Dial/Nippletop, Blake/Colvin?

[SherpaKroto]

I'm looking at options in doing a trip out to Dial/Nippletop, Blake/Colvin, either as a single day hike, 2 day hikes or an overnight. What are your thoughts?
1) How long would a single day hike be? Is this adviseable?
2) Where would the nearest campsite be, and is it convenient?

I plan this for sometime next week, likely next Monday, 8/22. I hike a fair amount, but have never been called fast. When I hear 20 miles, I know it's a bit out of my reach, unless a fair shake is "easy" miles. Thanks!

 

[Doc McPeak]

SK, they're not easy miles. I believe you've got a Sawteeth-thru-Jaws planned the following day as well? That's a pretty tough 1-2 punch. Let's see what other opinions drop in, but in the meantime ...

There is a great overnighter idea that I'll pm you.

 

[Neil]

I've never done the four in one go but my perusals of the TH register indicate that it is quite commonly done. On another note, coming back from N-top a couple of weeks ago I was real glad NOT to be doing the entire loop.

Why doncha do Dial and Ntop, descend the slide, head west a half mile then ascend Blake and bop over to Colvin and skip down the trail to shoot 9 holes on yer way to your car?

 

[SherpaKroto]

Neil,
You crack me up. The way I golf, I would have to carry way too many balls to complete 9 holes!

I see: conventional wisdom hes me leaning against a day hike.

Doc, the page that Guinness put up is just his way of trying to slowly kill me (I noticed that he was not joining me this year, preferring to laugh from the safety of his desk). I'm not sure if the last day of Sawteeth-thru-Jaws will happen. It all depends on a bunch of factors, and who I'm with, and where we are at that point, and what we each need for our collective lists. I was way more organized for last summer's trip than I am for this one, so it's one day at a time...

 

[slamdog]

I'll offer an opinion, as I'm only a "36"er. I did Dial and Nippletop about 6 weeks ago. Wonderful day hike. I had wondered if it was possible to also do Covin and Blake on the same route. Well, two weeks after that I did Colvin and Blake. I would have never been able to complete the four peak loop, but that's me. Again, I caught Colvin and Blake on a real hot humid day. For overnights, I think you could stay at Indian Head or Elk Pass which both (I think) have campsites. slam

 

[MattC]

I did these 4 as a dayhike the last day of July. I'm sorry I don't know how to link to my TR, but if you want to look at it, it's currently at the top of page 5 over in that forum.

Matt

 

[bubba]

AMR Territory

SK - don't forget that you are traveling on AMR turf for some of this trip, so overnights are limited or forbidden -- not as on State Land.

I'm guessing that Sean is advising something sneaky... but the Gil Brook area is an exceptionally pretty spot. There is a campsite just over into state land that is barely legal - that may be the info that you are receiving PM.

These are two wonderful hikes, but I'd say one big, long, killer combination. Both Dial and Nippletop are great views (IMO, Dial's top is more comfortable). Colvin is excellent looking down at the lakes (for me the first time I got to see the upper lake). Blake is, well, just do it. Many complain about the severe col between the two, but it didn't bother me.

For pace purposes, Slamdog keeps and even, steady but not grinding pace.

 

[mavs00]

Neil,I see: conventional wisdom hes me leaning against a day hike.

Doc, the page that Guinness put up is just his way of trying to slowly kill me (I noticed that he was not joining me this year, preferring to laugh from the safety of his desk)

Sherp, be careful of ED, really....................... It may be too late to warn you off, but I feel I must. HE WILL KILL YOU.

Honestly, given the itinarary for those days, you May want to scale back as Doc says. Monday, My group (which I think you find very compatible to your style) plan on doing Nippletop (via the slide) anyway. It's a full day and we can head out over Dial (Bear Den, et all). It''l be a very reasonable dayhike that should allow you to bracket a shortish Sunday hike (Big Slide) and a killer hike (Sateeth --> LWJ) Hike on Tuesday.

It'll get you 2 peaks closer (Dial/Nip) instead of 4, but it has the added bonus of getting you a touch off the beaten path to attempt a nifty ADK treat (a reasonable slide). My suggestion is a tad selfish in that, I'd love to finally get to hike with you .

Anyone else is welcome to join. The 4 of us (my family) do plan to hit (at least) Nippletop summit, via the slide on Monday 8/22/

 

[Rick]

SK, Hope you are doing fine and enjoying the summer. I cannot remember how fast you hike, but I think you are about as fast as I used to be when I was in my 30's so maybe this will help you:

I agree it is a long day to do all four, but if you really want to give it a go, I can give you an idea of what I did, doing all 4 in a day and spending 2 nights at the Boundary Campsite.
Heading up the Gill Brook Trail you'll come to the unmarked Boundary Campsite (It is legal), just after you leave AMR land and come state land, marked by the NYS DEC Yellow and blue sign. Just a few minutes past that the trail comes to a small brook, you can look across the brook on your left and about 50 yards away you'll find an excellent little campsite that will fit 4-5 tents - It is almost hidden from view. If you continue on for 5 minutes, you'll come to a height of land where there is a small campsite on the right that will fit perhaps 3 small tents.

It took us just a few minutes over 10 hours and we didn't really dawdle on the peaks as follows, R/T from the Campsite:
1.5 hours to Colvin,
1 hour to Blake
1 Hour back to Colvin
1 hour to Elk Pass (we stopped for a 20-minute lunch)
1.5 hours to Nippletop Junction
15 minutes to Nippletop and return to Nippletop Junction
1 hour to Dial,
1 Hour back to nippletop Junction
2 Hours down to the campsite (it was dark and we were going a bit slower)

Alternatively, if you were to do a dayhike, you could still head in via Ausable and Gill Brook, but after reaching Dial, continue on down over Bear Den and back to the Ausable club gate via the road. The total distance is a hair over 16 miles - The road is very easy to walk in the dark (if you decide to statrt early or end up hiking out in the dark).

Good Luck

 

[ajtiv]

Sherpa I have these to do also and I am planning on doing a loop day hike hitting Colvin and Blake first and coming out over Nippletop and Dial.It looks to be a long day. I figure once I am back that far might as well dothe 4.
Also I think I might tag along on the Giant and Big slide hikes with you.
If your hiking card is not too full.
Al

 

[Jean]

1) How long would a single day hike be? Is this adviseable?

Well, it depends! Are you going to be dragging a sled this time around?

 

[SherpaKroto]

Jean, my ADK trips have been a bit less eventful (thankfully) since my Sewards (failed) baptism.

Thanks for all the help everyone! I've spent the entire evening looking at all of this. Thought I had it all worked out... Now I get some real interesting wrinkles .

Al, first off, always room with me, but I'm not terribly fast (ok, I'm slow), so we'll go from there. I'm starting to think that after 2 hard days, I'll need a bit of a breather. I doubt I'll be up for the 4 in a day.

I have a rough idea of hitting the Lower Great Range from the JBL side by staying there after Big Slide. I don't want to just peakbag, but it is a darn long way to drive, and I don't get as much time as I used to. I'm still working out all the kinks...

Mavs: that is darn tempting, and I may very well take you up on it. It will depend on what some others who are joining me decide though. I have thought of a nice (OK, Doc mentioned it) overnight where I can hike Dial/Nippletop/Colvin and Blake over a 2 day period. I'd love to then do the Lower Range from the Ausable side, but camping, etc is non-existent, so it will likely be from the JBL side.

So, what I am loosely leaning toward is:
Fri 8/19: Algonquin/Iroquois/Wright from Heart Lake
Sat 8/20: Giant/Rocky Peak Ridge traverse (east west or vice versa?)
Sun 8/21: Big Slide (backpack to JBL)
Mon 8/22: Lower Range from JBL (stay at JBL)
Tues 8/23 or Wed 8/24: Dial/Nippletop stay at Elk Pass or Indian Head
Wed 8/24 or Thurs 8/25: Blake/Colvin stay Roaring Brook?

Note: I might flip flop the JBL leg with the Dial/Nippletop/Colvin/Blake leg. Depends on what interests who.

I have one extra day in there for weather (and to let the old body recharge). I only need to be in NH on Thursday night, so I can hike out on Thursday if needed.

Thanks again folks!
Edit: dyslexic spelling...

 

[MattC]

I almost hate to suggest this, but you might consider just doing Giant/Rocky as an in-and-out rather than a traverse, so as to conserve a little energy. But then, you're looking at so much hiking what's a few more miles I suppose?

I know exactly what you mean about not just wanting to peakbag, but trying to be "efficient" due to the drive. And I'm not even that far-only 3 and 1/2 hours. That really is an ambitious (but incredibly cool) itinerary. You're going to love the MacIntyres-the alpine zone should make you feel at home.

Matt

 

[rdl]

To chime in here on a couple points:

Indian Head is on AMR property and therefore not a legal camping spot. The two best spots to camp would be Elk Pass and the Gill Brook trail just after state land starts, both are legal camping spots.

My suggestion would be to do RPR/Giant east - west and work out car spotting with a vftt friend or use a taxi service to take you back to your car. I did this planting a bike at the base of Giant, driving to the RPR trailhead and biking back to the car when done.

 

[SherpaKroto]

rdl: The site(s) I have in mind are in the book, and legal. They are near, but not on Indian Head. Leaning toward Elk Pass though.

Matt: I figure I might not ever have another chance where there are about 60 other people who might be willing to spot me and friends to do the Giant/Rocky Peak Ridge traverse. I know my week is ambitious, but what the heck I'll give it a go and see what happens. You'll probably find me collapsed in the corner at Spencer's on Friday night after A/I/G.

 

[Doc McPeak]

SK, the Giant/RPR traverse is one of the GREAT Adirondack hikes, and is no harder than the reclimb of Giant and the very steep and rough descent down the ridge trail. Maybe a tad more, but well worth it. Go for it! The itiniery looks great, even if you only get half of them! See ya at the BBQ.

 

[Rik]

SK, the Giant/RPR traverse is one of the GREAT Adirondack hikes, and is no harder than the reclimb of Giant and the very steep and rough descent down the ridge trail. Maybe a tad more, but well worth it. Go for it! The itiniery looks great, even if you only get half of them! See ya at the BBQ.

I agree 100%. The traverse is the best way to do these peaks!

 

[The Sikes]

re this weekend

You are worse than me changing things around. I hope we get to meet up. I'm in the same boat...don't want to rush through everything but this driving is killing us and gas just keeps climbing and climbing. I may have to take out a second mortgage.

Wish the body would cooperate with the mind and let me do all I want without so much tiredness.

 

[spaddock]

You could just play it by ear too.... If you do Dial and Nippletop and have the juice to go do B&C or vice versa then go for it...

For me though if I mentally leave doubt as to whether I'll make additional summits I rarely make them. If I make up my mind ahead of time I'm usually much more successful.

Sounds like you have a fun itinerary planned. Hopefully I'll bump into you guys at the gathering or on the trails. I'm planning on Haystack, Basin, and Saddleback on the Saturday.


-Shayne

 

[SherpaKroto]

Shayne/Dianne: I hear you both. The body only sometimes does what the mind tells it. For D/N/C/B, I'd love to head out with all 4 in mind, but then would be stuck with only a light pack if I couldn't do it.

If anything gives on my itinerary (and it likely will), Big Slide will be the first to go. That would give me some good rest for the Lower Range. I would much prefer to do it up the Brothers and over Yard as a long dayhike, but it might be tempting if I'm not too hung over from Saturday night...