ALGonquin Bob
Well-known member
This classic and increasingly popular climb has drawn much attention over the years, offering spectacular views virtually all the way from the shore of Avalanche Lake to the top of Mount Colden.
I had wanted to do this hike on my 50th birthday in September of ‘02, but was talked out of it by the Mrs. in favor of a family party. I tried again in September ’03, but was thwarted by rain and wind, following the advice of a Lake Colden ranger who advised that we not attempt it that day.
With a few recent VFTT reports of climbs up the dike, my interest was once again aroused. Bob (RDL) and I drove up from Buffalo and met Doug (Hillman1) and his friend Dan. Together, we were three 46-ers, and Dan on his 3rd High Peak climb. I felt better having my hiking buddy Doug along, as he was a 2-time veteran of the dike, including a climb just the week before.
Walter Collins O’Kane, in his 1928 publication “Trails and Summits of the Adirondacks”, describes Mount Colden this way: “An interesting mountain with a varied and beautiful view. Best ascended as a part of a two-day’s circuit, including Avalanche Pass and Lakes Avalanche and Colden, making a round trip of 13 ¾ miles requiring 10-14 hours of tramping and climbing. One of the most attractive trips in the Adirondacks.”
Totally ignoring this recommendation, we did what most hikers do these days: a long freakin’ day trip!
Despite the fact that seemingly all climbers now begin this trip at the ADK Loj or from South Meadow, we chose the Upper Works trail head as our starting point. Unintentionally, we were to retrace the steps of the first men to record an ascent of Mount Colden. In 1849, Alexander Ralph and Robert Clarke, who had each been associated with the MacIntyre Iron Works, approached Colden by way of the Opalescent and climbed the dike to become the first men on Colden. Previously, in 1839 (approx.), Professor Ebenezer Emmons began extensive surveys of the region and climbed the dike to “a considerable height”, but did not summit Mount Colden, which was then called McMartin, after Duncan McMartin, one of the proprietors of the iron works. So much for the history lesson (I love old books).
With Monday night’s visit by an inquisitive fox still fresh in our minds, we set out Tuesday morning through the fog and headed toward Flowed Land. By the time we reached the lean-tos, the sky had cleared and revealed a spectacularly cloud-free, warm sunny day. This was quite welcome, as my only other time up Colden was in the rain, which obscured all views from the top.
After a short break, we continued toward Lake Colden and Avalanche Lake. The dry conditions made the walk along the shore easy as we approached and entered the lower portion of the dike. The climbing begins almost immediately upon entering the dike. There are three pitches, or sections, to navigate in the dike. A stream flows down the dike, but it was a mere trickle this day and didn’t offer any resistance to us. The first two pitches are steep but easily climbed. Since I’m old and definitely not a rock climber, I wouldn't have made it up the last pitch (a 10-foot vertical "chimney" with few hand and foot holds) without the helping hand of my buddy Doug, who led the way. The others managed this on their own.
With relief at having climbed the dike, we exited at a point where we could literally walk out into the trees. We bushwhacked laterally through thick cedar scrub about 200 feet until we emerged onto the very steep and open slabs (the slide) for the final "walk" up the grippy rock to the summit. This portion of the climb is sometimes bypassed in favor of staying in the dike. The friction climb up the slide is incredible and was a bit unsettling for me, with plenty of exposure if you care to look down toward Avalanche Lake far below. With good shoes (traction!), it’s quite possible for just about anybody to carefully walk up to the top.
I huffed and puffed my way up the rock, staying near the scrub brush that lines the slide on the left, lagging far behind my companions, but finally made it to the balanced rock and the summit.
After a brief period of summit lounging and looking at the wonderful profile of Algonquin Peak and the rest of the MacIntyre range, we descended the very steep foot trail back down to Lake Colden, and hiked the final 5 or 6 miles back to the cars. What an incredibly beautiful and satisfying climb! Much thanks to Bob, Doug and Dan for their good company on a successful trip. –Bob VH (ALG)
-photography by “RDL” .
I had wanted to do this hike on my 50th birthday in September of ‘02, but was talked out of it by the Mrs. in favor of a family party. I tried again in September ’03, but was thwarted by rain and wind, following the advice of a Lake Colden ranger who advised that we not attempt it that day.
With a few recent VFTT reports of climbs up the dike, my interest was once again aroused. Bob (RDL) and I drove up from Buffalo and met Doug (Hillman1) and his friend Dan. Together, we were three 46-ers, and Dan on his 3rd High Peak climb. I felt better having my hiking buddy Doug along, as he was a 2-time veteran of the dike, including a climb just the week before.
Walter Collins O’Kane, in his 1928 publication “Trails and Summits of the Adirondacks”, describes Mount Colden this way: “An interesting mountain with a varied and beautiful view. Best ascended as a part of a two-day’s circuit, including Avalanche Pass and Lakes Avalanche and Colden, making a round trip of 13 ¾ miles requiring 10-14 hours of tramping and climbing. One of the most attractive trips in the Adirondacks.”
Totally ignoring this recommendation, we did what most hikers do these days: a long freakin’ day trip!
Despite the fact that seemingly all climbers now begin this trip at the ADK Loj or from South Meadow, we chose the Upper Works trail head as our starting point. Unintentionally, we were to retrace the steps of the first men to record an ascent of Mount Colden. In 1849, Alexander Ralph and Robert Clarke, who had each been associated with the MacIntyre Iron Works, approached Colden by way of the Opalescent and climbed the dike to become the first men on Colden. Previously, in 1839 (approx.), Professor Ebenezer Emmons began extensive surveys of the region and climbed the dike to “a considerable height”, but did not summit Mount Colden, which was then called McMartin, after Duncan McMartin, one of the proprietors of the iron works. So much for the history lesson (I love old books).
With Monday night’s visit by an inquisitive fox still fresh in our minds, we set out Tuesday morning through the fog and headed toward Flowed Land. By the time we reached the lean-tos, the sky had cleared and revealed a spectacularly cloud-free, warm sunny day. This was quite welcome, as my only other time up Colden was in the rain, which obscured all views from the top.
After a short break, we continued toward Lake Colden and Avalanche Lake. The dry conditions made the walk along the shore easy as we approached and entered the lower portion of the dike. The climbing begins almost immediately upon entering the dike. There are three pitches, or sections, to navigate in the dike. A stream flows down the dike, but it was a mere trickle this day and didn’t offer any resistance to us. The first two pitches are steep but easily climbed. Since I’m old and definitely not a rock climber, I wouldn't have made it up the last pitch (a 10-foot vertical "chimney" with few hand and foot holds) without the helping hand of my buddy Doug, who led the way. The others managed this on their own.
With relief at having climbed the dike, we exited at a point where we could literally walk out into the trees. We bushwhacked laterally through thick cedar scrub about 200 feet until we emerged onto the very steep and open slabs (the slide) for the final "walk" up the grippy rock to the summit. This portion of the climb is sometimes bypassed in favor of staying in the dike. The friction climb up the slide is incredible and was a bit unsettling for me, with plenty of exposure if you care to look down toward Avalanche Lake far below. With good shoes (traction!), it’s quite possible for just about anybody to carefully walk up to the top.
I huffed and puffed my way up the rock, staying near the scrub brush that lines the slide on the left, lagging far behind my companions, but finally made it to the balanced rock and the summit.
After a brief period of summit lounging and looking at the wonderful profile of Algonquin Peak and the rest of the MacIntyre range, we descended the very steep foot trail back down to Lake Colden, and hiked the final 5 or 6 miles back to the cars. What an incredibly beautiful and satisfying climb! Much thanks to Bob, Doug and Dan for their good company on a successful trip. –Bob VH (ALG)
-photography by “RDL” .
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