- Hiking the Adirondack High Peaks -
One of my hiking goals in 2011 was to hike the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks Mountains. In the late spring, early summer, and early fall I took three trips and completed my goal. I took a week off in early June and hiked 31 of the high peaks just as the rainy and cold spring weather snapped and was rewarded with seven out of nine days hiking in incredible weather! It took a few days to get used to the muddy trail conditions and some narrow herd paths but all in all it was lots of fun. I did some amazing one day hikes of the Great Range, MacIntyre Range, Dix Range, where I got to experience some of the most phenomenal views I've ever had hiking. In July I came back to ADK's to hike the Western High Peaks (Santanoni and Seward Ranges), once again I lucked out with some great weather and was able to hike 7 more peaks for a total of 38, I really enjoyed the Santanoni Range and didn't think Couchsachraga was as bad as the rep it's given. Finally in October I came back to hike the final 8 remaining peaks on the list and was treated with peak foliage and perfect weather as I hiked all over the eastern, northern, and central high peaks. I had a blast hiking the remaining peaks and even really liked hiking Allen Mountain which has a reputation as being a slog. I finished my 45th and 46th peak in style on Sunday, October 9th by doing a Big Slide / Gothics / Sawteeth Loop and enjoyed every second of it taking in the killer views! Click the links below to view trip reports
Date
|
Adirondack 46 High Peaks
|
Miles
|
Elevation Gain
|
ADK 46-R #
|
6/2/2011
|
8.4
|
2,500
|
1-2
| |
6/3/2011
|
18.6
|
6,000
|
3-6
| |
6/4/2011
|
25
|
8,500
|
7-14
| |
6/5/2011
|
5.9
|
2,250
|
15 - 16
| |
6/6/2011
|
18.6
|
6,000
|
17 - 20
| |
6/7/2011
|
15.5
|
5,250
|
21 - 25
| |
6/8/2011
|
13.2
|
3,000
|
26 - 27
| |
6/9/2011
|
13
|
4,500
|
28 - 29
| |
6/10/2011
|
18.2
|
4,500
|
30 - 31
| |
7/16/2011
|
16
|
4,100
|
32 - 34
| |
7/17/2011
|
21.4
|
5,500
|
35 - 38
| |
10/5/2011
|
8.4
|
4,000
|
39 - 40
| |
10/6/2011
|
12.8
|
4,200
|
41 - 42
| |
10/7/2011
|
18.6
|
5,200
|
43
| |
10/8/2011
|
18
|
3,850
|
44
| |
10/9/2011
|
22
|
6,250
|
45 - 46
| |
Spring (31) / Summer (7) / Fall (8)
|
253.6
|
75,600
|
46 / 46
|
Hiking down from Wright Peak
Mount Colden from Algonquin Peak
Lake Colden, Flowed Lands, Allen Mountain from Algonquin Peak
Basin, Saddleback, and Gothics from Haystack Mountain
Gothics, Pyramids, Sawteeth from Haystack Mountain
AMR Gate at the beginning of the private Lake Road
Lower Ausable Lake from Mount Colvin
Basin and Saddleback Mountain from Mount Colvin
Blake Peak, Mount Colvin (foreground L to R) and the Upper Great Range (background)
Basin and Saddleback Mountains
Gothics and Armstrong Mountain
It's pronounced Kook-sa-crah-ga or "Coochy or Cooch" for short
The Seward Range from Pather Peak
Saint Huberts from the Zander Scott Trail
The Central High Peaks from Giant Mountain
Keene Valley and the Great Range from Giant Mountain
Keene Valley and the Great Range from Giant Mountain
Lake Placid from Whiteface Mountain
Iroquois, Algonquin, Wright Peak (L to R) from Mount Colden
Flowed Lands from Mount Colden
Mount Colden from Algonquin Peak
"Walking the submerged planks" across Lake Jimmy on the long path to Allen Mountain
'Panther Gorge' with Haystack Mountain from Allen Mountain
Haystack, Gothics, Sawteeth from Allen Mountain
Sawteeth (foreground) and Giant Mountain with Rocky Peak Ridge (background) from Allen Mountain
Great Range from the First Brother
Johns Brook Valley and the Great Range from the Brothers
Mount Marcy and Haystack from Big Slide Mountain
The Great Range from Big Slide Mountain
Upper Great Range from Big Slide Mountain
Big Slide Mountain from Gothics
Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge from Gothics
Basin Mountain slides from Pyramid Peak
Basin and Saddleback from Pyramid
Giant Mountain from the Ausable Club Golf Course
The Dix Range from Rocky Peak Ridge
Sawteeth and the Great Range from Giant Mountain
Lower Great Range from Giant Mountain
Giant Washbowl and the Great Range from the Zander Scott Trail
Central High Peaks from Whiteface Mountain
Mount Colden and the new slide formed during Hurricane Irene
Basin Mountain from Sawteeth
Marcy Dam before and after Hurricane Irene
"Trap Dike" before and after Hurricane Irene
Mount Colden slides and Trap Dike before and after Hurricane Irene
Mount Colden, pre and post Irene
Fantastic pics! Thanks for the before and after - headed up Colden this weekend :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the pics, thanks! Enjoy Colden, some of the best views in the ADK's from the summit :)
DeleteYour pictures are terrific--breath-taking!
ReplyDeleteThank you anonymous!
DeleteChris, I really enjoyed your pictures, found your blog researching the Dix mountain range hike. We did it this September on a crystal clear day.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the pics and blog! Sounds like you all had a phenomenal day in one of the best ranges in the northeast!
DeleteThis is amazing man. Incredible that you did 31 in 9 days. I love finding a well put together websites with exactly what Eastern hikers want to see, so I applaud you for this site. I hike in the Whites and I'm really itching to get to NY, I plan on visiting my buddy at Clarkson soon. I wanna hit the Algonquin range and Avalanche pass for my first 3. Any tips?
ReplyDeleteHi Cole, The MacNtyre Range is awesome and it's a great first hike, my only tip is do it when you have decent weather with views, it makes for a phenomenal hike. If the weather is crummy or socked in the clouds hit up stuff like Street & Nye, Phelps & Table Top, Dial & Nippletop, or Marshall. Enjoy the ADKs!!
DeleteSo beautiful!
ReplyDelete