The tradeoff for una_dogger's ability to hike on weekdays is that she has to work some weekends. This meant that I would be on my own last Saturday (the 9th; this trip report is late in coming). Since the forecast for New York was for good weather, she suggested I hike Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge in the Adirondacks. I was easily sold on the idea. 
I got an early start from Vermont and had no problems following her excellent directions. I even got to enjoy a special moment on the way as my trusty Outback rolled 88888 miles on the odometer. The sun was out and the sky clear blue, and after about 2-1/2 hours of driving arrived at the parking area for the Zander Scott Trail, just short of Chapel Pond on Rte 73. The sign here says "Giant Mountain Wilderness Area" and just a hundred feet up the trail is a register. I got my boots laced up, shouldered my pack, and at 9:45 stepped onto the trail into an explosion of greens, sunlit through the forest canopy.
The trail begins moderately, with rocky but good footing. It doesn't take long, however, before the climbing begins. I quickly got my heart rate up and maintained a strong pace, passing a few groups along the way. After only 20 minutes I'd gained 700' and was rewarded by a small rocky outlook with stunning views across to the High Peaks. As tempting as it was to hang out there taking more pictures, I reminded myself that the views would only get better as the hike continued, and turned back into the woods.
Barely 5 minutes later came the Giant's Washbowl, a gorgeous mountain tarn edged by trees and cliffs. A nearby campsite evoked fantasies of watching the sunset on the idyllic waters, but time was passing and I hopped back on the trail after just a few quick photos.
The next quarter mile passes through some beautiful forest, and then the climbing really begins. About 25 minutes from the washbowl I came out on the first open ledge. I was glad it was dry, being somewhat phobic of slippery slabs, but in fact all of the rock texture on this hike provided excellent traction. From this point on it was in and out of the trees, the open slabs continuing to provide incredible views to several ADK mountain ranges. The clear sky and puffy clouds enhanced the scenery, and I stopped often to take more pictures.
There are two minor bulges along the Zander Scott Trail. The first gave an excellent open view of the ridge ahead of me, and ahead of it I could see the next bulge, which actually has two routes: you can go "over bump", or "around bump" ... it's actually signed that way! I went over on the way up and around on the way back, which I recommend. I also recognized the rocky, bald summit ahead in the distance to my right as Rocky Peak Ridge, which would be my second destination.
Only 7 minutes below the summit of Giant I encountered the junction with the trail over to Rocky Peak Ridge. I winced a bit at the idea of having to come that far back up out of the col later, but didn't dwell on it ... I wanted to enjoy the summit first, and oh, did I ever!
After climbing for 2-3/4 hours and gaining over 3000', I arrived at the open ledges, and they are spectacular. I had views of some of the best mountain ranges in the High Peaks: I could see Snow, Hedgehog, the Wolfjaws, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, the Brothers, Slide, Yard, the Dix Range, Dial, Nippletop, Marcy, Algonquin, and many, many more. I could barely tear myself away from the camera, but eventually I sat down, popped out some snacks, and relaxed, absorbing the place and the moment. I shared the summit with maybe a half-dozen other hikers and a happy-looking pup. I even felt a twinge of guilt knowing so many friends were trying to hike in New Hampshire in the rain and fog, and that una_dogger was stuck at work, while I sat in the sun under blue skies.
A number of hikers were all starting to arrive at the summit, so I packed up and started towards Rocky Peak Ridge. The blackflies had come out, and while I almost never use bug spray if I can avoid it, the DEET went on for this trail.
The descent from Giant to the col is very steep and rough. The trail is badly eroded, the thin soil torn away from the rock ledge in many spots and getting worse as hikers take necessary deviations to be able to descend or ascend safely. It made for a difficult hike, and I was equally saddened by the need for maintenance on this trail. Plus, the need to take it slowly made me a better blackfly target. I was not amused as I dropped 800' in around 0.4 miles; fortunately, the 700' up the other side of the col was in much better condition, and I made better time on that side, coming out on the summit of Rocky Peak Ridge about a half-hour after leaving the summit of Giant.
The top of RPR is open and wonderful. The ridge looks like a beautiful traverse, and if I had I more time I would have gone on as far as Mary Louise Pond just for the sheer joy of the walk. Today, however, besides needing to drive back at a reasonable hour I was also being swarmed incessantly by blackflies. I took only a brief moment by the summit cairn to drench myself in more bug dope before heading back through the col. Fortunately, it was much easier to ascend the eroded trail on the side of Giant than it was to have come down it, and once I put the bugs out of my mind it became a walk in the park to get back up and then re-descend back to the car.
This was just an all-around amazing hike; huge thanks to una_dogger for suggesting it! I met several pleasant, chatty families on the trail, had perfect weather, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. While it was not the same as hiking with my partner, a solo hike now and then is good for the soul, cleansing for the spirit, and individually challenging for the body, as well as a trail confidence rebuilder. I took 7-1/4 hours to cover around 8 miles and a whopping 4400' of vertical while conquering my 7th and 8th peaks of the ADK 46. The next day una_dogger led me on a 27-mile bike ride. On Monday, I used the elevator at work instead of two flights of stairs, but it was a *good* sore.
I took quite a few pictures on this hike.
I got an early start from Vermont and had no problems following her excellent directions. I even got to enjoy a special moment on the way as my trusty Outback rolled 88888 miles on the odometer. The sun was out and the sky clear blue, and after about 2-1/2 hours of driving arrived at the parking area for the Zander Scott Trail, just short of Chapel Pond on Rte 73. The sign here says "Giant Mountain Wilderness Area" and just a hundred feet up the trail is a register. I got my boots laced up, shouldered my pack, and at 9:45 stepped onto the trail into an explosion of greens, sunlit through the forest canopy.
The trail begins moderately, with rocky but good footing. It doesn't take long, however, before the climbing begins. I quickly got my heart rate up and maintained a strong pace, passing a few groups along the way. After only 20 minutes I'd gained 700' and was rewarded by a small rocky outlook with stunning views across to the High Peaks. As tempting as it was to hang out there taking more pictures, I reminded myself that the views would only get better as the hike continued, and turned back into the woods.
Barely 5 minutes later came the Giant's Washbowl, a gorgeous mountain tarn edged by trees and cliffs. A nearby campsite evoked fantasies of watching the sunset on the idyllic waters, but time was passing and I hopped back on the trail after just a few quick photos.
The next quarter mile passes through some beautiful forest, and then the climbing really begins. About 25 minutes from the washbowl I came out on the first open ledge. I was glad it was dry, being somewhat phobic of slippery slabs, but in fact all of the rock texture on this hike provided excellent traction. From this point on it was in and out of the trees, the open slabs continuing to provide incredible views to several ADK mountain ranges. The clear sky and puffy clouds enhanced the scenery, and I stopped often to take more pictures.
There are two minor bulges along the Zander Scott Trail. The first gave an excellent open view of the ridge ahead of me, and ahead of it I could see the next bulge, which actually has two routes: you can go "over bump", or "around bump" ... it's actually signed that way! I went over on the way up and around on the way back, which I recommend. I also recognized the rocky, bald summit ahead in the distance to my right as Rocky Peak Ridge, which would be my second destination.
Only 7 minutes below the summit of Giant I encountered the junction with the trail over to Rocky Peak Ridge. I winced a bit at the idea of having to come that far back up out of the col later, but didn't dwell on it ... I wanted to enjoy the summit first, and oh, did I ever!
After climbing for 2-3/4 hours and gaining over 3000', I arrived at the open ledges, and they are spectacular. I had views of some of the best mountain ranges in the High Peaks: I could see Snow, Hedgehog, the Wolfjaws, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, the Brothers, Slide, Yard, the Dix Range, Dial, Nippletop, Marcy, Algonquin, and many, many more. I could barely tear myself away from the camera, but eventually I sat down, popped out some snacks, and relaxed, absorbing the place and the moment. I shared the summit with maybe a half-dozen other hikers and a happy-looking pup. I even felt a twinge of guilt knowing so many friends were trying to hike in New Hampshire in the rain and fog, and that una_dogger was stuck at work, while I sat in the sun under blue skies.
A number of hikers were all starting to arrive at the summit, so I packed up and started towards Rocky Peak Ridge. The blackflies had come out, and while I almost never use bug spray if I can avoid it, the DEET went on for this trail.
The descent from Giant to the col is very steep and rough. The trail is badly eroded, the thin soil torn away from the rock ledge in many spots and getting worse as hikers take necessary deviations to be able to descend or ascend safely. It made for a difficult hike, and I was equally saddened by the need for maintenance on this trail. Plus, the need to take it slowly made me a better blackfly target. I was not amused as I dropped 800' in around 0.4 miles; fortunately, the 700' up the other side of the col was in much better condition, and I made better time on that side, coming out on the summit of Rocky Peak Ridge about a half-hour after leaving the summit of Giant.
The top of RPR is open and wonderful. The ridge looks like a beautiful traverse, and if I had I more time I would have gone on as far as Mary Louise Pond just for the sheer joy of the walk. Today, however, besides needing to drive back at a reasonable hour I was also being swarmed incessantly by blackflies. I took only a brief moment by the summit cairn to drench myself in more bug dope before heading back through the col. Fortunately, it was much easier to ascend the eroded trail on the side of Giant than it was to have come down it, and once I put the bugs out of my mind it became a walk in the park to get back up and then re-descend back to the car.
This was just an all-around amazing hike; huge thanks to una_dogger for suggesting it! I met several pleasant, chatty families on the trail, had perfect weather, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. While it was not the same as hiking with my partner, a solo hike now and then is good for the soul, cleansing for the spirit, and individually challenging for the body, as well as a trail confidence rebuilder. I took 7-1/4 hours to cover around 8 miles and a whopping 4400' of vertical while conquering my 7th and 8th peaks of the ADK 46. The next day una_dogger led me on a 27-mile bike ride. On Monday, I used the elevator at work instead of two flights of stairs, but it was a *good* sore.
I took quite a few pictures on this hike.
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