Eagle Eyrie - McKenzie Mountain Wilderness - 5/28/17

While Leesa was attending the 46er spring meeting and the Crowne Plaza hotel in Lake Placid on Saturday, I was charge of keeping our dog Rev occupied.  I dropped Leesa off at 11:30 and then headed to Whiteface Mountain Road to hike Eagle Eyrie (2631') via the Shore Owners Association (SOA) Lake Trail.

Eagle Eyrie has been on my list for awhile, and I had attempted it once, but the snow was too deep and I had turned around.  This time, all I needed was my bug head net to keep the black flies out of my face.  I started at Bloget Road and fo;;owed the road a couple hundred yards until the trail began on the left hand side of the road just before the road gate.

The Lake Shore trail is nothing special, but it leads to a bunch of options.  The signage is good on all the SOA trails, but they don't get much foot traffic, so sometimes you cannot even tell you are on a trail.  The trail discs are pretty good, but you occasionally have to look for them.  On this day, I just stayed on the Lake Shore trail all the say to the Eagle Eyrie trail.  It was about 4.8 miles on the Lake Shore Trail and then another 0.7 to the top.

A pair of the many good signs along the way. 

A foot bridge near the beginning of the Lake Shore Trail. 

Eagle Ryrie in the center left background.

When I got near the north shore of Lake Placide, just west of Head Brook, I found the remains of a house:  foundation, sink, tub, beds & stove.

An old firebox 

I think I'll pass...

A twin size bedframe

 Just after crossing Head Brook, there is a 0.1 spur trail to the lake, where boaters have access to a 0.8 mile hike to Eagle Eyrie.  Still the trail is lightly used. It appears that not many boaters have stopped to do this hike.  

A 2nd option is to approach Eagle Eyrie from Connery Popnd and Whiteface Landing.  That would be a slightly shorter and easier hike,

The climb from the lake is about a 600' elevation gain in 0.8 miles, with the forest transitioning from hardwoods to a coniferous forest about halfway up.

The Eagle Eyrie Trail.

The actual summit of Eagle Eyrie is heavily forested, but there is a small lookout which provides a nice view of Lake Placid.

lake Placid from Eagle Eyrie

The Eagle has landed...

A couple zoom views...

Mount Colden and the McIntyre Range in the background.

I returned via the same route.  I only saw one person all day, even though it was a holiday weekend.  It just goes to show that the SOA trail don't generally receive many visi

One of the many brook crossings

An SOA trail  to a Cascade and Pool(o.7 miles)  leads partway before a sign tells hikers to follow the streambed.

I got back in time to feed the dog and get myself some dinner before picking up Leesa from the Crowne Plaza.  Rev was sufficiently tired so slept on the drive home.


Hike Stats:
Hike Distance:  11.7 miles
Hike Time:  6 hours
Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 1300'

The route

The route on the Nat Geo map

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) 

Loch Bonnie - McKenzie Mountain Wilderness - Lake Placid - 1/1/15

I love the name Loch Bonnie.  It sounds Scottish or Irish and conjures up images of the Scottish Highlands.  This Loch Bonnie isn't quite the same, but it lies in an area of the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness that feels blissfully remote; especially on a cloudy winter day with flurries and snow squalls.

Loch Bonnie can be accessed via the little known network of trails known as the Shore Owners Assocation (SOA) trail network; the labor of love of Richard Hayes Phillips.  Richard almost single handedly, over the course of nine seasons restored 17 miles of trails in this area.  These trails had been cut and marked in the late 1800's and early 1900's, only to fall into disrepair by the 1970's.  Richard researched the history of this network, and took it upon himself to bring the network of trails back to life.

Back on 8/9/14, I did a loop of McKenzie Mountain and Moose Mountain, then came down via och Bonnie.  This time, Leesa, Rev and I started from Bloget Road (at the end of Whiteface Inn Road) and followed the Lake Trail to the Loch Bonnie Trail which climbs alongside Minnow Brook to Loch Bonnie.   

Follow Bloget Road to the gate, then follow signs on the left to follow the Lake Trail in the woods 

The Lake trail leaves Bloget Road here

Peaceful

The Lake Trail is surprisingly hard to follow.  The saving grace is that it stays close to the west side of Lake Placid, so if you lose it, you can find it again pretty quickly.  The markers and signs that exist along the way are somewhat old and worn.

Several Lake Trail signs look like this

The trail information signs are a barn red color.  They exist at trail junctions and provide some mileage information.  I've included some pictures of the signs below.

Sign, Sign, everywhere a sign (not really, but they are helpful)

It's nice that the Shore Owners Association allows visitors to use the SOA trails on private property

Once we got to Minnow Brook, I knew it was time to climb to Loch Bonnie.  I lost the trail markers for a little while in this area (known as Camp MinnowBrook).   Then I came to the sign below, and we were back on track. 

After we passed the sign above, the woods switched from hardwoods to softwoods.  The snow got a little deeper and we switched from microspikes to snowshoes.  One of my goals on this trip was to find the lean-to at Loch Bonnie.  Last time I did not see it.  I thought it had been torn town or had rotted away.  I later found out that it is still there, although in poor shape.  

Nearing Loch Bonnie

At the location of the picture below, I stopped the lean-to.  I had been standing at this exact spot in August, but didn't see the shelter.  It is surrounded by some small pines which make it easy to miss.

The lean-to was spotted 

The roof has a gaping hole, but the rest of the structure looks salvagable

You won't be kept dry in here...

Loch Bonnie is interesting in summer, but I love the fact that it feels even more remote in winter.

   

Loch Bonnie

We had started this hike around 10:30 and it was now 1:30.  We decided to go back the way we had come, rather than looping up and over Moose Mountain.

Sign at Loch Bonnie

Heading downhill was a breeze and we made it back to the car at 3 PM.  My next trip in this area will be a hike to McKenzie and Moose via the Bartlett Pond Trail.  Stay tuned.

Heading back towards the Lake Trail

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  7.4 miles

Hike Time:  4.75 hours

Total Vertical Gain:  ~1500' 

The route (click image to enlarge

A look at the area and the route on the National Geographic map