Phelps Mountain from Klondike Brook - 11/16/13

 

Who doesn't kike a loop hike better than an out and back hike?  I always look for loop possibilities when planning a trip.  I also look for routes I haven't done before.   In this case, I had hiked all the marked trail routes in the area, but I could make a loop hike out of Phelps mountain by adding a short bushwhack from Klondike Brook.

 

Leesa and I headed for Adirondac Loj Road and then followed the South Meadow Road to the end.  There was about an inch of snow on the ground and the road was still open (it closes once the snow starts to pile up).

 

We started on the Klondike Trail and quickly crossed the new footbridge over the South Meadow Brook.  :)   The walk along the Klondike Trail was a an easy walk along the slope above the brook.  There was about 2 inches of snow for most of the trail.  The temperature was about 40 degrees and the snow was soft.      

The Klondike Brook Trail

It was 2.75 miles to the Klondike leanto, which we reached in about an hour and 15 minutes.  We stopped and had something to drink and a couple snacks.  From the leanto, it would be a 1.7 mile bushwhack to the top of Phelps Mountain.   We started upward and found that the approach was an easy open forest with a mix of hard/soft woods.  

 



Klondike Leanto

 

We started to see lots of deer tracks and deer beds as we climbed.  All of the sudden I noticed a much bigger track.  It wasn't a deer, but a moose track.  The hoof print was about the size of my hand, and the tracks were at least 3 feet apart.  The moose had come down the sloped and we were following it backwards.

  



A large moose track!

We followed the tracks until they turned along the side slope and we needed to continue upward.  What impressive tracks.  I would have liked to follow the track to see the moose bed.   It would have been enormous. 

 

As we reached the false summit about a half mile to the northeast of the summit of Phelps, we got caught in a thick patch of pine growth.  It looked like the ridgeline would be tough to claw through, so we dropped off the ridge on the east side and found the terrai n easier to negotiate.

Leesa was liking the snow covered woods

Not long after that we found a herd path heading for Phelps which we followed.  By now, there was about 8 inches of snow on the ground and it looked like a winter wonderland.  It was really pretty.  Leesa and Rev were both enjoying the snow,  I was as well.  

... and so was Rev

It was funny as we popped out on the summit.  We were suddenly surrounded by about 10 people and the sun was hitting the south side of the mountain.  It had already melted all the snow off the trees.  It was like a different world.     

The view east from Phelps (Big Slide Mtn on the left)

There was another dog on the summit which caused Rev to start barking like crazy, so we didn't stay on the summit long.  The trip down was not nearly as pleasant as the bushwhack in the snow had been.  The Phelps trail was a combination of ice and slush and Rev was pulling me down faster than I would have liked.

 

  

 

Looking SW to Mount Colden

 

Colden, Algonquin and Wright 

It didn't take long to get down the Phelps Trail.  Once on the Van Hoevenberg Trail, I waited for a couple minutes for Leesa to catch up, then we headed down towards Marcy Dam.  When we reached the High Water bridge we ran into 3 guys headed for Mount Marcy.  It was about 2: 30.  They asked how far it was to the summit from there.  I told them it was probably 4 miles or so and that they would probably just be reaching the summit at dark. Leesa told them they could climb Phelps as an alternate and still achieve a high peak and also get partway down before dark.  They had headlamps, and we think that is what the way they chose to go.   

 

It was sunny and warm when we reached Marcy Dam and the sunshine felt nice.  It felt like late March or early April with the strong sun and melting snow.  

 

Myself at the dam

 
 

Rev posing at Marcy Dam

 

The view from the dam

From Marcy Dam, we took the South Meadow truck trail back to the car.  I like this trail better than the trail to the Loj for some reason, especially if there is enough snow and it is skiable.  It took about an hour from the dam back to the car.

 

This was our first trip of the hike of the fall where we encountered some significant snow and it felt good.  I can't wait for winter!

 

Hike Stats:

 

Hike Distance:  9.1 miles

Hike Time:  6 hours, 15 minutes

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 2200'  

 

Our approximate route (Click image to enlarge)

 

Table Top and Phelps Mountains - High Peaks Wilderness - 1/11/13

Many of my hikes are done solo, or with my wife Leesa.  On this occasion, I had the pleasure of hiking with fellow hikers "WannabeALJr" and "Commissionpoint".  I had planned to go hiking on this day when I heard Wannabe was looking to climb Table Top & Phelps.   I hadn't done this pair in winter so I decided to join her.  Commissionpoint joined in also and gave us a trio.

The weather was warm and in the mid 30's, but rain and/or freezing rain was predicted starting by 4 PM.  We all met in the Town of Schroon Lake and I drove to the High Peaks Information Center to begin our hike.

We got on the trail at 7:30 and hoped that we'd be able to reach both summits before any rain came in.  We chose to hike Table Top first since it was the farther peak to reach.  The first 3 miles to the junction with the Phelps trail is easy walking and the trail only climbs about 800 feet in that distance.

Just past the Phelps junction, the trail begins to climb in earnest and the snow cover on the ground increases significantly.  It really is pretty in the higher terrain with lots of snow clinging to the trees. 



We hit the junction with the Tabletop herd path (really looks like a trail, only without markers) at 9:30. From there it's a relatively easy approach to a high peak summit.  I believe we were on the summit before 10:30.  



1st view to the west from the Table Top herd path

The sky was gray, but visibility was ok.  You could the the MacIntyre Range quite easily on the way up and the Great Range from the summit.   it was windy, but Table Top is treed and quite sheltered from the wind. 

Rev can't be stopped!

Sheltered enough that the snow is still on the trees

The summit

The winter view from Table Top

WannabeALJr

Commissionpoint, myself and Rev

As we turned to go down Table Top, Commissionpoint proceeded ahead of us.  He likes bombing down on the return.  I struggled to keep Rev from pulling me down as we retreated down the mountain.

As we arrived back on the Van Hoevenberg trail we were greeted with a little rain and a few drops of freezing rain.  We reached the Phelps trail junction and assessed our options.  It was just barely raining and it would be an easy out if we needed to turn back.  We decided to press on.  Good decision.  The rain stopped almost immediately and didn't return.

The Phelps is steeper than the Table Top herd path, and although the sign says 1 mile, it appears to be 1.2 miles to the summit.  The trail climbs about 1200' in that 1.2 miles.  Snow being the great trail leveler made it a smooth trip to the top.  As we climbed, we saw our only hiker of the day, a young man who had just summited Phelps and was on his way to Table Top.

The trail in the last couple hundred feet is somewhat exposed, as in the summit ledge.  The wind was blowing quite strong, although with temps in the 30's it didn't feel so harsh.  We took our summit pictures while Rev hid out of the wind.  She's a trooper, but she doesn't like the wind much.  If I stand around on a windy summit, she'll start to howl to indicate it's time to move on.    

View from the summit of Phelps

Commissionpoint and WannabeALJr on Phelps

 

We made it back down the Phelps trail without issue.   Commissionpoint went on ahead.  Rev was somewhat understanding in letting me hike down at my pace, not hers.

Out on the Van Hoevenberg trail, the snow was getting quite soft from the warm temperature.  We didn't have any issues though with the snow sticking to our snowshoes.

We mad it back to the car at 2:30 PM.  There were very few cars at the parking lot.  Perhaps the forecast of rain scared everyone off.  As we drove out, the rain began at 3 PM.  Our timing was right!

Thanks WannabeALJr for planning the hike and to both Wannabe and Commissionpoint for the fine company on this hike.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  12.6 miles

Hike Time:  6 hours, 45 minutes

Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 3750'

Our route shown in blue (click to enlarge)

and a better topo version of the route



Phelps Mountain - 8/27/11

UPDATE - Tuesday, August 30th:
I just learned that the bridge over Marcy Dam got washed out by Hurricane Irene and the High-Water bridge over Phelps Creek had substantial damage.  Also - the bridge on Adirondack Loj Road (closest to the lodge) suffered severe damage.  We were just at all those places the day before.  Below are pictures of Marcy Dam Bridge and Phelps Creek High-Water bridge the day before Hurricane Irene destroyed them.

Saturday August 25th was the day before hurricane Irene hit the northeast, but it was a nice day for hiking.  Leesa and I wanted to climb another of the Adirondack high peaks.  Phelps was the choice for the day.  The mountain is named after Orson Schofield "Old Mountain" Phelps (1817–1905), who cut the first trail up Mount Marcy and named several of the Adirondack peaks.

We drove towards Lake Placid and the Adirondack Lodge, then turned left onto South Meadows Road and parked beside the trailhead.

Summit Coordinates:  44° 9' 25'' N; 73° 55' 17'' W
Elev. at South Meadow Trailhead:  ~ 2000'
Elev. at summit of Phelps:  4160'
Total Elev. Gain:  2160'
Roundtrip hiking time:  3.5 hours
Roundtrip Distance:  9.6 miles

Our route is highlighted in blue

1st sign along the trail

at Marcy Dam

Leesa on Marcy Dam Bridge (the day before Hurricane Irene washed it out)

trail signs at Marcy Dam

just past Marcy Dam

High Water Bridge over Phelps Creek (the bridge suffered extensive damage the next day from Hurricane Irene)

Pool of water immediately below High Water Bridge - excellent swiming spot

We both swam in the pool of water at High Water Bridge on the way down.  It was cold, but quite refreshing and shoulder deep!  There are also designated campsites near this bridge as well as near Marcy Dam.

Leesa on summit

Mike on the summit.  Mt. Colden in the background on the left, Algonquin on the right

Zoom in view of Avalanche Pass

 

Big Slide from the summit of Phelps

Red trail marker near the summit

rock cairn near the summit

View of Mts. Colden, Algonquin and Wright as well as Avalanch Pass

The beginning portion of the hike along the South Meadow truck trail is as easy as walking on the road.  This trail goes approximately 2.6 miles until you reach Marcy Dam.  From Marcy Dam, the Van Hoevenberg trail climbs slowly and steadily towards Mount Marcy.  The Phelps trail branches left off Van Hoevenberg and rises about 1300' in the one mile to the summit.

The views of Mounts Colden, Algonquin and Wright Peak are excellent.  You also have a good view of Marcy, Tabletop, Giant and Big Slide.