Recommendations for 1st 46er

[BirdNerd]

Hello all,
1st time poster here, and I am looking for hints or suggestions for which peak I should attempt for my first 46er?

I do not want to start at the easiest one, nor would I like to start at a very challenging or technical hike. Somewhere in the middle would be just right. I am in decent shape and have some experience climbing.

I live in Ithaca, so we will also be camping and probably spending two evenings in the Keene Valley/Lake Placid area.

I look forward to be hearing from y'all, and being a part of this community. Thank You in advance for your thoughts and ideas!!

[DSettahr]

Cascade is usually a solid bet, and it's the first 46er for many. 4 miles round trip (6 if you add Porter). It's got solid views, probably the best views in the High Peaks for minimal effort. Although it is considered easiest by many, so maybe not what you're looking for.

Colden would be a good bet for a solid "middle of the road" peak. Great views, a little bit more remote and longer of a hike.

Some people will suggest Marcy- be careful with this. In the right conditions (clear summer day), Marcy isn't an overly hard peak, especially if you go via the VanHoevenburg trail from Heart Lake. But it is remote (14 miles round trip), and it does have a fair amount of above treeline exposure. If the weather turns bad, things can get pretty nasty, and above treeline is no place for a hiker without much experience in the mountains to be in bad conditions.

[rickhart]

If you're in Keene valley, good medium-difficulty ones would be Giant (up the ridge trail; Zander Scott) or Big Slide (loop, up the brothers & down through the Johns Brook valley). If Heart Lake is a good start point, Algonquin (or Algonquin & Iroquois if you feel like it) -- or Phelps (less challenging). If elsewhere near Lake Placid, another option is Whiteface; great mountain though you have the culture shock of cars & tourists on top (if you go up the trail from Wilmington, which is a nice hike, it's easy to throw in Esther).

Algonquin was my first.

Have fun!

[BirdNerd]

Thank you kind sirs!

I was considering Big Slide, but it might be nice to knock off a couple at once (Cascade and Porter).

I appreciate the input!!!

[Pru]

I like the Esther and Whiteface suggestion. I thought those were not difficult climbs, yet more challenging than Cascade/Porter. I started with C/P but know many people who are saving the easy ones for toward the end, and I almost wish now that I hadn't done most of the easier ones first! I have lots of challenging ones ahead of me, and will probably break them up by hiking some of the other mountains in the ADKs that are not among the 46 high peaks. Wright would also be a good one to start with, then seeing how you feel with regard to adding Algonquin. If you do both, you'd have to either rehike Algonquin to get Iroquois, or ascend from Lake Colden to the col between Algonquin and Boundary/Iroquois - a supposedly steep and challenging climb.

[JW1069]

Giant was my first HP and the views are amazing. You can go up/down the Zander Scott trail by Chapel Pond on rt 73 in a short period of time and relocate almost anywhere to camp and position for the next day. The other thing I liked about doing Giant first is that it didn't wipe me out and provided good feedback on my own conditioning level. Check out the trip reports from other members. Options galore. Whichever peaks you choose, include at least one with great views and have a great time.

[Pathgrinder]

Originally Posted by JW1069

Giant was my first HP and the views are amazing.

You could also add Rocky Peak onto this hike if you were longing for more. Both have great views. Good luck!

[SanDimas1988]

Originally Posted by BirdNerd

Hello all,
1st time poster here, and I am looking for hints or suggestions for which peak I should attempt for my first 46er?

You've come to the right place. I'm relatively near the start of my High Peaks hiking and everyone here is super helpful if you let them know exactly what you're looking for.

I'll agree with some other suggestions that Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge may be a good place to start. Neither is anything too difficult, but the descent from Giant to RPR is incredibly steep and interesting. And returning up it is a great test to your conditioning. And there are some fantastic views.

[Gerard01]

Hello, Bird! Welcome to the forum. Good luck on your new journey through the 46. You'll definitely enjoy the hikes. I won't suggest a mountain, as I am still a rookie with 10, and in the shape I was and am now, they have all been a bit of a challenge. The others here are much more experienced and will help you along.

Whichever High Peak you choose will be a milestone as it will be your first and the one you will always remember the most. Mine was Cascade with Porter number two. The feeling I got being the highest on a summit ever was remarkable. I had climbed Cat Head Mountain in Benson. Even though the views were incredible for my first summit ever, it paled in comparison to the summit of Cascade. Good luck to you, and see you on trails.

[BirdNerd]

Thanks too all for the input! I figured I could get the best pointers and advice from this website.

I am a few weeks away from attempting my first 46er. I will keep everyone posted as to which one I climb.