briarpatch
New member
On Sunday completed the Tupper Lake Hiking Triad. Arab, Goodman, and Coney. Each 2 plus to 3.5 mile round trip with summits all around 2,500 feet. I believe each would have had excellent view of Tupper Lake but with the persistent snow and snow squalls moving through we saw nothing. Having no experience in the Adirondacks thought they would be a good place to start exploring.
I was not sure what to expect. The Adirondack Mountain Club, Western Trails (Book 4) had a winter note for all three that stating, "not suitable owing to steepness of terrain". That was interesting, as there are only a few trails I am aware of in the White and the Greens that have that labeling. It was also surprising since the Tupper Lake 3 are the first step in the Tri-Lake Trifecta which includes the Saranac Lake 6 and Lake Placid 9 which are progressively more difficult. The topographic maps of the trails did not support the steepness claim.
We completed all three in snowshoes, crampons when for a ride and never encountered the "steepness". Noticed that the Adirondack Mountain Club, High Peaks Trails (Book 1) does not have a winter travel notes.
Can the winter difficultly rating be attributed only to different authors of each guide book? Or are the Western Adirondacks catering to a different group of users when compared to the those who attempt the high peaks? Is the winter note potential referring to backcountry skiers skinning up and skiing back down the trail?
I was not sure what to expect. The Adirondack Mountain Club, Western Trails (Book 4) had a winter note for all three that stating, "not suitable owing to steepness of terrain". That was interesting, as there are only a few trails I am aware of in the White and the Greens that have that labeling. It was also surprising since the Tupper Lake 3 are the first step in the Tri-Lake Trifecta which includes the Saranac Lake 6 and Lake Placid 9 which are progressively more difficult. The topographic maps of the trails did not support the steepness claim.
We completed all three in snowshoes, crampons when for a ride and never encountered the "steepness". Noticed that the Adirondack Mountain Club, High Peaks Trails (Book 1) does not have a winter travel notes.
Can the winter difficultly rating be attributed only to different authors of each guide book? Or are the Western Adirondacks catering to a different group of users when compared to the those who attempt the high peaks? Is the winter note potential referring to backcountry skiers skinning up and skiing back down the trail?
