We will be staying at Flowed Lands to climb Redfield and Cliff (I know Uphill Brook is closer, but I like the view from Flowed Lands). Looking at a map, it looks like climbing Allen from here (via Hanging Spears Falls) would be about the same distance-wise as climbing from the parking lot on Upper Works road. Has anyone done this? Comments welcomed.
Allen From Flowed Land???
- Thread starter maineguy
- Start date
Help Support vftt.org:
Rick
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2003
- Messages
- 1,680
- Reaction score
- 125
Maineguy,
When we were there we stayed at the old TwinBrook L/Tsite (now illegal, IIRC) and came in the East River Trailhead.
2 of our group were up at Marshall the day before and stayed at Flowed Lands - They started from the nearest L/T to the breeched dam and it took them 45 minutes to get to meet us at the TB site with daypacks - It was a very quick easy downhill hike according to them.
After Allen, we backpacked out via Hanging Spears Falls and the trail was very nice - It only took us about an hour and a half to get to Flowed Lands.
R/T from FL is much shorter than from East River Trailhead. Go for it!!! (and enjoy Hanging Spers Falls)
When we were there we stayed at the old TwinBrook L/Tsite (now illegal, IIRC) and came in the East River Trailhead.
2 of our group were up at Marshall the day before and stayed at Flowed Lands - They started from the nearest L/T to the breeched dam and it took them 45 minutes to get to meet us at the TB site with daypacks - It was a very quick easy downhill hike according to them.
After Allen, we backpacked out via Hanging Spears Falls and the trail was very nice - It only took us about an hour and a half to get to Flowed Lands.
R/T from FL is much shorter than from East River Trailhead. Go for it!!! (and enjoy Hanging Spers Falls)
moonrock
New member
trail down to Allen/Twin Brook
Last Fall (driving from Albany) three of us packed in via Calamity Brook to Flowed Lands (we had canisters for food, but learned that truly GOOD wine is not safe in a lexan bottle !). Next day we day-hiked Cliff and Redfield. The third day, we full-packed down to Twin Brook area, via Hanging Spear Falls, and camped....."somewhere near Allen" (yes, that spot is pretty beat, tho we did LNT). Allen occupied the 4th day. 5th was back out to the cars, before "TS Ivan" hit.
But unless somebody has since "amended" the trail below HSF (with a chain- or bow saw), then I would not call it a cake walk - not by pre-Floyd standards, anyway; army-crawling under fallen trees with a (50 lb) pack (as on the trail to Skylight Brook) got old fairly quickly. We had considered dayhiking down that way, up Allen, and back to Flowed Lands, but I think the consensus (in retrospect) was that THAT would have been even worse. Guess it depends on what you're used to.
After reading today's comments, though, I really regret not dropping packs and scrambling up Mt Adams on day 5, on the way out to the Works. Allen was my buddy DNAgent's 46, so it's unlikely we'll pass that way again soon (It'll be hard enough, "just" getting him to re-do the Sewards !). However, on this occasion, "Ivan" was also news, and the rain started as we neared the car. Happily, by the time it really opened up, we were showered, and DNAgent was lavishing the three of us with Italian food & (more good) wine, in some resort town. THAT's a good post trip feeling !
One other thing: once you "summit" Allen, head DOWN the straight side trail (left from facing the summit sign); it leads to a cliff with decent views, including (far right) up to Boreas Ponds. Would insert image, if I knew how.
Moonrock
Last Fall (driving from Albany) three of us packed in via Calamity Brook to Flowed Lands (we had canisters for food, but learned that truly GOOD wine is not safe in a lexan bottle !). Next day we day-hiked Cliff and Redfield. The third day, we full-packed down to Twin Brook area, via Hanging Spear Falls, and camped....."somewhere near Allen" (yes, that spot is pretty beat, tho we did LNT). Allen occupied the 4th day. 5th was back out to the cars, before "TS Ivan" hit.
But unless somebody has since "amended" the trail below HSF (with a chain- or bow saw), then I would not call it a cake walk - not by pre-Floyd standards, anyway; army-crawling under fallen trees with a (50 lb) pack (as on the trail to Skylight Brook) got old fairly quickly. We had considered dayhiking down that way, up Allen, and back to Flowed Lands, but I think the consensus (in retrospect) was that THAT would have been even worse. Guess it depends on what you're used to.
After reading today's comments, though, I really regret not dropping packs and scrambling up Mt Adams on day 5, on the way out to the Works. Allen was my buddy DNAgent's 46, so it's unlikely we'll pass that way again soon (It'll be hard enough, "just" getting him to re-do the Sewards !). However, on this occasion, "Ivan" was also news, and the rain started as we neared the car. Happily, by the time it really opened up, we were showered, and DNAgent was lavishing the three of us with Italian food & (more good) wine, in some resort town. THAT's a good post trip feeling !
One other thing: once you "summit" Allen, head DOWN the straight side trail (left from facing the summit sign); it leads to a cliff with decent views, including (far right) up to Boreas Ponds. Would insert image, if I knew how.
Moonrock
WalksWithBlackflies
New member
Last year, I overnighted at Flowed Lands took the trail by Hanging Spear Falls, and met a friend at the former Twin Brook Lean-To site to climb Allen.
I concurr with Moonrook... and have no idea what Rick is talking about. The brush was so dense I couldn't even see the falls. The "trail" is a herd path and has not been maintained for quite some time. See the photo for a typical section... the trail goes straight ahead. It's definitely do-able, but be prepared for an hour of route finding and cursing.
I concurr with Moonrook... and have no idea what Rick is talking about. The brush was so dense I couldn't even see the falls. The "trail" is a herd path and has not been maintained for quite some time. See the photo for a typical section... the trail goes straight ahead. It's definitely do-able, but be prepared for an hour of route finding and cursing.
Rick
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2003
- Messages
- 1,680
- Reaction score
- 125
Making sure I understand, we are talking about the trail from Flowed Lands via Hanging Spears falls to the old Twin Brook Lean-to site, and not the old Twin Brook Trail to Uphill Lean-to from the Twin Brook Lean-To site.
I am really surprised. Though it was pre-Floyd when I was in there - I wonder if the trail is no longer maintained by the DEC or the ADK?
I am really surprised. Though it was pre-Floyd when I was in there - I wonder if the trail is no longer maintained by the DEC or the ADK?
moonrock
New member
Rick said:
Correct, tho you can still get fine views of Hanging Spear Falls: I believe we descended along a side trail to a balcony, just downriver, and then navigated a bypass back to the main trail.
"PRE-Floyd" is THE disclaimer, as trail conditions go, esp in that part of the HP. I saw what Floyd did to eastern North Carolina, but I was stunned, a year later, to see how it had affected the Dacks. Have still not been back to Wanakena, to see the July 15 1995 Derecho damage. Experienced that
firsthand on friends' wedding morning, in Watertown NY.
I do not doubt that the trail down Opalescent from HS Falls was previously very nice, both ways. But the Old Twin Brook Trail - cutting west between Cliff and Redfield (?) - apparently was in trouble long before then. I cannot speak from experience, but now I imagine it resembles the aftermath of the Tunguska meteor blast.
