MEB
New member
Day 1. Esther & Whiteface
After some coconut coffee, a sharpie flavored breakfast sandwich and some driving around we finally arrived at the trailhead. This was my first hike in the Adks and I was looking forward to some new terrain. Right away the trails lived up to what I had been hearing about for so long. We went up and up and up and up…..and up some more. We passed a few one person structures and then found the heard path to Esther…my very first high peak. Wondering around a bit on the highpoint I finally looked up and saw the coaster-sized disk affixed to the tree marking the true summit.
Next we travelled along the beaten path over to Whiteface. Through the clouds we saw glimpses of what lay ahead. Again we went up and up and up some more. The wind was cold and frigid and the ground a sheet of ice about a ¼ inch thick. Thankfully I had a heavy pack on and my microspikes….if not for those I would have blown right off the mountain.
Day 2. Dial & Nippletop
After a nice breakfast at the Arc Trail Inn we set off for Dial and Nippletop. There had been talk about adding Colvin and Blake in on the way out if time permitted. After a mile of nice flat walking the trails once again lived up to what they are known for. We went up and up and up and finally arrived at an open area that gave me my first views of the Great Range and the high peaks. Most amazing!
From here went down and then up and up and up and arrived at the summit of Dial. Once again we took in the views and had some snacks. These mountains make me very hungry!
Off to Nippletop now. I can’t remember all about the trail but it did the usual up and down and up and up and up and up. The summit was encased in ice and the ice sculptures on the summit were most interesting and beautiful. The views were beautiful as well. I really need to get a map and a book so I can learn what I have been looking at and photographing.
Heading out we opted not to go to Colvin and Blake….in retrospect I think we could have done all four if we had approached in the opposite direction. We’ll just have to save that for the next trip.
Day 3. Phelps, Tabletop & Marcy
Who would have imagined we would have such a stretch of fine winter weather for this adventure!
Today we woke to cloudless skies and moonshine once again and enjoyed a huge hiker breakfast at the Noonmark Diner for yet another epic day of incredible hiking.
Leaving the Adk Loj I was under the impression that the trail was flat till the last few miles going up Marcy. Well that is not quite the case…..serves me right for not doing my own trail researching. Marcy Dam came quickly and soon after so did the trail to Phelps. The sign said one mile to the summit…and it was pretty much one mile straight up! What a workout. Charles and Andy had it in them to race up the mountain leaving me in the dust. I finally made it to the top and we all enjoyed a nice long break on the open ledge.
So down we go now and then we soon arrive at the trail to Tabletop. The guys took off in a mad dash again while I was left in the dust again huffing and puffing. Up and up and up and up we go. I was finally able to catch my breath upon reaching the summit. At this point Charles decided he wanted to try and get a few more peaks in so off he went. If I could only tap into some of his energy.
Back at the junction the signs pointed the way to Marcy…. the high point in NY and also the last peak of the day. I was told it was about three miles and that we could make it to the top in about and hour and a half. Ha we’ll just have to see about that I thought. Along the way we saw a pine marten….cool.
We finally reached the junction that said we had just over a mile to the summit. Looking up I could see lines of people making their way up. Arriving at the summit we found Charles tucked behind some rocks out of the wind all wrapped up in a large piece of tinfoil. He had decided not to do the extra peaks…. I was glad because I really had my heart set on going out for a BIG dinner and I didn't want to have to wait for him to get out of the woods. We hung out on the summit for quite a while and then eventually made out way down back to the car.
Day 4. Cascade & Porter
Regardless of how much I ate during the day, after the hike and at dinner I still managed to wake up in the middle of the night with an empty growling stomach.
Breakfast this morning was near the post office….I can’t remember the name but I had the most awesome breakfast sandwich and homefires!
We were on the trail by 7:30 and again we had nothing but sunshine! The trail to Cascade was icy but relatively easy compared to what we had done the previous three days. The open rocky summit gave us spectacular views once again! We sat hear for about an hour just taking everything in, studying the map and talking about future trips out this way. There was also talk of doing Giant on the way home….if I only lived closer. The path to Porter did not take long and once again we hung out and laughed and talked.
We arrived back at the car around noon and I arrived back in Maine just after 8 pm. Good thing we decided to save Giant for another day! I have to say these mountains are impressive and tough. I can’t wait to get my ass-kicked again on my next adventure over this way! Thanks guys for a super fun long weekend!
-MEB
http://picasaweb.google.com/meb207/Adirondaks
ps....the only thing that would have made this trip better was if Little Sister had been able to come along. On Saturday she had a most awesome day on Jefferson and finally finished her winter list! Way to go Sis!!!!
After some coconut coffee, a sharpie flavored breakfast sandwich and some driving around we finally arrived at the trailhead. This was my first hike in the Adks and I was looking forward to some new terrain. Right away the trails lived up to what I had been hearing about for so long. We went up and up and up and up…..and up some more. We passed a few one person structures and then found the heard path to Esther…my very first high peak. Wondering around a bit on the highpoint I finally looked up and saw the coaster-sized disk affixed to the tree marking the true summit.
Next we travelled along the beaten path over to Whiteface. Through the clouds we saw glimpses of what lay ahead. Again we went up and up and up some more. The wind was cold and frigid and the ground a sheet of ice about a ¼ inch thick. Thankfully I had a heavy pack on and my microspikes….if not for those I would have blown right off the mountain.
Day 2. Dial & Nippletop
After a nice breakfast at the Arc Trail Inn we set off for Dial and Nippletop. There had been talk about adding Colvin and Blake in on the way out if time permitted. After a mile of nice flat walking the trails once again lived up to what they are known for. We went up and up and up and finally arrived at an open area that gave me my first views of the Great Range and the high peaks. Most amazing!
From here went down and then up and up and up and arrived at the summit of Dial. Once again we took in the views and had some snacks. These mountains make me very hungry!
Off to Nippletop now. I can’t remember all about the trail but it did the usual up and down and up and up and up and up. The summit was encased in ice and the ice sculptures on the summit were most interesting and beautiful. The views were beautiful as well. I really need to get a map and a book so I can learn what I have been looking at and photographing.
Heading out we opted not to go to Colvin and Blake….in retrospect I think we could have done all four if we had approached in the opposite direction. We’ll just have to save that for the next trip.
Day 3. Phelps, Tabletop & Marcy
Who would have imagined we would have such a stretch of fine winter weather for this adventure!
Today we woke to cloudless skies and moonshine once again and enjoyed a huge hiker breakfast at the Noonmark Diner for yet another epic day of incredible hiking.
Leaving the Adk Loj I was under the impression that the trail was flat till the last few miles going up Marcy. Well that is not quite the case…..serves me right for not doing my own trail researching. Marcy Dam came quickly and soon after so did the trail to Phelps. The sign said one mile to the summit…and it was pretty much one mile straight up! What a workout. Charles and Andy had it in them to race up the mountain leaving me in the dust. I finally made it to the top and we all enjoyed a nice long break on the open ledge.
So down we go now and then we soon arrive at the trail to Tabletop. The guys took off in a mad dash again while I was left in the dust again huffing and puffing. Up and up and up and up we go. I was finally able to catch my breath upon reaching the summit. At this point Charles decided he wanted to try and get a few more peaks in so off he went. If I could only tap into some of his energy.
Back at the junction the signs pointed the way to Marcy…. the high point in NY and also the last peak of the day. I was told it was about three miles and that we could make it to the top in about and hour and a half. Ha we’ll just have to see about that I thought. Along the way we saw a pine marten….cool.
We finally reached the junction that said we had just over a mile to the summit. Looking up I could see lines of people making their way up. Arriving at the summit we found Charles tucked behind some rocks out of the wind all wrapped up in a large piece of tinfoil. He had decided not to do the extra peaks…. I was glad because I really had my heart set on going out for a BIG dinner and I didn't want to have to wait for him to get out of the woods. We hung out on the summit for quite a while and then eventually made out way down back to the car.
Day 4. Cascade & Porter
Regardless of how much I ate during the day, after the hike and at dinner I still managed to wake up in the middle of the night with an empty growling stomach.
Breakfast this morning was near the post office….I can’t remember the name but I had the most awesome breakfast sandwich and homefires!
We were on the trail by 7:30 and again we had nothing but sunshine! The trail to Cascade was icy but relatively easy compared to what we had done the previous three days. The open rocky summit gave us spectacular views once again! We sat hear for about an hour just taking everything in, studying the map and talking about future trips out this way. There was also talk of doing Giant on the way home….if I only lived closer. The path to Porter did not take long and once again we hung out and laughed and talked.
We arrived back at the car around noon and I arrived back in Maine just after 8 pm. Good thing we decided to save Giant for another day! I have to say these mountains are impressive and tough. I can’t wait to get my ass-kicked again on my next adventure over this way! Thanks guys for a super fun long weekend!
-MEB
http://picasaweb.google.com/meb207/Adirondaks
ps....the only thing that would have made this trip better was if Little Sister had been able to come along. On Saturday she had a most awesome day on Jefferson and finally finished her winter list! Way to go Sis!!!!
