McKenzie Mountain - McKenzie Mountain Wilderness - 3/5/17

Leesa chose our hike for today.  She was interested in climbing McKenzie Mountain in Lake Placid, NY.  Last weekend we had climbed neighboring Haystack Mountain and by climbing McKenzie, she would finish her Saranac 6er peaks.  I've been on McKenzie 3 times previously, including 2 times in winter, but another trip up was fine with me.

We chose to start at Whiteface Inn Road and take the Jackrabbit trail past the Placid lean-to to the McKenzie Mountain Trail.  We started at exactly 12 noon.  The Jackrabbit was an easy 1.9 miles to the junction.  We bare booted on the hard surface that had a dusting of snow on top.

At the McKenzie Mountain trail, we put on our microspikes.  I was hoping they would be sufficient.  I knew that the climb up the steep south facing slope was likely to be icy.  We had our dog Rev with us as well.

After a quarter mile, we hit the steep section and began to climb.  The top half of the steep was quite treacherous.  We had to leave the trail for most of this section (so Leesa and Rev wouldn't slip and lose their footing on the ice).  It was a slow climb on this section.  We saw 4 groups coming down. One group had turned around (they didn't have traction devices).  Their tubular snowshoes weren't sufficient.  Another group turned around at the last false summit because they had reached their agreed upon 2 PM turn around time.  Another man had summited and was on his way down.  The last couple we ran into just prior to the true summit.  They had crampons so they were fine.           

The first viewpoint (at the top of the steep section).

It was 2 PM when we got to the top of the steep section.  I was a little concerned about the time, but on the last stretch Leesa was able to move more quickly.  It was a beautiful blue sky day and the base temperature was 15 degrees at the start.  There was a thermometer on the summit below the summit sign.  It read -10 degrees, but we both agreed that it didn't feel that cold out.

Looking at the true summit from the last false summit.

Looking towards the lakes in Saranac Lake.

Lake Placid!

Leesa asked about the possibility of going down the Shore Owners Association (SOA) trail to complete a loop instead of going back the way we came.  She was worried about descending the steep icy section and a loop hike is always more interesting.  I had done the SOA trail before and I suspected it would not have any ice.  Any only concern was whether we would break through the crust.  I didn't know if anyone had been on the trail recently.  We had packed our snowshoes with us, so I decided we would give it a try.  It was now 3 PM.

This turned out to be the right decision.  No one had been on the trail, but the crust was supportive and there was a little powder as well.  The ridge north of McKenzie was a little had to follow the trail, but as soon as the trail started down the ridge towards Bartlett Pond, it was easy to follow.  It was an absolute delight compared to the icy McKenzie Mountain trail!  It was actually a slightly shorter route as well.  It had taken 3 hours on the ascent, but the descent was accomplished in 2 hours.

   

Bartlett Pond.

Bartlett Pond was basking in sunshine and we stopped a minute there on the way down.  Below Bartlett Pond a little ways, the trail comes to Two Brook and follows it down to the Lake Trail. 

Bartlett Pond.

A typical SOA trail marker.

The SOA trails also have some nice signs along the way.

Near the bottom of the Two Brook Trail is the remains of what was once an impressive stone foundation.  Perhaps old mill remains?

 

I have to find out what this stone foundation below to...

Next Leesa and I have to complete the SOA trail to Whiteface Landing. 

We will be back to this area.  We want to finish the SOA trail to Whiteface Landing (including a visit to Eagle Eyrie).  I also want to take Leesa up Moose Mountain.    

Our exit point at Blodget Road.

When we signed out, we saw that not everyone we saw on the McKenzie Mountain trail had signed out yet at the register.  We were glad we didn't have to negotiate the ice on the way down and we hope everyone that returned that way got down safely.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  6.8 miles

Hike Time:  5 hours (due to ice on the south face)

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 2100'

The route (done clockwise from Whiteface).

Cheney Cobble (3683') & North River (3860') Mountains - High Peaks Widerness Area - 8/2/15

On Sunday, I tagged along with fellow hiker Brandon as he came within one of his completion of the ADK Hundred Highest (ADK100).

This hike was a full day and was quite a workout.  We started at the trailhead for Allen Mountain at 7:40 AM.  We crossed the new suspension bridge over the Hudson River and an hour and 15 minutes later, we were at the Opalescent River crossing.  I had forgotten my water shoes, but the water wasn't hardly more than ankle deep and I crossed slowly so I wouldn't slip.

Once across, we turned right and left the Allen herd path for a short 5 minute bushwhack to a woods road that lead towards the NW flank of Cheney Cobble.  At the 2 hour mark, we were at the end of the woods road and it was time to begin the bushwhack.  We had traveled 6 miles to this point.

Once in the woods, our progress slowed drastically.  The bushwhac portion of the hike was only 5.3 miles, but it took us 8.5 hours!  We chose to ascend Cheney Cobble via the NW ridge.  As we got up higher, we stayed a little right of the crest of the ridge.  Views were scarce but we did get a glimse of the summit of Cheney as the ridge wrapped around.  We arrived at the summit at exactly 12 noon.  We found a ziplock bag attached to a tree limb and some metal strapping (the remains of a summit cannister holder).  

Our 1st destination in sight - Cheney Cobble

A zoom look

Nice view looking NW

The summit of Cheney Cobble

  

Metal Strapping that once held a summit canister

There were not views at the summit, but just after we left the summit, we found a nice viewpoint.

 As we had heard, travel between Cheney Cobble and North River Mountain was thick.  We avoided the SW sub-summit of Cheney Cobble since that was reported to be extremely difficult.  When we got to the col between the two mountains, we stopped to fill up our water supply.

We began to sideslip up the slope towards North River, but we climbed too high on the slope too soon and got trapped when our sideslope turned into a cliff.  We retreated and dropped down a bit and continued on.

      

The SW sub-summit of Cheney Cobble in the foreground.  North River Mountain in the background.

A zoom view of Mount Adams and the firetower on top.

A large glacial erratic concealed in the thick forest

Cheney Cobble

A zoom view of Cheney Cobble

It took us about 3 hours and 10 minutes to go the 1.5 miles to North River.  When we left North River it was almost 4 PM and we were still had a long ways to go to get back.

North River

The North River cannister straps

Marcy, Haystack and Allen

The view from North River

Fortunately, when we retreated, we didn't encounter any obstacles requiring us to alter our course. We got back to the woods road around 6:30 and back to the car just before 8:30.  It was getting dark just as we were pulling out.

Thanks Brandon for the great hike.  Difficult and long, but it is done.  

Hike Stats: 

Hike Distance:  17.3 miles

Hike Time:  12 hours, 45 minutes

Total Vertical Gain:  ~3500'

The route

  

The route on the Nat Geo map

Wilmington Peak (3458') - Taylor Pond Wild Forest - 12/26/14

Four days ago, I did this hike but was stopped 0.3 miles from the summit due to the depth of the snow.  My dog Rev was having a difficult time climbing a 45 degree slope in 2 feet of powder.  That trip report is here.  With all the rain we received on Christmas Eve, I knew the conditions today would be ripe to reach the summit now.  I grabbed Rev and we paid another visit.

This time, the stream was actually visible in the slide.  The snow pack was now greatly reduced and it was also consolidated so the snowshoeing was easy.

Visible water in the slide today

The summit is in site

On the first trip here, we turned around at the bottom of the headwall of the slide.  This was .3 miles shy of the summit.  Today, it only took us 15 minutes to finish the hike.  We went right of the headwall and hugged the edge of a cliff band until we reached the summit ridge. 

We climbed along the edge of this rock face

This cloudy morning didn't give way until I was back near the bottom

The headwall of the slide

On the ridge we turned left and stayed on the right side as we climbed.  It was an easy walk in an open pine forest.  5 minutes and we were on the summit.  It was really a pretty spot, even though there were no far reaching views.  Some of the pines had hanging moss.  It felt very peaceful.  The weather probably contributed to that feeling.

Anorange ribbon marked the true summit

In these snow conditions, it was a fast walk downhill.  We went from top to bottom in about 50 minutes.  Since 4 days ago, A large birch tree has fallen across the trail, about 1.5 miles from the car. Unfortunately it is in a spot that is great for skiing.  I'm sure someone will cut it up in the near future.   

Note the open woods

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  5.3 miles

Hike Time:  3 hours

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 1700'

The the image of the route to enlarge 

Wilmington Peak was the morning hike; Catamount Mountain was the afternoon hike.  See both here.