Allen Mountain - High Peaks Wilderness - 9/5/13



I had convinced my wife Leesa that Fall would be the best time to hike Allen Mountain.  The leaves would be colorful, the water crossings would probably be easy, and she really would have a view from the summit.  Well.... 2 out 3 ain't bad.

 

Saturday, October 5th was the day we picked.  The temperature was nice and it was supposed to be partly sunny.  The leaves were at peak, or just a couple days past peak.

 

We got on the trail at 6:30 AM, hoping to finish before dark, which would be about 12 hours later.  We forgot to bring water shoes, but we crossed the ankle deep Hudson River barefoot.  The water didn't bother me, but she thought it felt extremely cold.

 

Next we skirted around Lake Jimmy on the new bypass around the north end.  This work was done by the ADK High Peaks Foundation.  They recently pulled up some of the boards from the old Lake Jimmy bridge to build a new crossing at the Lake Jimmy outlet.  They also used some of the boards for bog bridges.  They did a fine job.  Thanks! 

 

We reached the Opalescent River crossing after about 1.5 hours.  This was another ankle deep crossing.  We probably could have rock hopped if we had gone upstream about 100 yards.

 

At 2 hours, 20 minutes, we were at the 2nd register and the start of the herd path.  At this point, we beginning to feel as though the fog was not going to burn off.  There was a light mist that didn't want to go away.  You never know though.  Sometimes it just clears right out.

 

I didn't take many pictures since visibility wasn't good.   As we entered the herd path, we saw the best colors of the day as we passed through a section of hardwood forest.  Shortly after we left the hardwoods the trail begins to go downhill along a diagonal slope and it drops 200 feet before reaching Skylight Brook.

 



The first waterfall on water at Allen Brook



 

A few minutes later, we reached Allen Brook.  3 hours and 30 minutes had passed since we started.  We were both feeling good, and our dog Rev looked like she had just started.  I told Leesa that the last 1.5 miles would be steep and slippery as we climbed alongside and through Allen Brook.  We just took it slow and easy and we spent the last 2 hours working our way to the summit.  

 

Shortly after we got to the summit, 2 guys with a dog arrived (the only other dog we saw all day) .  Both dogs starting barking at each other.  The quiet was broken.   We separated the dogs and each huddled on opposite spots on the summit.  We had our lunch and looked out over an overcast, misty foggy valley.  Nothing could be seen. 

 

ADK High Peak # 44 for Rev

 

It had taken us 5.5 hours to get to the top.  If we went down at the same pace, we would be out before dark.  We did find that we made slightly better time on the way out, even though Leesa was tired.  I guess she was anxious to get off her feet.

 



Allen needs a new summit sign

 

It's too bad that Leesa didn't get to see the view from Allen.  I'm not sure she'll hike it again to see it, but you never know.  In any case, we all had a great day.

 

Leesa's always smiling; even when she's covered in mud and water 

 

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  ~  18 miles

Hike Time:  11 hours

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 3500' 



The route for the day

 

Allen Mountain - 2/16/13

The stars finally aligned to climb Mount Allen on Saturday.  Not just for me, but me and 14 others.  There were 6 in our group, 5 in another group and 2 couples.  I believe we all had a nice day on this trip.  It's not always easy to have a good day on an 18 mile hike, but this was a sunny day with temps in the 20's and it just felt good to be outside.

Our group was the 3rd group headed out.  We signed the register at 7:20 and headed out.  The Hudson River crossing wasn't bad.  There was less than a foot of water to wade through and garbage bags did the trick.  We all made the crossing and kept our feet dry.

No problem with the garbage bag method

Lake Jimmy was next, but no floating log bridge in winter.  The lake was frozen solid and the crossing was not a problem.  We continued on the old mining and forest roads past Lake Sally and soon were at the Opalescent River Crossing.

The Mount Adams fire observer's cabin

No one had crossed at the designated crossing area recently so we followed the broken out trail to where we crossed a few hundred yards to the north.  The frozen ice had cracked and broken in spots, but it was safe to cross.

Crossing the somewhat frozen Opalescent River

Shortly after the Opalescent, two of our group who had been using skis (Bill H. and Pete) ditched them for the remainder of the trek in.  Minutes later we caught up with the group of five at the trail junction for Flowed Lands.

Continuing on beyond the Opalescent

We passed them and continued on.  After we left the series of old jeep roads, we caught the couple who had been the first to head out for the day.  We passed them as well a little ways before Skylight Brook.  I was now in the lead for the day and making first tracks over the dusted over tracks from the previous day.

Our sign at the intersection with the trail to Flowed Lands

Shortly before Skylight Brook we passed the box toilet that sits on the left just 15 feet off the trail.  We commented that it seems like a strange place for a box toilet.  After crossing Skylight Brook we started our climb and soon hit Allen Brook.  There was no orange slime to look at.  In fact, the climb is much easier in snow conditions like we had.  We were able to walk right up the frozen stream bed on packed snow.

Climbing Allen Brook!

Of course the trail is still steep, and is one of the steepest in the High Peaks.  The trail climbs 2000' in 1.5 miles.  Looking back as we got higher on the stream bed, we could see the Santanoni Range behind us to the west.

Taras and Sam climbing the upper portion of Allen Brook

We had been making good time on the packed snowshoe trail.  As we reached the upper portion of the brook the tracks from the previous day were pretty much covered from blowing snow.  I had to kick each step into the snow to get a grip on the base below in order to climb without sliding backwards.

The Santanoni Range to the west!

An ice headwall near the top of Allen Brook

Looking down just before we entered the forested summit ridge

As were neared the top, we reentered the trees as we closed in in the summit ridge.  Shortly before 12:30 the first four of our group reached the summit.  About 20 minutes later the remaining 2 joined us.  This was ADKwinter high peak number 26 for me.

We ate our lunches and changed some clothes as needed, put some pictures, and it was time to go down.  Five hours of hiking for a brief stay at the summit.  That is how winter hiking goes.

To the north the sky was much darker than it was to the west

The Great Range in the clouds

I led on the descent to the top of Allen Brook.  Taras and Sam charged on ahead at that point while I waited for the 3 folks of our group that I had ridden with to the trailhead.  The descent down Allen Brook was awesome, especially the top portion.

  

Much clearer to the west

Taras and Sam made great time on the way out, getting back to the trailhead at 5:30.  Our remaining group of four followed at a slower pace at got out at 6:30.  We had to turn on our headlamps at Lake Jimmy for the last portion of the hike.

The broken clear ice of the Opalescent River

Besides the 15 persons we saw heading for the summit, we saw a couple who were skiing and pulling pulks. They also had 3 border collies with them.  They were doing a ski overnight trek.  Must be fun setting up the tent and having 3 dogs in the tent to contend with on a cold night after skiing.

Moonlight garbage bags and headlamps on the Hudson River

All in all, our trip was a great success.  Good companionship, good weather, and we all made it to the summit and back safely.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance: ~ 18 miles

Hike Time: 11 hours

Total Vertical Gain: ~3500'

A lot of miles to a lonely summit, but it's a nice hike!

Allen Mountain - Adirondack High Peaks - 6/9/12

For some reason, last week I got it in my head that Allen Mountain would be my next Adirondack High Peak to climb.  I guess perhaps it was partly because Leesa was away and she had told me that she wasn't anxious to hike Allen.  Another reason was that the weather forecast looked iffy.  I thought it would be better to stay below treeline if it was going to rain.

So many people have said Allen was one of their least favorite high peaks hikes, so I wasn't expecting much.   [I was in for a pleasant surprise].  I thought I would just make this trek and if it rained, it rained.  I knew it was an 18 mile round trip hike.  It was raining Friday night when I went to sleep, but it was supposed to clear for the morning.  Later on Saturday there was a 50% chance for scattered showers to come back in.

I decided that I would set my alarm and if it wasn't raining, I would get up and get to the trail head at 5 AM to get the hike mostly completed before any rain came in.  I also had to be at Albany Airport at 4:30 PM to pick Leesa up.

Well the rain stopped early in the overnight, so off I went.  I parked on the road from Tahawus to Upper Works at the Mount Adams trail head.  I was the only car there... no surprise at 5 AM!  I had brought my water shoes to wear when crossing the failed Hudson River suspension bridge, the failing Lake Jimmy floating bridge and the non-existent Opalescent River bridge.

None of the 3 water crossings were more than knee deep on this day, and the water wasn't unbearably cold.  It actually felt good on the way out.  After I crossed the Opalescent River, I left my water shoes behind and picked them up on the way out.

The 1st warning sign.  This was at the trail head

Minutes later, a 2nd warning sign (for the Hudson River crossing)

Here's the Hudson River suspension bridge (destroyed by Hurricane Irene)

The first water crossing was the Hudson River.  This was the deepest, at about knee deep.  The 2nd crossing was the Lake Jimmy floating bridge (which isn't floating so good after Hurricane Irene).  It is partially sunk (and sinks more as you walk on it).   I grabbed a walking stick from the shore to help with balance as I crossed and I made it OK. 

The "floating" bridge on Lake Jimmy has issues.
  

The Mount Adams firetower observers cabin

Just beyond the fire observer's cabin (which is slowly being restored) the trail to Mt. Adams branches off to the left.  Mount Adams is a short hike, but very steep.  Minutes later, I came across a deer on the trail.  He was quite unfazed by me and he let me get quite close.  Eventually he hopped to the side and let me walk past.

A good look at a deer, first thing in the morning

About 5:30 AM, the sun began to burn off some of the fog.  The grass and trees were quite wet since it had rained during the night.  Being the 1st person on a herd path the morning after a rain meant that I got soaked walking through the narrow trail and the wet grasses.  By 7 AM I was totally soaked.

Sunshine starting to replace the fog on the Opalescent River

The pretty Opalescent

The trail continues straight past this gate

I after 3.8 miles, and one hour of fast paced walking, I reached the Opalescent River crossing where it was less than knee deep on this day. 

Temporary detour to the new "wade" location on the Opalescent River

Looking upstream from the wade location

It was knee deep at most on this day (and not unbearably cold)

Overgrown logging roads, but the path was easy to follow

Beavers have dammed up a few areas

A first view of Allen Mountain

The trail crosses this logging road and there is another trail register to sign  at the back of this clearing

After 2 hours of hiking, I reached another trail register.  The trail had just crossed a final logging road and began working cross-slope in a southeasterly direction toward Allen Mountain.  I this section, there are a few ups and downs, and generally a slight downhill with some very muddy sections.  At the end of the cross slope traverse, the herd path reaches Skylight Brook and some very pretty water slides and cascades.

A water slide on Skylight Brook

A new "thunderbox" on the herd path near Skylight Brook

Shortly after crossing Skylight Brook, the trail picks up Allen Brook at about 2300' and follows it up a steep ascent to Allen Mountain.  Allen Brook is quite beautiful, but the herd path goes right up the brook bed in many areas and the sloping water slides are quite slippery.  Hope on the trees and branches as you climb!  I took one good mudslide spill on the way down.

Allen Brook

The herd path goes up the brook.  Slippery in spots.  Hold on to something!

It had taken me 2.5 hours to get to Allen Brook.  It took another 1.75 hours to climb the final 2000' up Allen Brook to the summit.  I reached the summit at 9:15 AM.  Not bad, 4 hours and 15 minutes to the top!  The summit is wooded, but in 2 locations within 100 feet of the summit are great views.  I was amazed.  Sorry I have included so many photos on this trip report, but I wanted to let people know that Allen is quite nice (in my opinion).

Summit sign

Somebodies rock display on the summit

View of Boreas Ponds

View of Colvin, Blake, Nippletop, Dix and Hough

The summit

View of Haystack, Gothics and Sawteeth

View of Haystack, Gothics, Sawteeth, Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge

View Marcy, Skylight and Gray

I had seen no-one on the way up, and after spending 30 minutes alone on the summit, I began my descent.  About halfway down, I ran into a couple hiking up.  Several minutes later, I came across 2 guys hiking up.  One was a 46'er, and the other was doing Allen as his 45th peak.  I should have asked him what his final remaining peak was.  After I talked with those 2 guys, I didn't see anyone else.

I was back at the car at 2 PM.  A successful hike, plus I was able to get to Albany Airport by 4:30 and not make Leesa wait for me.

Allen is a long hike, but not a huge amount of vertical feet and the views are rewarding.  I really enjoyed this hike.  As a bonus, it never did rain and the sun was out most of the day.  No bugs on the way in.  A few black flies at the top and a couple deer flies on the way out, but not bad for this time of year.  The climb up Allen Brook is tricky, but if you hold onto things as you climb, you won't have to worry.

Looks like solid ground, but when you step on it you sink 8" in mud

My GPS track of Allen Mountain



Approximate route shown in blue

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  17.8 miles

Hike Time:  9 hours (including stops)
Total Vertical Gain:  3850'

Trailhead Elevation:  1760'

Summit Elevation:  4340'