The differences of the Whites verses ADKS

[Kevin Rooney]

The big difference to me is that I've hiked fairly extensively in the Adirondacks, and virtually not at all in the Whites. One difference I sense -- from studying maps and guidebooks -- is that the Whites seem to have a more elaborate trail system that provides multiple approaches to peaks and greater opportunities for loop hikes. Is that an accurate perception?

G.

Yes, it's an accurate perception. You will find some minor variations in trail signage, as some signs are made to USFS specs, some to AMC, some to RMC, some to Wonalancet, and there might be others as well. Mostly these differences are cosmetic. It's also rather rare to see anything other than paint blazes on trees, unlike the metal disks in the Daks. White paint is mostly often used for the AT, like the GMC uses to mark the LT and sections of the LT and AT which overlap. And, there's an effort to NOT put a daub of paint on cairns above treeline.

Another difference between the two regions is the relative height of signs/trail markings. Typically in the Daks these are placed very much higher than the Whites (as well as most other regions of the country where I've hiked). Have often been curious as to the reason why they were/are placed higher, but have not seen any explanations. Maybe the higher snow depths? Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[Peakbagr]

Kevin,

Having spent my life hiking in the ADKs, I've been told by Rangers over the years that they've been placed high up to get above the snow. And sometimes they still are buried.
Also been told that they were placed high to keep the signs from being vandalized or taken as souvenirs.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Alan -

That's kind of what I surmised. Sometimes the signs in the Whites get buried, but usually you can see part of the top of it, or at least the post. But, keep in mind the signs are lower - usually about 5'+/- off the ground.

Completely off topic, but the highest signs/blazing I've personally seen are on Mt St Helens. Some of them must be 20' off the ground.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Garfield / Garfield Ridge Trail:


Hancock Loop Trail between N and S:



Tim

 

[skiguy]

Wow!...it's really too bad no one here wants it to Snow again this Winter

 

[leaf]

Yea.. but.. what are the differences between the Whites and the ADKs?

 

[eddie]

Daks v. Whites

I'm a 46er and 36/48, summer hiker only, but IMHO:

Daks - wilder, mud, roots, rock slabs/slides, rock scrambling, more bugs, tougher trails, more horizontal (longer and flatter hikes in), best view (from Pyramid), smart bears, bear canisters , lean-tos, no eastern high peaks fires, more rules,nicer brooks, best pub (LP Brewery), closer-knit 46er club, dumbest peak name (Coucha ma craga), nicest mountain town - Lake Placid

Whites - more civilized, more history, hut system, summer hut girls, AT, rockpiles, trails often start steep, more vertical, mountain range diversity i.e. Presis, Bonds, Carters, Franconia Ridge; second best view (from West Bond), better guide books, crazier weather, cool Gray Jays and spruce grouse, dumb (but cute) moose, nicer ponds, better food and lodging, way better camping and state parks, best pizza (G&H in Lincoln), best mini-golf (Hobo Hills in Lincoln)

I love 'em both.

 

[NewHampshire]

Yea.. but.. what are the differences between the Whites and the ADKs?

One is in New Hampshire (and a tiny bit in Maine) the other is in New York....so whats my prize!?

Brian

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

I think I'll go with what "eddie" said.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

Whites v. Adirondacks v. other areas of the northeast

I think the many differences between the Adirondacks and the Whites have been covered very well by many of the earlier posts in this thread. Perhaps the most basic difference is that the Adirondacks consist of larger and more contiguous areas of wilderness while the Whites consist of smaller areas of wilderness separated by more roads and civilized areas. Those smaller wilderness areas of the Whites are nonetheless very intense, with higher elevations and more above tree line exposure than the Adirondacks.

An area of New York State perhaps more comparable to the "civilization" aspect of the Whites is in the Hudson River Valley (Harriman, Bear Mountain, and Hudson Highland State Parks). This area is within an hour of New York City, and the hills (all less than 2000' in elevation) are even more laced with trails and roads than the Whites. But given the close proximity to New York City it is a day hiking area without the need for extensive camping areas and hotels.

The Catskills of New York State are somewhat comparable to the Whites in terms of "history". The halcyon period for the Catskills was the 19th century when the Catskills were a popular resort area for the residents of New York City and Philadelphia, much like the Whites have been and continue to be for urban dwellers of Boston and New England. The areas close to the major 19th century Catskill resort hotels were once laced with extensive trail systems and carriage roads. The Catskills have been in decline in terms of popularity ever since and have fewer hikers today than it did during the 19th century. The number of current roads in the Catskills is fairly comparable to the Whites, but there are fewer campgrounds and hotels than the Whites as the Catskills do not have the high mountain scenery nor the resort potential of the Whites and Adirondacks. Despite the ever present threats of development, the Catskills (like many areas of New England) have been returning to a more wild state. Where there was once more human presence (as evidenced by stone walls, ruins, and other remnants of civilization) the land has returned to a recreated wilderness.

Returning to the Adirondacks. Despite the logging and mining industries and despite the presence of the large 19th century "great camps" of the rich and famous; the Adirondacks have more original wilderness than any other area of the northeast USA. Perhaps the Adirondacks are more comparable to the wilderness of northern Maine than they are to the White Mountains.

 

[Neil]

Measure of wild-ness?

I wonder how many of the ADK 46 and NH 48 are visible from a road.

 

[Tom Rankin]

I wonder how many of the ADK 46 and NH 48 are visible from a road.

Does that include the Mt. Washington Auto road, and the Whiteface Memorial Highway?

 

[bikehikeskifish]

I'm guessing here, but I think the following NH48 aren't visible from the road, although some may be and I have no recollection of them.

Galehead
Owl's Head
Zealand
Bondcliff, Bond, West Bond (?Kancamagus Hwy overlook, I know you cannot see a road from these three)
Cabot (?)
Isolation (?)

I'm fairly certain I have seen all the rest from a road.

Tim

 

[mtnpa]

I can see Galehead when I drive to the dump.

Geologically, the ADKs are part of the Laurentians, i.e. it's Canadian, so maybe that explains the # of French Canadians we see in the ADKs (at least compared to the # of Bostonians we see in the Whites). It's all good...

Jay

Hey Jay, if you really want to stir up some $#!+ start a thread about the differences between French Canadian hikers and Bostonian hikers
I'll break trail for ice cream too

 

[Neil]

Hey Jay, if you really want to stir up some $#!+ start a thread about the differences between French Canadian hikers and Bostonian hikers

What they have in common is that no one else knows what they are saying.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

I've been in NH the past few days. A few things.

The weather. It always rains in NH. I've now done 35of the 48, and only OND day I didn't have rain. That is too high a percentage to be chance. I think I can say, with confidence, there is no sun in the whites.

A mathematician will tell you that a map is a graph. A graph can be described by its 'lines' or points. NY does it one way, NH the other way. In NH, trails have names. In NY, for the most part, they don't. They are described by their endpoints. Elk Lake trail to Dix.

Finally... wilderness, vs shared use.

 

[Mattl]

The Whites don't have strange abandoned towns from the 1940's that look like they are fallout from a a nuclear blast like Tahawus. What a weird place...Way in the mountains, just sitting there being grown in. Gives me the creeps looking at pictures.

-Mattl

 

[dug]

No, but they have strange abandoned towns from the 1700-1800's that have just grown in more. Lots of old cellar holes, logging parts, old camps, etc., that are much harder to recognize.

On another note, how many plane crash sites are in the ADKs?

 

[prino]

The Daks are closer to Montreal than the Whites.
The Whites are closer to Boston than the Daks.
The Whites are further from Montreal than the Daks.
The Daks are further from Boston than the Whites.

 

[Hobbitling]

The adirondack park is larger than the entire state of New Hampshire.