Mount Colden - High Peaks Wilderness - 1/19/13

Mount Colden is one of those Adirondack peaks that I find nice to climb in all seasons.  In the summer, I did a loop hike from the High Peaks Information Center (HPIC) to Colden via Avalanche Pass up the west face of Colden then down the east side to Lake Arnold and out.

Today my wife Leesa and I stayed on the east side and went up and back via Lake Arnold.  There was very little snow down low, just barely enough to ski or use snowshoes.  We had our snowshoes, and wore them the entire hike, although they were not needed until we began to climb towards Lake Arnold.

In summer, the Lake Arnold trail is quite rocky.  In winter it's an easier hike when the trail is paced snow conditions.

On the first 2.1 miles to Marcy Dam we came across several groups of backpackers.  One group was heading for Feldspar Leanto.  Another group was headed for Lake Colden on skis.  They were going to camp and then ski out via the Calamity Brook trail to Upper Works.

We got to Marcy Dam in just under an hour.  The forecast called for 55 mph winds on the summit, but we never saw those kinds of winds (and that's ok).  We felt an occasional blast of wind, but for the most part, it was relatively calm.  Granted, we weren't ever really exposed to winds above treeline, but we didn't hear any winds whistling.

The trail continues relatively flat until Avalanche Camp where the trail splits (left to Lake Arnold and beyond, right to Avalanche Pass).  We turned towards Lake Arnold, where the trail begins to climb.  At 4.7 miles from the lodge we reached Lake Arnold which sits at about 3750'.  We got there in about 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Zoom in of Mount Colden and it's false summit as seen from Marcy Dam

The climb from Lake Arnold was nice.  There was 3-4 inches on snow on top of the hard pack base.  We weren't making first tracks, but the snow was soft at this point.  We climbed the remaining 1.4 miles in about 50 minutes.  Several groups were ahead of us.  We passed one group on the way up and saw another couple near the false summit who where on their way down.

Mount Colden from the false summit

Skies were gray all day, but visibility was good.  We stopped to have lunch under the big cantilever rock just before the summit.

The MacIntyre Range

Once on top we enjoyed the views in all directions.  We found it quite amazing how much snow melted during the week prior.  The snowpack went from 4 feet to about 1 foot.  Still it is pretty up high, and the hiking is easy.

Rev - Near the summit of Colden

The MacIntyre Range again

A pink glow in the distance below the clouds

Mount Marcy

The false summit of Colden

The Great Range in the distance

We returned by the same route.  We saw several groups on skis on the Marcy Dam trail, even though the snow coverage on the trail was minimal.

Leesa - on the way down the Lake Arnold Trail

We completed the out and back hike in about 6 hours, going at Leesa's comfortable pace.  Another nice day on the trail.

For comparison, here is how Colden looked in the summer. 

Hike Stats: 

Hike Distance:  ~ 12.5 miles

Hike Time:  6 hours

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 2800'

Our route shown in blue (click to enlarge)

Our route as shown on CalTopo

Mount Colden - 7/14/12

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to re-climb Mount Colden.  It had been many years since I had summited Colden.  In fact, Colden was the 2nd high peak I ever climbed.  It had been a day of pouring rain and fog with no views.  

My wife's brother Rob was visiting and was looking for a nice high peak to climb.  He had done Giant and Algonquin the previous weekend.  I suggested Colden as a great loop hike for us both to climb.  My plan was to park at South Meadow and take the old truck road to Marcy Dam, then climb through Avalanche Pass to Lake Colden.  From there we would climb the steep trail from the lake to the summit.  Our descent would be down the east side of Colden to Lake Arnold, then back to Marcy Dam and out. 

Interior trail register

We parked at South Meadow and were on the trail at 6:30 AM.  We made good time and passed two women along Avalanche Lake.  They were doing the same hike as us.  We saw a group of six filtering water at the Lake Colden crossing.  Later, climbing the steep trail up Colden, we saw a group of 5 or 6 guys.

There were several other groups along way including a young camp group  that we saw at the lower summit.    

We reached the Lake Colden crossover around 8:30 AM .  Rob took the lead as we climbed the steep trail up Colden.  He had Rev on the leash and they were quickly getting ahead of me.  I picked up my pace  and wondered if I was going to be able to keep up.  About halfway up, I caught up with Rob who was resting along the side of the trail.  He had realized he was hiking too fast and it was time to slow down.  That was OK with me.  We continued on.  I had to lift Rev in two locations.  One spot was a rock that she couldn't leap up, and one ladder near the treeline.  

A steep rise to the summit of Mount Colden

We reached the summit at 10:30 AM.  It looked totally unfamiliar to me, so I enjoyed the view for the first time.  We continued over to the lower false summit where we stopped to have an early lunch.     There was not much breeze, but above the treeline it was enough to cool us down.  It certainly didn't feel like the 90 degrees that it was supposed to reach in the valley.

   

Glacial erratics near treeline

After lunch we continued on the loop over to Lake Arnold.  We stopped for a snack at Lake Arnold (Rev went for a swim).  From there we headed back towards Marcy Dam and back to South Meadow.  It was the longest hike Rob had been on.  He admitted he was tired, but he also really enjoyed it.  He had grabbed his third high peak.  He is going to keep a record of his ascents, just in case he decides to become a 46er!

I had to help the dog on this one! 

We were back to the trailhead about 2:20 PM.   I headed home due to other commitments.  Rob was going to stay in the north country.  Who knows, maybe he climbed another peak on Sunday.  He was considering Cascade and Porter, depending on the weather.

In either case, we both enjoyed Colden on Saturday.  No bug problems.  It was hot in the valley, but a fine day to be up high.

Looking towards Lake Colden from the treeline of Mount Colden

Summit view of Lake Colden

Iroquois, Algonquin and Wright from Mount Colden

Mount Colden from the lower summit

The lower summit was our lunch location

Rob and Rev during during our lunch break

Ready to resume our hike

Lake Arnold

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  13.4 miles

Hike Time:  7 hours, 50 minutes (including stops)

Total Vertical Gain:  3240'

My GPS track of Mount Colden at EveryTrail

Our route shown in blue (click image to enlarge)