Giant Mountain - Giant Mountain Wilderness - 3/17/17

This post is a little late for a conditions trip report, but I decided to document the trip anyways.  After the dumping of snow on 3/13 from Blizzard Stella, we were anxious to climb a high peak and see what goodness we could find.  The problem was that with 3 feet of new snow on the ground, most trails were not broken out yet.

We settled on Giant Mountain since it was the closest to us and also likely to have already have some foot traffic.  We didn't arrive at the trailhead until noon, but that gave others more time to break trail ahead of us and we knew the hike was only 3 miles each way.

We passed a family near the start and it looked like they were not intending to go all the way to the summit.  The trail was indeed broken out, and most folks had worn snowshoes, so the trail was smoothly packed.

While the forecast predicted cloudy skies, we were blessed with blue skies all day.  If was warming up to around 40 degrees, so all the better.  I had my sunglasses on all afternoon.

When we reached the Giant Washbowl, I was a little disappointed to see that someone had built a makeshift shelter a mere few feet from the trail.

  

Someone's attempt at a shelter at Giant Washbowl.

Giant Washbowl

Look at that sky!

An early look back, about a mile into the hike.  The dix range in on the left in the background.  The great range is on the right.

As we reached the split in the trail at the bump, we ran into some familiar hiking faces.  We chatted for a minute and Rev slid down a rock face at the upper end of the bump and we continued on.

Always a bump...

Junction with the Roaring Brook Falls Trail

Just above the Roaring Brook Trail Junction, we ran into 8 hikers coming down barebooting with no snowshoes.  They chewed up the trail quite a bit.  We had to watch our step until we got near treeline.

The alpine zone.

The Giant/Rocky Peak Ridge trail junction.

The summit panorama.

Leesa and Rev on the summit.

At the top, I went down into the little sheltered space below the summit and Rev jumped down to join me and landed in a big snow drift.  She wiggled her was out and joined me for a snack.

Natures sculpture.

We chose not to swing over to Rocky Peak Ridge.  It was mid afternoon and that trail was only slightly broken out.  On our way down, Leesa took full advantage of some butt sliding opportunities, while I chose to do some snowshoe surfing.  

After our hike, we went to the annual ADK High Peaks Forum Gathering in Upper Jay for a great evening of comaraderie and food!

 

 

Leesa... still butt sliding even near the bottom.

Hike Stats:
Hike Distance:  5.9 miles
Hike Time:  4 hours, 30 minutes
Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 3000'

Rocky Peak Ridge Traverse - Chapel Pond to New Russia - 5/2/15

Leesa and I had been kicking around doing another Rocky Peak Ridge traverse.  Our last one was on a perfect fall weekend in October 2011.  On that trip, we started at New Russia and did Bald, RPR, Giant and Hopkins.  It was a big trip with around 6000 vertical.

This weekend we're watching my sons dog so we had 2 dogs to take hiking with us.  I wanted to stay on a trail instead of doing a bushwhack and the weather was looking great, so we chose today to do our RPR traverse.  This time we started at Chapel Pond to have about 1000 less vertical for the day.

The were on the trail about 8:15 after having dropped a car at New Russia.  Two groups had signed in ahead of us.  The trail was pretty much snow and ice free until the junction with the Roaring Brook Trail, 0.7 miles from the summit of Giant.  At that point, Leesa put on her microspikes.  I stuck with bare boots.

Round Mountain and Chapel Pond

Mike with Lulu

Footbridge near Giant's Washbowl 

  

Still some ice on Giant's Washbowl

  

Lulu in the snow before the summit of Giant

We caught up with both groups before Giant.  Neither were heading towards RPR due to deep snow.  We went to Giant first and enjoyed the bare rock summit and warm temperatures with almost no wind.

Rev on the summit of Giant.  Whiteface Mountain in the background.

The infamous ice step, coming down off of Giant while heading towards RPR.  Still ice and snow covered.  

As warned, we encountered snow immediately as we started towards RPR.  There was still a relatively firm snow spine, but snowshoes are definitely still helpful.  The ice step (pictured above) was the trickiest part the the down and up to RPR.  As we reached the summit, the snow disappeared due to the sun exposure at the top.

Rev on RPR waiting for the rest of us

Giant from RPR

What a magnificent collection of High Peaks visible from RPR

We ate some lunch on top of Rocky Peak and basked in the warm sun.  It most have been at least 60 degrees on the summit.  It felt warm and there was still no wind.

  

The slides on Dix Mountain in the background center.  The pointed summit is Hough Peak.

still waiting...

Looking east towards Lake Champlain in the background from the summit of RPR 

Nice to see that the alpine vegetation on RPR is intact and has not been trampled.

Rev's had her snack and is ready to go...

A last look at Giant from Rocky Peak

Rev got her snack first, in order to keep peace.

 Mike with both dogs, ready to head east along RPR

a last look westward...

Heading east along RPR

Once again, as soon as we left the summit, we were back in the snow.  This time there was no spine, since there is not much foot traffic from New Russia to Rocky Peak in wintertime.  Snowshoes are definitely still quite helpful in getting though from Rocky to the saddle before Bald Peak.

Pretty Lake Mary Louise still hidden by ice and snow.

A new sign...

Once we left Lake Mary Louise, it was somewhat treacherous going down the steep section before the saddle to Bald Peak.  The snow was rotten and deep and water was running underneath. 

Nice to get out of the snow on the exposed ridge sections.

The open rock below is the false summit of Iron Mountain.  A great spot! 

We both love Bald Peak.  It is a great destination on it's own from New Russia.  It's a very pretty spot with great views.  It's a 2500' vertical gain just to get to Bald from New Russia so it feels like you've climbed a high peak.  It feels like one as well.

The view rock west of Bald Peak

The large glacial erratic landmark just west of Bald Peak

Looking west at the same erratic

The summit cairn on Bald Peak.  Rev claimed it first. 

The snow had disappeared just west of the Saddle between RPR and Bald so we were finally able to pick up the pace a little bit, only now we had to be cautious due to the fall leaves still covering the trail.  Near the bottom where the grade eases up we able to throw caution to the wind and walk with a normal stride.

Giant and Rocky Peak were our guest dog Lulu's first 2 high peaks.  She did great the whole trip! She loves the water and got wet and drank at every opportunity.  Our dog Rev is not such a water lover. We signed out, tired from a full day with 2 dogs, snow and 3 peaks (Giant, Rocky Peak and Bald Peak).  The dogs were asleep before I started writing this post.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  10 miles

Hike Time:  8 hours

Total Vertical Gain:  4150'  

   

The trail from west to east (click image to enlarge)

Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge - Giant Mtn Wilderness - 4/6/14

In picking a hike for today, Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge were the only peaks that I had in my head.  I'm not sure why.  Leesa wanted a hike that would be about 6 hours or so.  I wanted to get some vertical and get perhaps one last good snowshoe hike for the season.  I also wanted a trail that would be well broken, since I knew that with spring conditions, a trail not well broken would be much more difficult.

 

I've done Giant and RPR many times before, in all kinds of weather.  I've done them in conditions similar to today, and remembered the hike as a good one.  On my own, I've done the pair in less than 5 hours, but Leesa and I were out to enjoy the day.   Leesa's never one to go for speed.

 

We arrived at the Zander Scott Trail and got started at 9 AM.  It was 32 degrees.  Since we were climbing the west side of the mountain, we were in the shade until we were 2/3 of the way up.  As we got into the sunshine, the snow began to stick to our snowshoes.  I knew it was going to get warmer, and as soon as it did, the snow would no longer stick.

 

Two pairs of people had signed in ahead of us, one pair for Giant, and the other pair for both Giant and RPR.  We saw both, as well as one other pair of hikers, all near the Giant/RPR split.  Those were the only hikers we saw all day.     

 

 

Reaching the light...

 

We wore snowshoes the entire day.  I thought they were the best tool for the day.  5 out of the other 6 hikers we saw chose microspikes.  The trail was pretty firm until we reached the point where the sun was hitting the trail.  In addition to the sun causing the snow to stick to the snowshoes, it softened the snow on the trail. 

 

Bluebird skies all day

 



 

 

 

Leesa climbing

 

 

 

 

This is my kind of hiking

 

 

Rime ice

 

 

The alpine zone sign

 

 

Signs encased in ice

 

 

We reached the summit of Giant at around 11:30 and there was practically no wind!  That was a first for me.  Needless to say, we stayed on the summit for awhile and enjoyed it.

 



Leesa and Rev basking in sunshine on Giant

 

As we started towards Rocky Peak, the sun really began to bake us and the snow.   The trees started to rain as their icicles began to melt.  As the snow got softer, it no longer stuck to our snowshoes.  We reached the icy step on the way down Giant and it was still mostly covered in snow.

 



 

 

 

 

Rocky Peak Ridge from the Giant/RPR split 

 

Rocky Peak had some wind  by the time we got there, but it was warm enough that it didn't have the chill of a winter wind.

 

Rev on the summit of RPR



 

I broke out the Rev snacks on RPR and she was appreciative.  Once again, we spent some time on the summit.  RPR is one of my favorite high peaks and I always linger when I'm there.  Leesa started back and I stayed just a little bit longer.  I took a couple videos and a whole bunch of pictures.  

 



Mike and Rev on Rocky Peak.  Lake Champlain in the background 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Peak Ridge and Mary Louise Pond 

 

 

 

 

I finally had to say goodbye.  I zoomed down towards the Giant/RPR col and caught Leesa at that point.  From there, we began the steep climb back up Giant.  It was tough in the hot sun and soft snow.  I'm not used to hiking in the warm temps yet!

   

Leesa coming down the Zander Scott Trail

 

Back at the Giant/Rocky split, it was all downhill from there.  It was tricky though.  I tried to stay upright descending the soft mushy snow.  It was now almost a water slush slide.  I did succumb twice to a lack of balance and ended up on the ground.  Leesa took the buttslide approach, and I think she was more successful. 

     

Nice moss battling the snow 

 

We didn't reach the car until 4 PM, but it didn't matter.  We had a good day.  It was 46 degrees when we got back to the car, and 55 when we got home!  Leesa stated that she is now ready for spring.   I'll take it also, but winter hiking is still my favorite.  I am ready for some bushwhacking though.  I haven't done much since the snow began to pile up in February.

 

 

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  7.7 miles

Hike Time:  7 hours, including stops

Total Vertical Gain:  ~  4200' 

 

 

The route (click image to enlarge)