Our 3 day trip started with a herd path ascent of Street. The trail is easy to find although the views aren't that great. The only iffy part was crossing the river (which required us to remove our boots as the water was too high to rock hop). It took us 2 hours moving slowly to summit from the spot where the trail diverges from Heart Lake. McMartin and ADK guides are very accurate, and the trail is easy to follow.
That evening, we hiked up the Indian Pass trail to the Rocky Falls lean-to, where we bumped into the ADK trail crew. We enjoyed their company, although we were sorry to learn that this lean-to is slated for demolition in 2011. This river was tough to cross, and I fell in and got wet! The bridge is gone, and will not be replaced in this wilderness zone.
The following day, we dropped our packs at Scotts Clearing and summited McNaughton, using a bushwack from Wallface Pond. This trail was a wreck. At this point, it needs so much trail maintenance to get from Scott Pond to Wallface Pond, that it should be abandonded and called a herd path. Even though there was no rain for our visit, it was a sea of knee deep mud. It took 2 hours just to get to Wallface ponds due to the trail condition from Scott Clearing. From Wallface, we followed the directions in the McMartin guide and followed a 240 degree compass bearing after skirting the ponds. The first bit is very rough (as described in the McMartin) but the actual ascent is quite pleasant. It took us 2 hours to summit from Wallface, which is more than the guidebook states but who cares? There is no herd path here until you hit the summit, but forest is moderately open. The views are good at the summit.
The next day was Indian Pass (it was drizzling) which was an easy day hike from Scott Clearing on the sea of mud called the Indian Pass trail.
We had a great time and enjoyed the cool weather (40s and 50s). Other than the mud, it was great hiking, and a pleasure to be outside.
That evening, we hiked up the Indian Pass trail to the Rocky Falls lean-to, where we bumped into the ADK trail crew. We enjoyed their company, although we were sorry to learn that this lean-to is slated for demolition in 2011. This river was tough to cross, and I fell in and got wet! The bridge is gone, and will not be replaced in this wilderness zone.
The following day, we dropped our packs at Scotts Clearing and summited McNaughton, using a bushwack from Wallface Pond. This trail was a wreck. At this point, it needs so much trail maintenance to get from Scott Pond to Wallface Pond, that it should be abandonded and called a herd path. Even though there was no rain for our visit, it was a sea of knee deep mud. It took 2 hours just to get to Wallface ponds due to the trail condition from Scott Clearing. From Wallface, we followed the directions in the McMartin guide and followed a 240 degree compass bearing after skirting the ponds. The first bit is very rough (as described in the McMartin) but the actual ascent is quite pleasant. It took us 2 hours to summit from Wallface, which is more than the guidebook states but who cares? There is no herd path here until you hit the summit, but forest is moderately open. The views are good at the summit.
The next day was Indian Pass (it was drizzling) which was an easy day hike from Scott Clearing on the sea of mud called the Indian Pass trail.
We had a great time and enjoyed the cool weather (40s and 50s). Other than the mud, it was great hiking, and a pleasure to be outside.
