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).

McKenzie Mountain (3860') The- McKenzie Mountain Wilderness, Lake Placid - 1/25/14

I've made a few trips recently to the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness to tackle some of the Shore Owners Association trails, and today Leesa, Rev and I headed back there to climb the Barlett Pond Trail.  This trail leads from the Lake Trail up to Bartlett Pond, then climbs steeply to the McKenzie Mountain ridge, rising over 1000' in 0.8 miles.    

We were once again blessed with great weather.  The forecast was for mostly cloudy skies, but we had a good deal of blue sky all day long.  Temps were in the low to mid 20's.

After parking on Whiteface Inn Road, we followed Bloget Road to where the trail begins on the left side just prior to a metal gate on the road.  This is the Lake Trail, which we followed until the junction with the Twin Ponds Trail.  There was about 6" of fluffy snow on the Lake Trail.  After .5 miles, we reached the fork where Bartlett Pond Trail bears left, and Twin Brook trail bears right.  We took the left towards Bartlett.  

The split of the Twin Brooks Trail/Bartlett Pond Trail

As we climbed towards Bartlett Pond, the snow got deeper, as expected.  The trail changes to a moderate grade.  The snow was still clinging to the trees and the sun was shining.  We were plenty warm as we climbed.

We ran into one one hiker was had gone a far as Bartlett Pond, and slightly beyond, before heading down.  He told us no one had broken the trail above that point.     

Bartlett Pond (Elev. 2770') ... and the dividing line of blue sky and gray sky!

A panorama of Bartlett Pond

We had some snacks at Bartlett Pond, then geared up for the final push to the top of the ridge.  I found were the lone hiker had turned around and the the trail breaking began.  I had given up hopes of climbing both McKenzie and Moose, but knew I could tackle McKenzie by itself.

   

The sign at Bartlett Pond

Leesa told me to push on with Rev and she would follow at her pace.  We only had 0.8 miles to go.

I thought she would be right behind me, but I gave her a radio just in case.  It turned out that, even with my trail breaking, I was climbing a bit faster than she was.  Rev and I reached the ridge and she was still halfway up.  I continued on to McKenzie and took a series of pictures from the 2 summit viewpoints. 

The ridge to McKenzie... Rev continued to lead 

Nice view of the Great Range

My picture of the summit disc came out a little blurry, but I had to include it in the picture set.

The summit disc at 3860'

There was some nice rime ice on the trees at the north facing overlook.

Looking towards Saranac Lake 

The northern overlook

looking SW to  Lake Placid

I radioed Leesa from the top and said we'd come down to get her.  She interpreted that to mean we were headed down, so she turned around.  I had meant to meet here and then reclimb.  Oh well, she didn't care either way.  Rev and I caught back up with her before Bartlett Pond.

Moose Mountain (L), Whiteface Mountain (R), from McKenzie 

The walk down was a joy on freshly packed powder and glistening snow.  We got back to the car at 1 PM and decided to go over to the Peninsula Trails in Lake Placid and hike those for a couple hours, but I'll put that in the next post.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  6.6 miles

Hike Time:  4 hours, 45 minutes

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 2050'

Today's route is shown in blue.  The dots indicate sign locations (click image to enlarge) 

Moose and McKenzie Mountains - McKenzie Mountain Wilderness - 8/9/14

My goal for Saturday was to climb Moose Mountain (3899') in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness Area.  This is a peak on the hundred highest list in New York.  The plan was to park on Whiteface Inn Road, take the Jackrabbit Trail to the McKenzie Mountain Trail, climb McKenzie, then follow the Shore Owners Association (SOA) herd paths in a loop to complete the hike.

I had climbed McKenzie (3861) previously on an early November day in winter conditions.  Look at the conditions I had that day!  I also had climbed Haystack on that day.  Haystack is a nice destination on it's own. 

As I drove to Lake Plaid, I noticed all the trailheads in Keene were absolutely packed, with cars lining the road for great distances.  This was another reason to climb at a location outside the High Peaks, even though Moose and McKenzie are darn close to high peaks.

My previous trip to McKenzie started from Route 86, so that is why I chose to start this trip from the Jackrabbit Trail on Whiteface Inn Road.  This time I was also starting late, 11:15, so I wanted to move quick.  It took 30 minutes to walk the 1.8 mile section of the Jackrabbit Trail to the intersection with the McKenzie Trail.  There is nothing too exciting about hiking the Jackrabbit in summer, also in winter it is a fine ski trail.

At the McKenzie Trail, I turned right, and immediately began the steep climb up McKenzie.  From the junction, the trail climbs 1000' feet in the next .7 miles.  It then tapers off a little as you go over several false summits.    



Sign at the trailhead

I slowed down considerably on the steep upward climb, but still managed to reach the first viewpoint at 2900' an hour from the start. 

Early viewpoint

a zoom view from the first viewpoint

While this trail was less crowded than it's high peak counterparts, I did see a dozen or so people and 5 dogs on the trail.   

Wonderful hiking on summit ridge

After an hour and 45 minutes of hiking, I was on the summit of McKenzie.  While the summit is wooded, there are several viewpoints on the east and west sides of the summit that offer great views.



Views from the summit

Lake Placid from McKenzie

From the summit of McKenzie, I left the people behind and continued north on the SOA herd path to Moose Mountain.  Then I was on McKenzie previously, I had turned around shortly after starting on this herd path, due to blowdown and lots of fresh snow.  This time the path was wonderful.  It has a rugged remote feel and offers hiking on duff instead of rocks, roots and mud. 

The path drops approximately 600' between the two mountains so you have some work to do, but I loved the trail.  It is a little faint in spots due to lots of ferns hanging over the trail, but I just followed my dog Rev, who knew exactly where to go.  You shouldn't lose the trail if you carefully follow it.  The trail is marked by white SOA discs with red lettering.  On many of the discs, the red lettering has faded to yellow.  There are also plain yellow discs which are short spurs leading to viewpoints. 

A non-faded SOA marker

A view of Moose, shortly after leaving McKenzie

Just 0.2 miles north of McKenzie is an optional trail if you want just a McKenzie loop hike.  This trail takes you down past Bartlett Pond and down to the Lake Trail and Whiteface Inn Road. 

Just north of Moose is an SOA trail leading down to Bartlett Pond and the Lake Trail

Here is an example of the many ferns along the SOA trail to Moose

Nearing the Moose Mountain summit ridge

It is 3.1 miles from McKenzie to Moose and this section of the hike took me an hour and 45 minutes.  I has now 3.5 hours into the hike.  I was quite surprised when I reached the summit of Moose to find 2 young women (perhaps in their early twenties) there.  They had climbed from the SOA Two Brooks Trail and said it had taken them three hours.  These were the only people I saw once I left McKenzie.

Moose Mountain offer 2 viewpoints; one looks over Lake Placid, and the other offers views of Catamount and Whiteface.  I sat down with Rev to have some snacks.  It was a beautiful day out.  Not quite bluebird skies, but nice temps and no humidity.  I was surprised but the amount of ordinary house flies buzzing around us on Moose as we ate out snacks.  No other bugs bothered us all day.

    

Catamount from Moose 

Whiteface from Moose

A closer look at Whiteface

... and Catamount

No summit sign on Moose, but a sign telling you how far to McKenzie 

Great view of Lake Placid 

a zoom

From Moose it was time to complete the loop.  We left the summit and quickly came to a fork in the SOA trails.  The left fork goes to Loch Bonnie (.5 to Loch Bonnie, then .3 to Two Brooks), the right fork bypasses Loch Bonnie and goes directly to the Two Brooks trail (.6 miles).  I chose to go the extra .2 and see Loch Bonnie.

The trail to Loch Bonnie is steep smooth duff.  Again, no rocks roots or mud, just steep duff.  Very unusual for the ADK's.  Loch Bonnie is a small quiet tarn.  Once there, you reach another trail split; left to Undercliff and the lake, right to go to Two Brooks trail and back to Whiteface Inn Road.  

Loch Bonnie

The cutover trail from Loch Bonnie to the Two Brooks Trail is only .3 miles, but it has not been maintained and is full of very thick blowdown.  You reach a little hill and cannot tell where the trail is.  I don't recommend this cutoff trail.  I would either skip Loch Bonnie, or re-climb Moose and take the right fork (Two Brooks Trail).   

The beginning of the blowdown 

I would not take the .3 mile spur again from Loch Bonnie

Once I made it through the hellacious .3 mile spur, I was on the Two Brooks trail which was delightful.   About halfway down, I came across the junction with the Bartlett Pond trail to McKenzie.  I haven't taken this trail; something to do in the future.

Junction of Bartlett Pond Trail and Two Brooks Trail 

Continuing on, the trail crossed Two Brooks; a nice brook with great spots to soak your feet.  You also pass an old stone wall that looks like it was built to channel the brook.



Interesting wall.  I would like to know the history behind it 

Next you reach the Lake Trail which is a somewhat unattractive trail which just bypasses homes to get you back to Blodget Road where you walk the short distance to Whiteface Inn Road and the trailhead at the Jackrabbit.

Intersection of the Two Brooks Trail with the Lake Trail

Sign at Blodget Road (on the left if you are walking in here) where you leave the road to start the Lake Trail 

I really liked this hike, especially Moose Mountain.  I you want a shorter version, you can go in and out on the Two Brooks Trail, or do a loop with Bartlett Pond and Two Brooks (that may be my next version of this hike).

If you can find it, there is an out of print booklet called:  "Guide to the SOA Trails - A Hiker's Companion to the Historic Trails of the Lake Placid Home Owner's Association", by Richard Hayes Phillips.  He is the man who did the majority of the work in restoring the SOA trail network.  Well worth reading.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  9.4 miles



Hike Time:  5.5 hours
Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 3000'

My route in red (clockwise); other SOA routes in blue (Click image to enlarge)