zorts
New member
We are planning a trip in the Adirondacks near the end of August (going in on Wednesday, August 24th and coming out on the following Monday). "We" is two families who have done a lot of hiking and backcountry skiing together: 4 adults and 4 kids, ages 9, 12, 15 and 18. We've done two 3-night camping trips before this and numerous overnighters; the youngest climbed Mt. Washington at age 5, so we're all experienced campers. So why do we need advice? We've done all of our family hikes in the Whites; this is our first trip into the Adirondacks. So we just don't know the area.
Here's what we came up with on our own:
How does this sound? Avalanche Pass is supposed to be really nice. We're not especially fixated on climbing Mt. Marcy, but it seems sort of unavoidable. An earlier plan had us going over Haystack from the south on Friday, instead of Marcy, but the ADK High Peaks Region guidebook discourages that. We're not really into peak-bagging; mostly we're looking for nice scenery and (hopefully) relatively few fellow travelers (hence the midweek start). So other trips would be considered. We do want to have at least one two-night stay at the same place; day trips with light packs are fun!
Thanks in advance,
-- Jerry
Here's what we came up with on our own:
- Spot a car at Keene Valley on Wednesday (early afternoon).
- Wednesday afternoon: park at ADK loj (Heart Lake), Hike in on 61 (Van Hoevenberg Trail - 2.5mi) and 68 (Avalanche Pass Trail - .8 mi) to camp near junction with 73 (Feldspar Brook Trail). about 3.3mi. This is a fairly easy first day; if we don't get started until midafternoon, we can still make it to a campsite before twilight.
- Thursday: 68 (Avalanche Pass Trail - 3mi) to 121 (Mt. Marcy Trail - 2mi) to a campsite near Uphill Brook. about 5mi. This is a very interesting, somewhat challenging day, but stll not all that much elevation change.
- Friday: 121 (Mt. Marcy Trail - 1.5mi) to jct with 118 to summit of Mt. Marcy (.8mi). Then 1.3m on 1 (Phelps Trail) to jct with 9/10 (State Range Trail). (3.6 mi so far) Then 1.3m on State Range to Sno-Bird campsite. about 5 BIG miles. This is probably the most challenging day.
- Saturday - day trip. We've been thinking about going over Basin & Saddleback to Gothics, and maybe Pyramid. That looks like a BIG day, but we'll just have day packs. Or we could climb Haystack, go back to the campsite and maybe climb Basin.
- Sunday - Leave Sno-Bird on 9 (State Range - .1 mi) to 11 (Shorey Short Cut Trail - 1.1mi) to 1 (Phelps Trail - 3.3) to camp near JBL. 4.5mi. Mostly down or level.
- Monday - out on 1 (Phelps Trail - 3.5mi). mostly level.
How does this sound? Avalanche Pass is supposed to be really nice. We're not especially fixated on climbing Mt. Marcy, but it seems sort of unavoidable. An earlier plan had us going over Haystack from the south on Friday, instead of Marcy, but the ADK High Peaks Region guidebook discourages that. We're not really into peak-bagging; mostly we're looking for nice scenery and (hopefully) relatively few fellow travelers (hence the midweek start). So other trips would be considered. We do want to have at least one two-night stay at the same place; day trips with light packs are fun!
Thanks in advance,
-- Jerry