Algonquin, Iroquois, Shepard's Tooth - 10/24

[ALGonquin Bob]

I had planned on doing SOMETHING in the Adirondacks last weekend, and Saturday morning, I picked the Shepard’s Tooth. With not enough time to get a partner, I hiked this one solo. Sunday morning, October 24, I set out from the High Peaks Information Center (Loj) and headed up the “highway” toward Algonquin. Being a Sunday in late October, I saw only a couple other hikers, and they were headed elsewhere. This turned out to be a solo hike up and over Algonquin, Boundary, Iroquois, and Shepard's Tooth, with no other person in sight!

I started just before first light. The mud was firm and partly frozen. Good hiking. The sunrise cast a beautiful warm glow on the sky and trail. As I gained altitude, there was some thin ice on the rock surfaces, with light snow a little higher up the trail. The ice made for poor traction on the slides, and I was forced onto some of the herd paths that parallel the bare rock. As I approached the summit, there was much more ice to deal with, requiring use of crampons. Without those, I would have turned back. Once reaching the open summit of Algonquin, the ice was gone, and crampons were not needed for the rest of the day.

The views from the top were spectacular, as always. Toward the southwest, the only clouds in sight stretched out below, with summits of lower peaks poking through. Even more spectacular. Continuing over Boundary and Boundary II, I made my way up Iroquois. This time, instead of turning around, I continued down the open ledges, and entered the cripplebush below. Now the fun, and the real bushwhacking, began. I fought my way down into the col, and continued up toward the rocky knob, finally reaching the top of Shepard’s Tooth. From there, I descended toward Cold Brook Pass, which I believe is also known as Iroquois Pass. Beware of steps and cliffs on the way down. Just minutes after reaching the bottom of that cliff, I reached the trail through the pass. Heading west, I passed the cairn marking the herd path for Marshall, and continued toward Indian Brook. Once reaching Indian Brook, it’s 4.9 miles back to the Loj. After hiking north for about one mile in Indian Pass, there is a trail junction at Scott’s Clearing (camp site). Finding this junction sign is complicated by the fact that the trail also loops back to the south at this point. In the dark, this junction may be difficult to find! The sign is near the brook, and it’s just 4 more easy miles to the Loj.

I consider this to be the single most fun, spectacular hike that I’ve done. I still smile when I think about it!

 

[Got2Climb]

Scotts Clearing

Ah! it must of been your tracks I saw.

Sunday night on the way into the loj there look like a few inches of show melting of the upper ramparts of the high peaks. I headed from the Loj to Scotts Clearing but did not getting to the Leanto till very late at night, having not starting till about 8:30. It was so beatiful around Heart Lake with the Moon almost full, I just had to hang out. Hiked on Monday from Scotts Clearing up and over Cold Brook Pass to Lake Colden. I decided to take it a easy since this was just a sole training excursion and overnight at Beaver Point. Lake Colden was great at night, Mt. Colden with its long slides reflecting in the lake with the Moon and the stars. Must of passed out early because I woke up wide awake about 3am and decided that it was a betiful night for an alpine start back to the Loj through Avalanche Pass.

Looking at my map, where I beleave the Sheapers tooth is located it looks like the easiest way dow to the trail is too head toward Lake Colden & Cold Brook itself, just like it shounds like you did. Nice job,
Happy Trails Got2Climb

 

[bigmoose]

Bob -
Nice account of your Shepard's Tooth trip.
Many of us would not undertake a sticky bushwhack such as this solo. Safety concerns and all. But you accomplished this without incident and had a ball to boot. Like you, my favorite bushwhacks have been solos. Only drawback is not being able to share the experience. This site, however, is a wonderful vehicle for sharing such adventures. Then idiots like me can read the report, relate to the experience, and give you a pat on the back. Send that man a Shepard's Tooth patch!!
JT

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

Got2Climb: I spent Sunday night at Scott's Clearing; I slept on the wooden platform. When I walked past the lean-to (closest to that clearing) about 8 A.M., I saw some gear from a solo hiker - maybe yours? Somehow, we passed without seeing each other. Sounds like your night hiking was as good a time as my trip.

JT: Sharing experiences is one of my favorite things to do. I had read somewhere that there was a canister or some similar object in the summit cairn on the Tooth. Nope. If somebody has made a patch for Shepard's Tooth, I wonder how I could get one?

By the way, I'm doing that trip again this weekend. "Hillman1" and I are going up to look for my camera! -ALG

 

[bigmoose]

Bob -
Let me guess.
You wanted a commemorative photo of yourself atop Shepard's Tooth, and, being solo, you needed to use your camera's self-timer.
You set the camera on a rock, hit the timer, raced out in front, posed, and never remembered to retrieve the thing.
Been there, done that, most recently on Clough Mt. NH two weeks ago. (resulting in a double bushwhack!)
When did you discover you'd left it behind? Will it survive a week in the elements??

BTW, I bet this could generate some interest as a new thread, as I'm sure others have had this experience.
JT

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

I do my self-portraits by holding the camera at arm's length. The camera, in its case, was on my belt. It was pulled off somewhere on the bushwhack; probably got snagged on a tree or other obstacle that I dragged myself over or under. I noticed just before I descended the last cliff, above the trail through Cold Brook Pass. The camera is completely waterproof, even submersible, so it should survive the winter. Hillman1 and I attempted to repeat the hike on Halloween, but we turned back after summiting Algonquin. The wind was strong, and we decided not to attempt the additional mile over the ridge to Iroquois. The descent from Iroquois on the open ledges would have been quite risky.

 

[PINPIN JUNIOR]

Camera



Hi Alg,

Junior & Me, We hiked Algonquin, Iroquois, Algonquin & Wright during the big wind last Sunday morning.

Yes It was a little bit difficulte to descend the South side of Algonquin but realy easy the wind push up us when We come back.

At this time We watched for your camera but We never found.

We hiked Wright, but it was so windy, We need to stop a couple of time to change us in bowling ball to resiste at the wind. Finaly We catched the summit but it was impossible to stand up on the rock...

Other people hiked Iroquois and Shepard's Tooth this week, We hope this people found it and give a good news for this.

Pinpin Junior.

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

Thanks PINPIN, it was good to see you (and Junior) again Sunday morning. "4:15" for your hike... you are the rabbit!

 

[hillman1]

Actually, I believe it was 4:14:05 in the trail register.

 

[PINPIN JUNIOR]

Iroquois...



Hi Hillman 1,

No, your first interpretation qas correct!

With the wind, without ice, but with sleepery rocks We losed few time to summit Algonquin, 1h 40m, after 2h We catched Iroquois, too windy in Algoquin to check the clock and same condition in Wright.

I do not know when You summit Algonquin, may be We never meet You because, at this time We fight the win in Wright.

We stop the chrono after 4h. 14m. with a heart avrage of 126.

Nice to meetYou.

Pinpin Junior.

 

[hillman1]

It was great to finally meet you, you are sort of a hiker celebrity. I've heard talk of not "being" a 46er until 1- you eat at the noonmark diner, and 2- you meet pin pin. I especially liked the stickers in your car window--46x46, and the ADK winter 100 highest. Very impressive. Maybe you could share some info on routes for beull and panther?

 

[PINPIN JUNIOR]

Panther & Buell Mtns.


Hi Hillman 1,

Yes We can: We hiked Panther, South Panther, Buell Mtn & Brown Pond Mtn, the Mars 8 2002.

South Panther & Brown pond Mtn are on the 3000 ft lists.

I had not my report map with me, the maps is at the Base Camp (Queen's home) in Lake Placid.

If You need more information, please e-mail me a private message.

Have many good hikes.

Pinpin Junior.