South & North Pinnacle & Ridge Walk to South Blake

[Oncoman]

Started from Elk Lake last Sat. and walked Marcy-Elk Lake trail to height of land. Uphill towards South Pinnacle brisk but surprisingly open bwk by ADK standards. Very enjoyable with leaves all coloured up. Western ridge extension from summit is however infested by bad blowdown. Ridge traverse towards Pinnacle also blowdown infested but only for a few hundred yards.

Super views of Elk Lake from Pinnacle. Then took trail north, tagged North Pinnacle, tried to locate slide but without success (didn't try very hard though - only searched for 15 min.), and then off to tag South Blake under an hazy snow but short lasting and not dense enough to prevent views of nearby peaks and valleys. A few spots of snow on ridge. Enough to leave foot prints on ground. Out via trail back to Elk Lake.

Total hiking time: 09h30

 

[bubba]

Western ridge extension from summit is however infested by bad blowdown. Ridge traverse towards Pinnacle also blowdown infested but only for a few hundred yards.

Floyd's signature, no doubt - nine years later!

Reads like a nice hike into places I've yet to be (1st part, at least).

 

[Peakbagr]

In the 80's and early 90's, the whack from the Elk Lake trail from the height of land towards the first 2 bumps of the Pinnacle were birch and ferns. We'd done this route 3x from slightly different directions. It got messy near the main southern bump and then for a ways towards Pinnacle, and then nice again all the way.

Floyd may have added to it, but parts of this route have been ruined for a good time before.
Nice TR, Pierre.