Hopes, plans, ideas. Summer 2026

[NJTom]

Things I’d like to do this summer, if stars align, I get in shape, and the wife will let me (in no particular order).

1). Spend a night at the Snobird campsite. Just to be there.

2). Do a Route 9N-New Russia Giant Traverse. Park at Owls Head Lookout, go in past the Giant Leanto (which I was sad to have recently learned is actually normal sized), up and over Giant, RPR, down to New Russia - if my wife will let me and pick me up after. A day with a view, as I’ve been atop Giant three times but have never seen a view.

3). A Great Range Traverse. I have considered approaching this from literally every single direction. Most likely it would be parking at Rooster Comb, jog in to the Garden at around 3:00 am, then doing Marcy and the Great Range back to my car at Rooster Comb. I have also considered parking at Elk Lake and going in through Panther Gorge. That would be long, but I think only a couple miles at most longer, almost nominally and very cool. Would need my wife to let me and pick me up after.

4). Sunrise from Mount Adams fire tower.

5). Sunrise from Owls Head Lookout (see #2 above).

6). Bartlett Ridge and the back side of Haystack. Really any hike that takes me up into Panther Gorge.

7). Phelps with my two older kids.

8). Moose and McKenzie.

[nickUSA]

What an excellent list! Heck, if you can manage even half of those trips it's still a damn good summer!

My list is a bit shorter:
1. West Canada Mountain. So remote.
2. Some random peaks in the far north. Big Haystack Mountain? New Road Mountain? Church Mountain? Humbug Mountain? Norton Mountain? So many interesting summits up there that hardly get any attention.
3. Camping for a week at site 7 on the most beautiful lake in the park.

[Bunchberry]

Twice I have hiked into Panther Gorge. After you get there If you bring water shoes you can hike along the stream. The stream has all these cool intrusions in the rock. The hike up to Haystack is real cool.

[NJTom]

I’d love to do something more extended. Either a full through hike, or at least a very significant section hike, on the NPT. It’s tough even to do a single overnight with little kids and work, etc.

I don’t know what it is exactly, but something about Panther Gorge just calls to me. I’ve been there once, just passing through, eastbound from Four Corners to the Upper Ausable Lake. Can’t wait to go back

[Neil]

If I am ever to finish the 3k list I need a number of southern ADK 3k peaks. Ideally I'd go down south for a week and do a combination van-camping whack-packing trips to do them all. Would involve some driving around. And ideally, permission to use Deer Valley property for Burgess and Panther East. (I'm not sure if I'll end up doing Morris, Tongue or Pete Gay). I don't even know where half of the following peaks are situated! (I also need a few northern ones like the 3 Loons, Debar, one more Lyon....

SQUAW MTN

PAYNE MTN

BROWN PD (S PK)

SNOWY MTN (E PK)

BROWN POND (SW PK)

PANTHER MTN (E PK)

SQUAW MTN (E PK)

CRANE MTN

TONGUE MTN
DUG
DUG S.

BULLHEAD MTN (N PK)

PETE GAY MTN

HEIGHT OF LAND MTN

THREE PONDS PEAK

MT MORRIS

STONY CREEK MTN

MANBURY

BURGESS

MACOMBER

BRADLEY MTN

ARIETTA (NW BEAVER PD)

S OF BRADLEY MTN (CELLAR BROOK)

HAMILTON MTN

SWART MTN

SPRUCE LAKE MTN

OTTER LAKE

[Yury]

To hike Allen in summer as a part of my second round without staying in a motel/AirBnb.
BTW, how do I find that gravel/sand pit to pitch my tent?

I "need" 7 peaks to close my second round and only Allen was not hiked in summer in the first round.

[FlyFishingandBeer]

To hike Allen in summer as a part of my second round without staying in a motel/AirBnb.
BTW, how do I find that gravel/sand pit to pitch my tent?

I "need" 7 peaks to close my second round and only Allen was not hiked in summer in the first round.

You walk right through the middle of the gravel pit after making a left onto Opalescent Road. You're only on the road for about 100-150 feet before turning right into the gravel pit. This is about 1/3 - 1/2 mile after you veer right at the split to leave the east river trail. Its just after the gravel pit that you begin the 400-foot climb to the height of land before descending down to the Skylight brook crossing. That's where the fun begins and everything will probably look very familiar.

[Yury]

You walk right through the middle of the gravel pit after making a left onto Opalescent Road. You're only on the road for about 100-150 feet before turning right into the gravel pit. This is about 1/3 - 1/2 mile after you veer right at the split to leave the east river trail. Its just after the gravel pit that you begin the 400-foot climb to the height on land before descending down to the Skylight brook crossing. That's where the fun begins and everything will probably look very familiar.

How far from the trail do I camp there?

[FlyFishingandBeer]

I'd say use your best judgement. The gravel pit sits at the intersection of a road that was "rewilded" by the DEC, and what is eventually the Allen Mountain herd path. While you could probably get away with setting up right in the middle of it, you may find your sleep being disturbed by people who don't appreciate that logistical decision. IIRC there's a mound or berm of sorts, with a decent spot behind it where the woods aren't very dense. Its kind of tough to follow the 150-foot rule with any sort of down-to-the-foot accuracy because there technically isn't a trail there. Learning The Trails might have more info.

[Learning The Trails]

Just go in the woods. You can tell where everyone has camped before.

[gebby]

Planning on finishing the NPT. Lake Durant to Long Lake over one weekend. Long Lake to the finish over a five day "weekend".

[NJTom]

I really want to do Iroquois in winter, but I don’t really see that happening this summer, sadly.

[Hear the Footsteps]

I'm working on getting to 2,000 46r High Peaks Summitted.
As of 6/10 I'm at 1,990.
My plan is finish on Iroquois. It's one of the peaks that I've not climbed for a milestone summit.

[Hear the Footsteps]

Two on my list were to get to summits that have rare alpine plants in time for them blooming. In the Adirondacks the targets were Alpine Azalea and Bootts Rattlesnake Root.

Alpine Azalea, while plentiful in the NH White Mountains, are present only on Skylight Mountain. I've seen it in flowering in the Whites. I missed it twice on Skylight. This year I got an important clue on Wright when Diapensia was in bloom. When I'd seen the Azalea in the Whites the two were both blooming. On June 8, figuring it to be the best chance, I found two plants right alongside the trail.

Bootts Rattsnake Root - there are plants on Whiteface Mountain summit. Twice before I didn't have luck. I climbed a week ago, hoping. I found the plant but it had just buds. Figuring I'd have another chance this week I climbed and had success. Just one plant partially blooming. Without trying real hard I saw 5-6 plants. If interested, this weekend is a great time to go. One plant in bloom and others on the way. The summit stewards know about the plant and there's a small sign about it. If unsure ask the stewards. Checking the records later I find it was also my 46th climb there, so yesterday I got a two for one. Incidently conditions were fine. The traverse to Esther was mainly dry with what mud was there consoidating. The Wilmington Trail, always better that Esther, fine too.

Alpine Azalea



Bootts Rattlesnake Root