My understanding is that in winter the gate is closed which adds some distance to the trip. Couple of questions. a) When does the gate typically close and how do you determine if it's closed b) How much additional mileage does it add?
Money Brook Trail from Hopper parking lot a well packed highway up until lower junction with Ski Loop (likewise Hopper Trail up Greylock appeared well broken). Beyond this point fresh unbroken snow :D (and no sign or trace of any tracks) all the way to the southern summit of Prospect mountain...
Trail well packed w/ soft ice underneath below treeline. Microspikes very effective on the soft ice.
6-10" of fresh snow at 4000'. Above treeline hard ice. Crampons highly recommended above treeline. We used Microspikes and then switched to snowshoes at Wright Peak Jct. Below 3800' not...
Winter conditions. Trace of snow at trailhead increasing to 1-2 feet above 4500' on whiteface. While we carried snow shoes we used Microspikes the whole way.
Path to Esther uneventful - maybe 4-6 inches of fresh snow on the trail with probably about 12" total depth off trail.
Snow on...
Actually i took a 12 year break from the high peaks - a trend that is finally broken - added my 33rd (Iroquois) two weeks back :D
I was searching for SAR reports when I found this post...glad to hear they got out ok - rest of the group will be glad to know - we were all a little worried the...
Saw them on Saturday
On top of Gothics. Remember the one girl from St. Lawrence, in shorts and cotton tee shirt - freezing in the 35MPH winds + light rain - with no pack on - maybe a water bottle - and asked us if she could go back with us - while her trip leader saying there were continuing...
Spruce Grouse?
I don't know, I've seen a lot of spruce grouse before...I agree with you it's a black chicken! Probably sent from the Moat Farm to let you know it was time to turn-around. Next time I see a Black Chicken hiking - I head back to the car - or start a fire to have some lunch :-)
black flies
Was in pharoah lake region last weekend. Black Flies at unbelievable levels.
To put this in perspective, I have been hiking & backpacking in the adirondacks for the past 15 years. As you know a certain amount of perserverance is required - and during this time I've encountered a...
Before and up to Memorial day the black flies for the most part do not penetrate up above 2500' in the High Peaks. Places like Flowed Lands and Lake Colden are usually devoid of bugs. 1-2 weeks later it is a different story.