percious
Well-known member
Friday - Sept 24
Exploration of Adirondack began around 8:30am... Followed by a brief exploration of the mine. I will have *some* pictures of both. The camera batteries died. All this, followed by a 5 mile jaunt to Lake Colden from Upper Works.
When we arrived at our usual favorite site on Colden (west side of the dam, with no view of the lake) We were greeted by a leanto stuffed full with a tent!!! WTF!!! Frustrated, due to the fact that we lacked a tent, I removed their hanging smelly socks and placed them inside. Ha Ha. Only 3 sleeping bags were protected from the elements. This for a shelter that fits 8. Never-the-less, we trodded on towards beaver point, discovering a shelter with only one occupant. He did not have a tent, but a huge bucket hanging from a tree! This was to be where we set up our camp.
Saturday-
We said we were going to do a true bushwhack. We did.
We started off at about 730am. Crossing the dam, turned south(right) towards flowed lands, following the eastern bank. We were grateful for the dry weather, as flowed lands permitted us to reach the widest part of the flat land, which is where we made our entry into the wilderness. The first half mile was pretty easy going, following a brook that lead up the ravine. we kept the cliffs off to our left. Blowdown ensued. We decided to go through the first patch of blowdown, so the more inexperienced whackers amoung us could experience it, and then realize it is a good thing to avoid when they are leading. Avoiding blowdown turned out to be a pointless mission after we were 2 hours into the hike. Blowdown was everywhere, and we began to tire as we reached the small coll between cliffs two summits.
It was at this point we had to decide which peak was the actual summit. I argued it was the northern peak, but the group all decided to go for the southern peak, as it appeared higher from the topography. So, we headed south, further down into the coll, and came apon a beautiful patch of thick moss. This patch arrived just in time, and we lazed about for what seemed like hours while our muscles cooled down. It was a much deserved break, after dealing with endless blowdown, and an 8 foot cliff that we had to navigate. We all agreed that we needed to continue on, and headed up the southern summit. We reached the spine, and continued further, at this point the blowdown reached epidemic proportions, and there were sections that you just had to grit and bear it to get through the pines. At least, we could see a high point in the distance. We then heard a dog bark! Never was I so happy to hear a dog bark. We called out, and got responses, so we knew we were close to the top! I was glad we had chosen the southern summit as a group! Navigating one final section of blowdown, we emerged within 5 feet of the sommit. We learned that bushwhacking is called that because the bushes whack you, not the opposite.
After a couple of peaceful moments on the summit, some people arrived. Then some more people arrived. Then some more!!! I was surprised to be sharing 20 sq. feet of summit with 10 other people! I thought everyone hated cliff! Anyway, after some eating, and some pictures, and some sharing of food, we head down the spectacularly maintained cliff trail. What a breeze it was going through blowdown, without threat of pine branches or other hazards! We passed our saviors with their dog and thanked them for the directions. We arrived back down at uphill brook, collected water and went swimming. A cool refreshing brook was just what we needed. Our swimming lasted an hour. Two of us headed back to Lake Colden, while the other two of us went off for Redfield.
Redfield was one of the best maintained trails I have ever seen. Furthermore, due to the lack of traffic on it, it was not overly worn, and overall a treat to climb. The summit was a collection of blowdown, with limited views. The clouds were rolling in, and the surrounding hills (Allen in particular) looked erie in the mist.
At the top we discovered a green tent with a torn stuff sack. We did not have the energy, nor the packs to carry it out, as it was a large and heavy tent. It is just beyond the rock overlook, behind the pines. If someone can please carry it out next time they are up there, please do nature a favor.
Not more than a minute after we left the summit, did it start to rain. We put on our jackets, joking that we only had one more thing left to use from all of our equipment. What a varied day it had been.
Ten minutes later, it stopped raining, and the sun came out, revealing beautiful views as we descended the flume. I slipped on the wet rocks on the way down, but my daypack took the brunt of the fall. At the bottom, my buddy took a brief break while I removed the ugly plastic bag. In its place, I put a small CAIRN just of to the right of the trail, slightly behind a STUMP. If you look further to the right from there, you will see the first ORANGE RIBBON, marking the path to CLIFF. That plastic bag really needed to go.
We continued down the opalescent/feldspar trail, stopping at uphill leanto to visit with folks there. The couple with their dog were sitting; their dog was asleep. We thanked them again. We continued on down the opalescent, and finally donned our last piece of equipment, which was our headlamps. We arrived back at camp around 8pm.
That night we shared our leanto with 4 other people, and were happy to do so.
Sunday-
We hiked out to upperworks, nothing to report, just beautiful foliage.
-percious
P.S.
I should have pictures from Adirondac/Tahawus pretty soon. Pictures from the hike will take about a week.
Exploration of Adirondack began around 8:30am... Followed by a brief exploration of the mine. I will have *some* pictures of both. The camera batteries died. All this, followed by a 5 mile jaunt to Lake Colden from Upper Works.
When we arrived at our usual favorite site on Colden (west side of the dam, with no view of the lake) We were greeted by a leanto stuffed full with a tent!!! WTF!!! Frustrated, due to the fact that we lacked a tent, I removed their hanging smelly socks and placed them inside. Ha Ha. Only 3 sleeping bags were protected from the elements. This for a shelter that fits 8. Never-the-less, we trodded on towards beaver point, discovering a shelter with only one occupant. He did not have a tent, but a huge bucket hanging from a tree! This was to be where we set up our camp.
Saturday-
We said we were going to do a true bushwhack. We did.
We started off at about 730am. Crossing the dam, turned south(right) towards flowed lands, following the eastern bank. We were grateful for the dry weather, as flowed lands permitted us to reach the widest part of the flat land, which is where we made our entry into the wilderness. The first half mile was pretty easy going, following a brook that lead up the ravine. we kept the cliffs off to our left. Blowdown ensued. We decided to go through the first patch of blowdown, so the more inexperienced whackers amoung us could experience it, and then realize it is a good thing to avoid when they are leading. Avoiding blowdown turned out to be a pointless mission after we were 2 hours into the hike. Blowdown was everywhere, and we began to tire as we reached the small coll between cliffs two summits.
It was at this point we had to decide which peak was the actual summit. I argued it was the northern peak, but the group all decided to go for the southern peak, as it appeared higher from the topography. So, we headed south, further down into the coll, and came apon a beautiful patch of thick moss. This patch arrived just in time, and we lazed about for what seemed like hours while our muscles cooled down. It was a much deserved break, after dealing with endless blowdown, and an 8 foot cliff that we had to navigate. We all agreed that we needed to continue on, and headed up the southern summit. We reached the spine, and continued further, at this point the blowdown reached epidemic proportions, and there were sections that you just had to grit and bear it to get through the pines. At least, we could see a high point in the distance. We then heard a dog bark! Never was I so happy to hear a dog bark. We called out, and got responses, so we knew we were close to the top! I was glad we had chosen the southern summit as a group! Navigating one final section of blowdown, we emerged within 5 feet of the sommit. We learned that bushwhacking is called that because the bushes whack you, not the opposite.
After a couple of peaceful moments on the summit, some people arrived. Then some more people arrived. Then some more!!! I was surprised to be sharing 20 sq. feet of summit with 10 other people! I thought everyone hated cliff! Anyway, after some eating, and some pictures, and some sharing of food, we head down the spectacularly maintained cliff trail. What a breeze it was going through blowdown, without threat of pine branches or other hazards! We passed our saviors with their dog and thanked them for the directions. We arrived back down at uphill brook, collected water and went swimming. A cool refreshing brook was just what we needed. Our swimming lasted an hour. Two of us headed back to Lake Colden, while the other two of us went off for Redfield.
Redfield was one of the best maintained trails I have ever seen. Furthermore, due to the lack of traffic on it, it was not overly worn, and overall a treat to climb. The summit was a collection of blowdown, with limited views. The clouds were rolling in, and the surrounding hills (Allen in particular) looked erie in the mist.
At the top we discovered a green tent with a torn stuff sack. We did not have the energy, nor the packs to carry it out, as it was a large and heavy tent. It is just beyond the rock overlook, behind the pines. If someone can please carry it out next time they are up there, please do nature a favor.
Not more than a minute after we left the summit, did it start to rain. We put on our jackets, joking that we only had one more thing left to use from all of our equipment. What a varied day it had been.
Ten minutes later, it stopped raining, and the sun came out, revealing beautiful views as we descended the flume. I slipped on the wet rocks on the way down, but my daypack took the brunt of the fall. At the bottom, my buddy took a brief break while I removed the ugly plastic bag. In its place, I put a small CAIRN just of to the right of the trail, slightly behind a STUMP. If you look further to the right from there, you will see the first ORANGE RIBBON, marking the path to CLIFF. That plastic bag really needed to go.
We continued down the opalescent/feldspar trail, stopping at uphill leanto to visit with folks there. The couple with their dog were sitting; their dog was asleep. We thanked them again. We continued on down the opalescent, and finally donned our last piece of equipment, which was our headlamps. We arrived back at camp around 8pm.
That night we shared our leanto with 4 other people, and were happy to do so.
Sunday-
We hiked out to upperworks, nothing to report, just beautiful foliage.
-percious
P.S.
I should have pictures from Adirondac/Tahawus pretty soon. Pictures from the hike will take about a week.
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