Hike: 2020 ADK
· hiking
In mid-August 2020, Jeff and I headed to the Adirondacks for a long weekend of hiking and backcountry camping. The primary purpose of the trip, aside from getting away from the pandemic for a few days, was to knock off some of the summits from the Adirondack 46 High Peaks list, and subsequently the Northeast 115 list.
PART 1 - DONALDSON, EMMONS, SEWARD, & SEYMOUR
The first two days of the trip Jeff and I tackled a group of peaks in the Seward Mountains of the High Peaks. We made a loop of it and camped near the Ward Brook lean-to. It was a good amount of hiking with a few views, but it was overshadowed by the steep and muddy hike down from Seward to Ward Brook.
ROUTE
DAY 1
- Parked at Seward Trailhead off Ampersand Road, Saranac Lake, NY
- Hiked Blueberry Trail to intersection with Culkins Brook Truck Trail
- Right on Culkins Brook Truck Trail to intersection with Culkins Brook Trail
- Left on Culkins Brook Trail to Seward Range Trail
- Right on Seward Range Trail to summit of Donaldson Mountain, Mount Emmons and back to summit of Seward Mountain
- Continue on Seward Mountain Trail to intersection with Ward Brook Truck Trail
- Right on Ward Brook Truck Trail to Ward Brook lean-to
DAY 2
- Hiked up Ward Brook Truck Trail to intersection with Seymour Trail
- Right on Seymour Trail to summit of Seymour Mountain and back
- Left on Ward Brook Truck Trail to intersection with Blueberry Trail
- Left on Blueberry Trail back to parking lot
PHOTOS
STATS
Date: 13 & 14 August 2020
Distance: 22.6 miles
Moving Time: 10:48:09
Pace: 28:40/mile
Elevation Gain: 5994′
PART 2 - COLDEN, TABLE TOP, & PHELPS
The second day of the trip, after driving from our first hike, we lucked out on a parking spot at Heart Lake. We hiked in to Lake Colden, through the amazing Avalanche Lake, and lucked out again when we found a decent campsite near the Opalescent River. On day three, we hiked three mountains just north of Mount Marcy, all of which had amazing views! We lucked out a third time with a nice campsite near Marcy Dam. On the fourth day we hiked out before sunrise.
ROUTE
DAY 1
- Parked at Heart Lake Program Center on Heart Lake Road, Lake Placid, NY
- Hiked Van Hoevenberg Trail to Marcy Dam
- Right on Avalanche Pass Trail to Lake Colden campsite
DAY 2
- Back down Avalanche Pass Trail to intersection with Mount Colden Trail
- Right on Mount Colden Trail to summit of Mount Colden and on to intersection with Lake Arnold Trail
- Left on Lake Arnold Trail to intersection with Lake Arnold Crossover Trail
- Right on Lake Arnold Crossover Trail to Indian Falls and on to intersection with Van Hoevenberg Trail
- Left on Van Hoevenberg Trail to intersection with Tabletop Mountain Trail
- Right on Tabletop Mountain Trail to summit of Table Top Mountain and back
- Right on Van Hoevenberg Trail to intersection with Phelps Mountain Trail
- Right on Phelps Mountain Trail to summit of Phelps Mountain and back
- Right on Van Hoevenberg Trail to Marcy Dam campsite
DAY 3
- Left on Van Hoevenberg Trail to Marcy Dam and back to parking lot
PHOTOS
STATS
Date: 14, 15 & 16 August 2020
Distance: 20.8 miles
Moving Time: 9:49:03
Pace: 28:19/mile
Elevation Gain: 6234′
PART 3 - CASCADE & PORTER
On our last day of the trip we got an early start to hike a few more mountains before heading home. After starting in the dark we got to Cascade Mountain in time to see sunrise and cook some breakfast. We hit Porter Mountain on the way out and then made the long drive back to Maine.
ROUTE
- Parked at Cascade Mountain Foot Trail parking off Cascade Road in Lake Placid, NY
- Hiked Cascade Mountain Foot Trail to Summit of Cascade Mountain and back to intersection with Porter Mountain Trail
- Left on Porter Mountain Trail to summit of Porter Mountain and back
- Left on Cascade Mountain Foot Trail back to parking lot
PHOTOS
STATS
Date: 16 August 2020
Distance: 5.9 miles
Moving Time: 02:58:43
Pace: 30:03/mile
Elevation Gain: 2391′