stops we signed out after 11 hours.
In spite of my whining (tongue in cheek :)) it was a really nice day out. The rivers were flowing strong, the birds were singing, the Opalescent above Lake Colden was simply gorgeous and Uphill Brook, in spite of the rough "trail" was well worth the price of admission. I never tire of the expanding views of the Macintyres, Colden and Marcy as you ascend Redfield.
We hardly saw anyone all day long and very few people were camped out around Flowed Lands/Colden. Only 5 cars in the UW lot when we got back. I figure it's because of the bugs.
Back home in Montreal we showered and crawled into our nice soft bed. Just before falling asleep what does Sylvie say but, "I'm so glad I'm not camping".
After counting up the hours, known and unknown (I "thought" the Feldsapr trail would be a lot easier but didn't dare prognosticate) and we settled upon Redfield after briefy considering Cliff. I had a hunch Redfield would be pretty tough compared to Skylight and now I know why I have done it 5 times in winter conditions and only once on a summer day 8 years ago. The entire trail was either a mud-wallow or a wicked rock hop in a copiously flowing brook except for the final few hundred feet of elevation gain. It took us 1:20 to the top - slow and steady. The views on the way up and from the viewing rock looking over to Allen were great. If I had been able to snap my fingers and make the black flies disappear I would have done so. After 30 minutes of summit time I figured I had enough fly bites and it took us just as long to get down. When you look at the cripple bush down off the south side of and on top of Redfield the trail starts to look pretty inviting. Nevertheless, I mused how folks get excited about doing winter rounds of the 46 when in actual fact it can be a hell of a lot tougher doing them in summer. I think I'll request an "S" designation after my name, not a "W". :D
After doing the entire hike in reverse with a couple of very nice stops we signed out after 11 hours.
In spite of my whining (tongue in cheek :)) it was a really nice day out. The rivers were flowing strong, the birds were singing, the Opalescent above Lake Colden was simply gorgeous and Uphill Brook, in spite of the rough "trail" was well worth the price of admission. I never tire of the expanding views of the Macintyres, Colden and Marcy as you ascend Redfield.
We hardly saw anyone all day long and very few people were camped out around Flowed Lands/Colden. Only 5 cars in the UW lot when we got back. I figure it's because of the bugs.
Back home in Montreal we showered and crawled into our nice soft bed. Just before falling asleep what does Sylvie say but, "I'm so glad I'm not camping".