Mount Blue (2904') & Lizard Pond - Wilcox Lake Wild Forest - 3/28/15

Here is a different kind of trip:  paddle-trail-bushwhack.  In winter it becomes:  walk on frozen lake-trail-bushwhack.  We realized it's getting late in the season to be out on the ice so we pushed this trip to the top of our list.

The trip is a hike up Mount Blue via Garnet Lake, the Lizard Pond trail and a bushwhack.  There is a parking lot and boat launch at the end of Garnet Lake Road.  Today the parking lot was occupied by ice fisherman and us.  We arrived about 10:30 to overcast skies, temp in the mid 20's and snow flurries.  The previous 2 days had been warm with rain.

The wet surface on the ice had re-froze to some extent, but as we walked across the lake, we broke through the top 2" of ice in many places.  It was a funny feeling, but there was still plenty of solid ice below the slushy surface.  

  

Rev leading the way across Garnet Lake.  In the background, Gillingham Knoll on the left. Mount Blue on the right. 

The walk from the parking area/boat launch was a pleasant 0.8 mile walk.  We had wind at our backs and we watched a couple ice fisherman who had set up equipment in the south end of the lake.

I wasn't sure how the bushwhack part of the hike would turn out.  The climb is on the SE flank of the mountain.  I was hoping the sun and rain had melted a large portion of the snow and then the cold temps had firmed up the snow that was left.  Time would tell.

The access to the Lizard Pond Trail is in the narrows of the lake on the west side.  It is easy to spot and there is a trail sign there indicating 1.2 miles to Lizard Pond.

The Lizard Pond Trail is a snowmobile trail and we found a firm base there to walk on.  We wanted to walk to the lean-to, but we wanted to climb Mount Blue first, therefore we only followed the Lizard Pond Trail for about 0.6 miles to the height of land, before we donned our snowshoes and left the trail.  We headed NW and could see Mount Blue directly in front of us.  This wouldn't be the case once the trees leaf out.

Once off the trail, I immediately knew this would be a chore.  There was still 18-24" of snow on the ground and no firm crust to walk on.  Maybe up high things would be different.  Rev and I broke trail and Leesa gratefully followed in our tracks.

It was slow going.  Winter was alive and well here here on Mount Blue.  We moved at a pace of about 0.5 miles/hour.  It didn't matter much since this a such a short bushwhack.  Still, it took us 1.5 hours to climb the 3/4 mile bushwhack.

Our first viewpoint back over our shoulders

... and looking up the ridge

Garnet Lake down below

Crane Mountain is prominent in the background

Leesa actually decided to turn around after we reached the open rock viewpoint that lies 0.2 miles below the summit.  She didn't care about bagging the peak, she just wanted the view.

  

Leesa's turnaround point.  A great view exists from here.

Rev and I continued onward and upward.  We clawed through a small thick area and then is was relatively open to the top.  Though open, trees surrounded the summit that blocked most of the views.  

Near the true summit...

I tagged the summit then Rev and I bombed down the hill to catch up to Leesa.  We got back to her about 2/3rd's of the way down.

Once back on the Lizard Pond trail, we turned right to follow the trail SW for 3/4 mile across Lizard Pond to the lean-to on the south shore.  The tracks around the lean-to weren't fresh, but perhaps the wood-bearers would be back.

Snowmobile tracks led right to the Lizard Pond lean-to.  Someone had left a huge pile of split wood there (probably pulled in on a sled from a snowmobile).  

We stopped and and some food at the lean-to and then turned into the wind to walk NE back to the car. 

Some day we may come back to do this trip in the fall for a boat/hike combo.  It's a great area and the bushwhack would be short and fast when the snow is gone.  Still a nice day out and we got a good workout for a short hike.

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  6.2 miles

Hike Time:  4 hours, 20 minutes

Total Vertical Gain: ~1300' 

Route (click image to enlarge)

Nat Geo map showing route

Yard and Big Slide Mountains - High Peaks Wilderness - 3/22/15

I often that the path less traveled.  Today was no exception.  The chosen route was a loop hike of Yard Mountain and Big Slide.  I went clockwise from John's Brook Lodge via the Klondike Trail to the Yard to Big Slide Trail, when down the Slide Mountain Brook trail.

This adventure started from the Garden parking lot in Keene Valley.  I was surprised when I pulled in that there were only 3 parking spots available at just after 8 AM.  It appears that most of the vehicles had arrived the day before and folks had stayed overnight in tents or at the ADK facilities.  I thought that since the winter hiking season had ended, there would be more space in the lot.

I started in on the Phelps trail towards Johns Brook Lodge (JBL) and the only fresh tracks ahead of me were from 2 people on skis.  Between the Garden and JBL, I saw 15 people on their way out.  Some had spent the cold windy night in tents.  The wind chill had been sub-zero overnight.  The weather gods didn't get the word that it is now spring.

The closed up, winterized,  Johns Brook Lodge 

It's 3.5 miles to JBL, but it's an easy walk on a firm surface and I got there in an hour and 10 minutes.  From JBL, the Klondike trail is immediately behind the left side of the building.  There is is a sign denoting the start of the red marker trail. 

The Klondike trail goes from JBL to South Meadow  

I was excited to find the Klondike Trail had a firm base with 2" of fresh powder on top.  It was just about perfect for snowshoeing and it was very pretty with the fresh snow still in the trees.  On the entire loop starting at JBL and back to the Phelps Trail I only saw 2 people (a couple coming down the Slide Mountain Brook trail).    

Rev enjoying the Klondike Trail

The Klondike gets some skiers, but the trail to Yard doesn't get much traffic.  In winter it gets even less.  It certainly felt like the path less traveled today.  Once again, there was a base with a couple inches of powder on top, but as I got near the top (and along the ridge) the track was blown in.  I had to do a little route finding in a couple spots.  The trail is somewhat grown in, and is in need of some sidecutting.  Markers are also a little scarce.

I passed some nice ice flows on the south side of the first sub-summit.  The temperatures had been generally cold, but the strong sun is causing ice to form.

It's ice season

I had the best of both worlds today; I got to hike this loop that is little used, yet with a generally firm base until the ridge, I didn't have to break trail on the steep.  Re-breaking the wind blown ridge wasn't so bad; walking on a surface close to level.  I felt like I was far from civilization, yet I knew once I got to Big Slide, there would be fresh tracks,  I was thinking "this feels like a bushwhack, without the effort".  I got quite covered in snow from the tight trail and snow laden branches.  I also did a lot of walking hunched over  to get below branches when I could. 

Some views of pieces of the Great Range along the way 

Gothics!

A spring wonderland...

I believe this is Marcy

Sign at the top of Yard Mountain

the 2nd sign at the top

As expected, when I got to the summit of Big Slide, it looked like a quite a few people had reached the summit already this morning.  I was there at about noon.  I had the place to myself.  It had been windy on the ridge and I had been wearing my facemask, but the summit of Big Slide was sheltered from the wind and was getting hit by some strong sun rays.  It felt nice!  I gave Rev some food and we basked in the rays for a few minutes before heading down.

Rev on Big Slide

The Great Range

Giant Mountain in the background

Rev waiting patiently to leave Big Slide

... and then not so patiently!

Big Slide - A sunny hot spot...

The 0.3 mile descent from Big Slide to the first trail junction didn't seem as steep as I remembered.  I was able to stay on my feet, even with Rev pulling me.

  

Looking back up towards the summit of Big Slide

At the junction, I turned right to take the path less traveled.  Most people prefer to go back along the ridge over "The Brothers".  It's shorter and has better views.  I've done that enough times so I opted to turn right and take the Slide Mountain Brook Trail.

This trail, while pretty, has limited to no mountain views.  It does go along a nice brook (which was still frozen and snow covered today).  The trail has not seen any humans using snowshoes in the recent past.  All tracks in the snow were from bare booters.   Near the bottom, I ran into one such couple and easily passed them as they struggled without snowshoes .  Please folks, wear snowshoes when it's required.  I did my best to smooth out the trail with my snowshoes as I went down.

Once back on the Phelps trail, I had a easy 2.8 mile walk back to the car and saw no one.  Back at the parking lot around 2 PM and most of the cars were gone.  I signed out at the trail register and saw only 5 groups had signed in all day.

       

Rev climbing the Phelps trail towards the Howard Lean-to

Hike Stats:
Hike Distance:  12 miles
Hike Time:  5.5 hours
Total Vertical Gain:  ~ 3100'

The route and the elevation profile (click either to enlarge) 

The Nat Geo trail map