Off on Adventure: Blake Mountain

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Mount Colvin and Blake Peak - 2/5/12

Saturday was such a nice day in the mountains, I went back for more on Sunday. Saturday was Nippletop and Dial Mountains, today was Colvin and Blake. All are reached from the Lake Road at the Ausable Club in Saint Huberts, NY.

It was chilly at the start today, 2 degrees fahrenheit. The forecast called for a low of 14, but at least it was expected to warm to the mid 20's.

I was once again on the trail at 7:15. I followed the lake road to the Gill Brook cutoff, then went towards Elk Pass until the fork at 3200' where the trail splits, left to Elk Pass and Nippletop (Saturday's hike) and right to Colvin and Blake (this hike). I was moving quick to stay warm. I went to the split (5 miles and 2000 vertical gain) in 1 hour and 45 minutes. At 9:45 I was on top of Colvin.

At the summit I ran into a man dismantling a tent. He had camped on the summit of Colvin. Although camping isn't allowed above 3500' in the High Peaks, people seem to do it anyway.

Lower Ausable Lake from Colvin

Upper Ausable Lake from Colvin

I pushed on towards Blake and was on the summit there at 11. The drop to the col between the 2 peaks is a steep drop from both mountains.

Blake from Colvin

A ladder on Colvin leading into the col between Colvin and Blake

The ridge on Colvin

Looks like a Christmas ornament

Sign on the summit of Blake

Although the summit of Blake is wooded, there are several viewpoints offering fine views. I wasn't disappointed by the summit. I hadn't heard much good about it, but I didn't mind the hike to check it out.

Colvin from Blake

The summit of Colvin

At 12:15, I was back at the summit of Colvin. It is a pretty neat summit and almost feels like an eagle's nest, with quite a drop from the summit viewpoint.

Lower Ausable Lake from Colvin

At 2:30 I was back at the car after a pretty easy descent from Colvin. I wore microspikes the entire hike. The path was hardpack and I didn't post hole at all.

A great finish to full weekend of hiking. I hiked 27 miles and 8800 vertical feet with 4 Adirondack high peaks in 2 days. Beautiful weather both days made the trips very enjoyable.