ALGonquin Bob
Well-known member
After a forced absence from the trail of 3 months, this hike was sort of a test to find out if I'm trail-ready yet.
I cast aside my delusion of a long hike back to the path below Shepherd's Tooth to look for my lost camera; my brain overcame my desire for a change. So Mr.Hillman met me for this relatively "easy" 4.9 mile traverse over one of the Adirondack 100 Highest - my 50th HH summit.
We left a car at the low end of this route (by Cascade Lake), then started our hike from the trailhead that's opposite the Cascade Mountain trail - 1300 feet elevation gain vs 2000 feet if starting by the lake, 2.7 miles farther down Rt. 73.
After gaining the ridge, you may choose to ignore the first faded side trail that you see on the right, unless you like unneccessary and very steep rock climbs. Continuing just a couple minutes farther up the main trail would bring you to a junction, and a sign indicating "VIEW", pointing to the to area known as "balanced rocks". It's an easy walk to the open ledges - much easier than climbing up the "old trail" as we did. This isn't the summit, but it was the "high point" of our day. The large balanced rocks make for a fun climb up, and you can sit below the boulders to enjoy the cool shade. ALSO, the adventurous hiker (aren't we all?) can slip down into a hole below the big rocks and walk through a long fracture, or slot that's only about shoulder wide. This old hiker had fun!
Continuing along the ridge brings you to the real summit. Have you ever been to Nye? Definitely anti-climactic. The ridge walk makes for a long day, and we did get cought in a brief but enthusuastic rain shower. The final summit provided us with sunshine and a chance to dry out and rest - catch a few rays, if you will. The long descent led us to our waiting car; a welcome sight as usual (second best view). I cooled off with a quick dip in Lower Cascade Lake. It's good to be back on the trail again. -Bob VH (ALG)
I cast aside my delusion of a long hike back to the path below Shepherd's Tooth to look for my lost camera; my brain overcame my desire for a change. So Mr.Hillman met me for this relatively "easy" 4.9 mile traverse over one of the Adirondack 100 Highest - my 50th HH summit.
We left a car at the low end of this route (by Cascade Lake), then started our hike from the trailhead that's opposite the Cascade Mountain trail - 1300 feet elevation gain vs 2000 feet if starting by the lake, 2.7 miles farther down Rt. 73.
After gaining the ridge, you may choose to ignore the first faded side trail that you see on the right, unless you like unneccessary and very steep rock climbs. Continuing just a couple minutes farther up the main trail would bring you to a junction, and a sign indicating "VIEW", pointing to the to area known as "balanced rocks". It's an easy walk to the open ledges - much easier than climbing up the "old trail" as we did. This isn't the summit, but it was the "high point" of our day. The large balanced rocks make for a fun climb up, and you can sit below the boulders to enjoy the cool shade. ALSO, the adventurous hiker (aren't we all?) can slip down into a hole below the big rocks and walk through a long fracture, or slot that's only about shoulder wide. This old hiker had fun!
Continuing along the ridge brings you to the real summit. Have you ever been to Nye? Definitely anti-climactic. The ridge walk makes for a long day, and we did get cought in a brief but enthusuastic rain shower. The final summit provided us with sunshine and a chance to dry out and rest - catch a few rays, if you will. The long descent led us to our waiting car; a welcome sight as usual (second best view). I cooled off with a quick dip in Lower Cascade Lake. It's good to be back on the trail again. -Bob VH (ALG)
