Whiteface Mountain

Whiteface is the fifth highest of the 46ers at an elevation of 4,867' and was where the 1980 winter Olympics were held. The front side (east) of the mountain is a ski hill and tourists can drive up a toll road almost to the top and then take the stairs or get this an elevator the last 300 feet to the top of the mountain. Or you can hike it from the back side and enjoy the great rugged topography, crossing streams, maneuvering through creek beds and climbing hand over hand up steep rock face hills and peering over ridged cliff edges. Regardless of which way you choose the view from the summit is great (well the weather that day did not offer as great of views as I was hoping for it still was impressive to see the stone fortress like weather station at the top. Apparently this is the only peak in the Adirondacks where distinct evidence of alpine glaciers can be found.


Start of Hike
We parked near Connery Pond and started hiking from there. Total hike from here is about 6 miles with ascends of 3,232 feet. The first portion 2-3miles is rather flat. With the amount of rain the ADK had seen the past week, it was wet and muddy and I was thankful to have remembered my gaiters. At about 3miles in you have to cross a rather deep and wide creek. However, thankful to the hikers ahead of us who built a dam like bridge to cross we managed to hike across without being wet. We met a few hikers that had to wade across unaware of this bridge that was upstream a bit. After crossing the creek you will find a lean-to a few meters ahead - a great place to set up for the night. We met the guys who built the bridge and were able to thank them.

Once past the lean-to the trail begins to get narrower and steeper. Again noting the amount of rain that area received there was lots of runoff coming down the mountain making those steep rock slab portions of the climb slippery and difficult (more so on the descent).


Summit
Once above tree line you are not far from the peak. We decided we’d ditch our poles and packs to make the ascent lighter. The peak which would offer stunning views on a clear day was cloud and mist covered with a piercing cold wind. There was ice on the tops of the pine trees and ice and snow covering the weather station. Although we missed out on seeing the fall colors in the mountain ranges (we will be back again) the weather at the peak instilled a real mountain-like experience. If it was not for the tourists in there clean clothing, dress shoes, perfect hair and make-up the weather and atmosphere would make you feel as if you were 5,000’ higher and isolated.

Beautiful view of Autumn foliage

Sitting at False Summit to enjoy some much needed hot coffee

and lunch (pita, hummus, cheese, kielbasa)!!

More views from the False Summit

After taking some photos we descended to a false peak just above tree line. Here we were below the clouds and could see some of the lakes around Lake Placid, and the red and yellow hues of the autumn leaves. The wind still being wickedly cold we hid behind a rock and ate our lunch – coffee, pita, hummus, Kielbasa, and cheese. Once fuelled up we started our descent back the car. We then hit the brew pub in Lake Placid (http://www.ubuale.com/) to pick up a jug of Ubu Ale and then headed back to the cabin for a hot shower and dinner. Dinner was vegetarian lasagna, beef pasta, garlic bread, Caesar salad and red wine. We then hung out by a cozy fire with friends. These friends hiked Giant that day and had a completely different weather experience – one of sun and great views. It goes to show you that you have to be ready for any type of weather in the Adirondacks.

Binoculars

(on a clear day it offers great views of the high peak mountain ranges)

Weather Station at Summit

The following day our friends decided to do a short hike in South Meadows, however because my Achilles was a bit tender Marc and I decided to head to Lake Placid to check out the Big Mountain Deli that our friends had introduced us to. This gourmet deli offers up a menu of 46 sandwiches named after the 46ers. As a group we decided that it would be fun to enjoy a 46er sandwich after summiting a 46er. We were definitely on board with that idea. Having summated Whiteface, we thought perhaps we’d have Whiteface sandwich, but we have also summated 19 other peaks before Whiteface and therefore decided to pick one of those. I had the Mount Marcy (Roast turkey, cranberry horseradish sauce, cheddar, apple on Whole wheat) and Marc enjoyed the Algonquin (Roast turkey, apple wood smoked bacon, avocado, sprouts and Russian dressing on seeded Rye Bread). Check out this link for photos of our 46er Sandwiches.

We cannot wait to go back to try more sandwiches and all there different breads. Check out http://simplygourmetlakeplacid.com/lunch.aspx

Summary

Start: Connery Pond off route 73

Elevation Gain: 3,232’
Height: 4,868’
Total Distance: 12miles or 20km
Total Hiking Time: 6hours (total hours 7hrs)

Algonquin Peak

Standing at 5,114', Algonquin peak is the second tallest peak in the Adirondacks. It is also one of the classic hikes in the ADK for several reasons; it is accessible from the LOJ parking lot. It has some great views and falls along the way and it is a challenging hike even for intermediate to advance hikers.

This first mile of the 4.2 mile ascent, takes you to the trail junction for Marcy Dam (always great spot for pictures). After the dam the trail is still relatively flat. There are no real challenges at this point. In another half mile or so there is the whale’s tail ski trail on the left side. This is mentioned for two reasons; 1. to be remembered if you ever chose to ski to Wright peak in the winter, and 2. this is where the 2700feet of elevation begins to be apparent.

The trail’s gradient becomes steeper once you have reached the Wright peak junction. Before reaching the Wright peak trail, there are some impressive water falls which the trail meanders by. After the beauty of the falls, comes the true crux of the trail a massive beast of a slide. The slab of rock requires some cautious manoeuvring as it is not hard to slip and there is nothing to stop your fall. Best seems to be a "switchback" approach as you make your way up the cracks in the slab.

Once above tree line there are some scrambling to do but nothing that technical. From the summit there are views as far as the eye can see, on a clear day that is. On our most recent climb of the mountain approximately a month ago, it was rained out. And not just a sprinkle this was a full on storm making attention to footing and your surroundings that much more important.

On a day hike there are three options to once at the summit. Go on to summit Iroquois peak; continue on the trail down below to the avalanche lake trail or simply backtracking to the LOJ.

The entire trip to the summit and back to the LOJ is roughly an 8 hour day depending of course on the hiker’s abilities, weather and amount of people on the trail. Being that it is a classic it can be rather busy. Total elevation gain is 2700 feet, total miles is 8.4 (13.5KM)

Summary

Start: LOJ
Elevation Gain: 2700 ft

Total Distance: 13.5km

Total Hiking Time: 8hours

Mount Colden (4714')

Mount Colden via LOJ parking lot.

Departing from the LOJ the best access route is to hike to Marcy dam approximately 2 miles away.

After hiking another mile past Marcy dam we reached a Y in the trail where you can hike up the ridge past Arnold Lake or stay on the low lying area and access the summit by Avalanche Lake.

From the Y we hiked another 3 miles of rolling passes and some slab rock and boulders. This took us up to the NE summit of Colden with some great views of the surrounding area and great perspective of the main summit.

Once at the peak there are clear 360 degree views including the lakes below as well as many peaks including Algonquin, Marshall, Marcy…and several others.

Coming down the South east side of the mountain brought us down to the flat paths that follow the lake and many runoff creeks. Caution should be made on this decent as it is approximately 2500 to 3000 foot elevation loss over about 1.5 miles. This results in hiking down sheer rock surfaces that resemble the trap dyke just a few miles to the east.

Once completed the hiking out is 5.8 miles of rather impressive with the massive avalanche wall, bridges and ladders over the lake as well as the impressive collection of fallen and slide trees at the base of the trap dyke.

Total miles is 13 hiking time without breaks was 7hours and 5 minutes

Summary

Start: LOJ to Marcy Dam
Total Height: 4714’

Elevation Gain: 2850'
Total Distance: 14 miles or 22.4km
Total Hiking Time: 7 hrs

Hiked to Marcy Dam from the Adirondack LOJ.

View of Mt. Marcy from Marcy Dam.

Before the hike enjoyed a cup of coffee with cinnamon raisin breakfast pita (also have muesli ones that are delicious) with PB and banana. Packed full of energy to start off the hike.

Stopped for a nectarine and almonds snack en route.

View of the peak of Mt. Colden from the trail.

Great view from the peak.

Can see AvalancheLake below, along with a view of both the MacIntrye and Great Ranges,

as Mt. Colden sits between the two.

Sitting by Avalanche Lake for lunch - hummus, tortillas, kelbasa, cheese & apples.

Took the trail around Avalanche Lake on the way down. Very scenic, with lots of ladders, bridges (hitched up matildas) and hand over hand scambling to get around the lake.

This hike was fueled by Sausage Penne Meal the evening before.