Oncoman
Active member
On Sat. Dec. 16th decided to end my non winter hiking season on Adams & Hurricane in the Adirondacks. These are relatively easy peaks of approx. 5 miles round trip each & 2000’ ascension each. Took me 5½ hrs total hiking time to bag both pks, with 1½ hrs travel/eating break in between. Finished my hike at 13h30. An easy day for me; but who says one has to finish the season hard core.
Trail conditions were rocky,wet, and with icy spots on the upper steep sections but crampons were not necessary. Minimal snow above 2500’, at most ½’’. Weather was not ideal that day, with mild misty rain in morning in lower altitudes & light wet snow higher up. Cold & windy on open rocky summit of Hurricane with no visibility.
Trail to Adams is described as unmaintained but I found it in very good condition, better than many maintained trails I have travelled especially at this time of year. There was only 2 spots of blowdown very easy to contour. Didn’t quite understand why one put up red surveyor tape here & there along trail as it’s a real highway blazed with red markers. BTW I followed herd path uphill at old cabin by curiosity. It forks after a few hundred yards. Right fork fades out towards east. Left fork continues north but I lost it in bad blowdown section. Continued uphill by bwk & 50’ higher up came back on old path now heading towards east, junctioning about 300 yards later with red trail to Adams, shortly before brook crossing.
Had decided to carry my heavy winter pack all day as a preparatory training exercice for my winter peakbagging season now approaching real fast. First winter hike planned for 26th Dec. in Maine. Hope w’ll have more snow until then.
All things considered had a great time & finishing with 50/100 ADK peaks completed felt like a nice # to end the season with.
Happy Holiday Season to you all.
Pierre
Trail conditions were rocky,wet, and with icy spots on the upper steep sections but crampons were not necessary. Minimal snow above 2500’, at most ½’’. Weather was not ideal that day, with mild misty rain in morning in lower altitudes & light wet snow higher up. Cold & windy on open rocky summit of Hurricane with no visibility.
Trail to Adams is described as unmaintained but I found it in very good condition, better than many maintained trails I have travelled especially at this time of year. There was only 2 spots of blowdown very easy to contour. Didn’t quite understand why one put up red surveyor tape here & there along trail as it’s a real highway blazed with red markers. BTW I followed herd path uphill at old cabin by curiosity. It forks after a few hundred yards. Right fork fades out towards east. Left fork continues north but I lost it in bad blowdown section. Continued uphill by bwk & 50’ higher up came back on old path now heading towards east, junctioning about 300 yards later with red trail to Adams, shortly before brook crossing.
Had decided to carry my heavy winter pack all day as a preparatory training exercice for my winter peakbagging season now approaching real fast. First winter hike planned for 26th Dec. in Maine. Hope w’ll have more snow until then.
All things considered had a great time & finishing with 50/100 ADK peaks completed felt like a nice # to end the season with.
Happy Holiday Season to you all.
Pierre
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