ajtiv
New member
I started a new list this weekend the Adirondack 46.
I was decided to get the tuff stuff out of the way and decided to attempt Allen and the Santinoni's in a weekend. I actually thought of doing one long hike on Saturday and a short hike on Sunday since I have a 7-hour drive. I should have stayed with that plan.
I drove up Friday and it with traffic it was a 7.5 hours drive I arrived at the East river Allen TH at 8:30 pm.
I slept in the car and was up at 5:15 and on the trail at 5:45. I started the hike with another hiker Toby who has after Allen two more peaks to become a 46’er.
The hike in along the roads was boring and uneventful. The lakes and brooks and a couple grassy areas made it bearable. The turn off for the Allen Herd path is well marked and the herd path is maintained as well as the marked DEC trail leading to it. The trail becomes more overgrown and all markings are gone once you leave private land. This path is still very easy to follow and in great shape considering it is a herd path. The trail to skylight brook crossing is nice no views but still better than the road. The start of the climb of Allen Brook was not too bad but became steeper. The rocks are slippery; I read this once or twice but falling is believing. It was like walk on ice in some spots.
The hike up was tough in comparison to the long flat walk in. The ridge crossing was ok and I was happy to be sitting under the Allen Mountain sign having lunch at 11:30. I spent a half hour on top took the obligatory summit sign photo and some very hazy pictures from the view point down to the right of the summit. I have no idea what the pics. are of I will have to check a map. The hike down the brook was slow but at least I did not fall going down hill. I stopped at the opalescent for a filter break. It was getting very hot and muggy. The walk out from Allen is boring and seems to go on forever. I guess that is the appeal of this one. I got back to the car at 3:30 and decided to drive out to get a cold beverage. The thing I have to learn about the Adirondacks is there is no short trip for a drink or food. I would up in Long Lake and the Diner was closed until next week. I was left with Stewart Shop’s famous Chicken Burritos a ½ gallon of raspberry iced tea and a double scoop of ice cream oh yeah and air conditioning.
I dove back to the Bradley Pond TH at 6pm. I wanted to hike into the lean-to before the hike of the Santinoni’s on Sunday. I geared up and started out at 6:30 leaving plenty of time to get in. I had a scary feeling ½ up the road that I forgot my filter in my day pack and after a search realized I was correct. With the heat I knew I would need to filter at least twice and turned around and was stuck sleeping in the car a second night. Saturday night was hot and uncomfortable. I only got 3-4 hours sleep. I woke at 5:30 at started out at 6:15 the road walk was boring but turned off for a trail up to the lean-to a little wet and rocky on the way up but not too bad. I got to the Junction of the herd path by 8. I took the herd path around the lake and after 15 minutes it petered out. I would find on the way out I stayed too close to the lake and should have climbed up and away from the lake sooner.
I would up continuing through some blow down and rotten wood to the Panther Brook at an elevation of 2300 feet. I then hiked up along the brook to the JCT> of the herd path and continued on that. This took a little more than an hour and lost energy.
The climb along the brook was not too bad until you got above the brook where it got steep. I was getting tired I have already gone through 3 liters of water and my left foot was getting sore.
I got to the junction of the Panther Mtn. Herd path and needing an emotional boost decided to get Panther out of the way being the shortest and easiest summit of the three.
Panther was a quick hike up and I finally got a real rock summit view the first in the Park.
It was very nice although hazy. I went to the Geological marker and took a photo along with the summit photos.
I hiked back down to the path coming up from the Brook and continued straight ahead and would up at Times Square in a few minutes. After the much need lift in spirits and energy I continued on to Couchie. It is now 11:45am
There was a lot of down and some up, which seemed much longer than the mileage suggests. I got to the bog, which was not too wet as I assumed. I followed the path to the left and picked up boot tracks going off to the right through the bog and followed along.
After 20 minutes there was nothing but thick blow down and no path. I came back to the bog and re crossed. The path actually does not go to the left but straight across and starts back up the ridgeline. The path is pretty clean with some switchbacks and then towards the end gets very steep with a couple of big boulders to climb over for kicks. Finally I reach the summit sign. It took me two hours to get here. Wow what fun. Next time I do this is in the winter that is going to be the only repeat. Now the long mostly upward hike back to Times Square. My left leg is now hurting there is a rash or abrasion burn developing around my leg at the height of my boot cuff. I can figure out a way to bandage it assuming gauze or bandage will produce more chafing.
The hike back to Times Square was the toughest part of the whole weekend. All I could think about was that I had no energy to finish Santinoni and would have to come back.
This is the first time I did not summit as planned, very sobering indeed.
I got back to Times Square at exhausted and mentally beat. I hiked down the brook and filtered more water with 6 liters already gone. My left leg was really hurting at this point and I decided If I took any more breaks I would not get back up. I hiked straight out and the road walk was not comfortable.
I got to the car at 6:15, 12 hours after the start and no Santinoni Summit. I proceeded to get my boots and socks off to see a friction burn around my leg especially bad at my inside anklebone and at the outside of the leg. The outside of the leg had two areas that were raw and bleeding. I bandaged best I could and drove 6 hours home.
All said it was still a great learning experience I pushed myself and now know my limits; until nest time. I did have a great introduction to the Adirondacks with the complimentary slice of humble pie. I have a great respect for this new list and an even greater respect for all who are 46’ers.
Next week I head back with the kids for a week of camping and hiking. We will do Cascade and Porter Mt. Jo and who know what else. It is to relax and enjoy time with them no testing myself that trip.
I took the day off today since I could not contemplate putting on a pair of dress shoes.
Also I realize there is a lot of driving to get anywhere in the Adirondacks.
3 down 43 to go.
Guiness thanks for the advise for this one. The camp out Saturday night did not work out as I would have liked; If it did I am sure I would have gotten Santinoni.
I am not looking forward to going back for Santinoni.
Al
Pics
I was decided to get the tuff stuff out of the way and decided to attempt Allen and the Santinoni's in a weekend. I actually thought of doing one long hike on Saturday and a short hike on Sunday since I have a 7-hour drive. I should have stayed with that plan.
I drove up Friday and it with traffic it was a 7.5 hours drive I arrived at the East river Allen TH at 8:30 pm.
I slept in the car and was up at 5:15 and on the trail at 5:45. I started the hike with another hiker Toby who has after Allen two more peaks to become a 46’er.
The hike in along the roads was boring and uneventful. The lakes and brooks and a couple grassy areas made it bearable. The turn off for the Allen Herd path is well marked and the herd path is maintained as well as the marked DEC trail leading to it. The trail becomes more overgrown and all markings are gone once you leave private land. This path is still very easy to follow and in great shape considering it is a herd path. The trail to skylight brook crossing is nice no views but still better than the road. The start of the climb of Allen Brook was not too bad but became steeper. The rocks are slippery; I read this once or twice but falling is believing. It was like walk on ice in some spots.
The hike up was tough in comparison to the long flat walk in. The ridge crossing was ok and I was happy to be sitting under the Allen Mountain sign having lunch at 11:30. I spent a half hour on top took the obligatory summit sign photo and some very hazy pictures from the view point down to the right of the summit. I have no idea what the pics. are of I will have to check a map. The hike down the brook was slow but at least I did not fall going down hill. I stopped at the opalescent for a filter break. It was getting very hot and muggy. The walk out from Allen is boring and seems to go on forever. I guess that is the appeal of this one. I got back to the car at 3:30 and decided to drive out to get a cold beverage. The thing I have to learn about the Adirondacks is there is no short trip for a drink or food. I would up in Long Lake and the Diner was closed until next week. I was left with Stewart Shop’s famous Chicken Burritos a ½ gallon of raspberry iced tea and a double scoop of ice cream oh yeah and air conditioning.
I dove back to the Bradley Pond TH at 6pm. I wanted to hike into the lean-to before the hike of the Santinoni’s on Sunday. I geared up and started out at 6:30 leaving plenty of time to get in. I had a scary feeling ½ up the road that I forgot my filter in my day pack and after a search realized I was correct. With the heat I knew I would need to filter at least twice and turned around and was stuck sleeping in the car a second night. Saturday night was hot and uncomfortable. I only got 3-4 hours sleep. I woke at 5:30 at started out at 6:15 the road walk was boring but turned off for a trail up to the lean-to a little wet and rocky on the way up but not too bad. I got to the Junction of the herd path by 8. I took the herd path around the lake and after 15 minutes it petered out. I would find on the way out I stayed too close to the lake and should have climbed up and away from the lake sooner.
I would up continuing through some blow down and rotten wood to the Panther Brook at an elevation of 2300 feet. I then hiked up along the brook to the JCT> of the herd path and continued on that. This took a little more than an hour and lost energy.
The climb along the brook was not too bad until you got above the brook where it got steep. I was getting tired I have already gone through 3 liters of water and my left foot was getting sore.
I got to the junction of the Panther Mtn. Herd path and needing an emotional boost decided to get Panther out of the way being the shortest and easiest summit of the three.
Panther was a quick hike up and I finally got a real rock summit view the first in the Park.
It was very nice although hazy. I went to the Geological marker and took a photo along with the summit photos.
I hiked back down to the path coming up from the Brook and continued straight ahead and would up at Times Square in a few minutes. After the much need lift in spirits and energy I continued on to Couchie. It is now 11:45am
There was a lot of down and some up, which seemed much longer than the mileage suggests. I got to the bog, which was not too wet as I assumed. I followed the path to the left and picked up boot tracks going off to the right through the bog and followed along.
After 20 minutes there was nothing but thick blow down and no path. I came back to the bog and re crossed. The path actually does not go to the left but straight across and starts back up the ridgeline. The path is pretty clean with some switchbacks and then towards the end gets very steep with a couple of big boulders to climb over for kicks. Finally I reach the summit sign. It took me two hours to get here. Wow what fun. Next time I do this is in the winter that is going to be the only repeat. Now the long mostly upward hike back to Times Square. My left leg is now hurting there is a rash or abrasion burn developing around my leg at the height of my boot cuff. I can figure out a way to bandage it assuming gauze or bandage will produce more chafing.
The hike back to Times Square was the toughest part of the whole weekend. All I could think about was that I had no energy to finish Santinoni and would have to come back.
This is the first time I did not summit as planned, very sobering indeed.
I got back to Times Square at exhausted and mentally beat. I hiked down the brook and filtered more water with 6 liters already gone. My left leg was really hurting at this point and I decided If I took any more breaks I would not get back up. I hiked straight out and the road walk was not comfortable.
I got to the car at 6:15, 12 hours after the start and no Santinoni Summit. I proceeded to get my boots and socks off to see a friction burn around my leg especially bad at my inside anklebone and at the outside of the leg. The outside of the leg had two areas that were raw and bleeding. I bandaged best I could and drove 6 hours home.
All said it was still a great learning experience I pushed myself and now know my limits; until nest time. I did have a great introduction to the Adirondacks with the complimentary slice of humble pie. I have a great respect for this new list and an even greater respect for all who are 46’ers.
Next week I head back with the kids for a week of camping and hiking. We will do Cascade and Porter Mt. Jo and who know what else. It is to relax and enjoy time with them no testing myself that trip.
I took the day off today since I could not contemplate putting on a pair of dress shoes.
Also I realize there is a lot of driving to get anywhere in the Adirondacks.
3 down 43 to go.
Guiness thanks for the advise for this one. The camp out Saturday night did not work out as I would have liked; If it did I am sure I would have gotten Santinoni.
I am not looking forward to going back for Santinoni.
Al
Pics
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