Mount Colvin and Blake Peak - 2/5/12

Saturday was such a nice day in the mountains, I went back for more on Sunday.  Saturday was Nippletop and Dial Mountains, today was Colvin and Blake.  All are reached from the Lake Road at the Ausable Club in Saint Huberts, NY.

It was chilly at the start today, 2 degrees fahrenheit.  The forecast called for a low of 14, but at least it was expected to warm to the mid 20's. 

I was once again on the trail at 7:15.  I followed the lake road to the Gill Brook cutoff, then went towards Elk Pass until the fork at 3200' where the trail splits, left to Elk Pass and Nippletop (Saturday's hike) and right to Colvin and Blake (this hike).  I was moving quick to stay warm.  I went to the split (5 miles and 2000 vertical gain) in 1 hour and 45 minutes.  At 9:45 I was on top of Colvin.

At the summit I ran into a man dismantling a tent.  He had camped on the summit of Colvin.  Although camping isn't allowed above 3500' in the High Peaks, people seem to do it anyway. 

Lower Ausable Lake from Colvin

Upper Ausable Lake from Colvin

I pushed on towards Blake and was on the summit there at 11.  The drop to the col between the 2 peaks is a steep drop from both mountains.

Blake from Colvin

A ladder on Colvin leading into the col between Colvin and Blake

The ridge on Colvin

Looks like a Christmas ornament

Sign on the summit of Blake

Although the summit of Blake is wooded, there are several viewpoints offering fine views.  I wasn't disappointed by the summit.  I hadn't heard much good about it, but I didn't mind the hike to check it out. 

Colvin from Blake

The summit of Colvin

At 12:15, I was back at the summit of Colvin.  It is a pretty neat summit and almost feels like an eagle's nest, with quite a drop from the summit viewpoint. 

Lower Ausable Lake from Colvin

Lower Ausable Lake from Colvin

At 2:30 I was back at the car after a pretty easy descent from Colvin.  I wore microspikes the entire hike.  The path was hardpack and I didn't post hole at all.  

A great finish to full weekend of hiking.  I hiked 27 miles and 8800 vertical feet with 4 Adirondack high peaks in 2 days.  Beautiful weather both days made the trips very enjoyable.

Giant from the Ausable Club

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  13.8 miles

Hike Time:  7 hrs, 15 minutes

Total Vertical Gain:  4310'

Colvin Summit Elevation:  4057'

Blake Summit Elevation:  3960'

Trailhead Elevation:  1270'

  

My route shown in blue

Colvin and Blake on Google Earth

Mount Colvin & Blake Peak at EveryTrail

Nippletop & Dial Mountains - 2/4/12

Today was just the perfect winter day in the Adirondacks (except for the lack of snow).  I really wanted to go backcountry skiing, but the rain earlier in the week ruined that.  My only chance to find snow was to climb high, so that's what I did.

I parked in St. Huberts at the parking lot off of Rt 73 and hiked past the Ausable Club on the lake road to the Gill Brook Trailhead that leads past Elk Pass to Nippletop Mountain (4620').   I wore microspikes, but packed snowshoes in hopes of finding snow up high.



Sunrise approaching Round Mountain



I was on the trail by 7:15 and reached Elk Pass at 9:30.  At that point the trail climbs steeply about 1500 feet to the summit. 



Signage on the Gill Brook Trail



 I didn't run into any significant snow until I reached the summit ridge.  At that point it began to pile up quickly and I put on my snowshoes.   There was at least 2 feet of snow on the summit, maybe 3 feet.  Funny, since a half mile before the summit there was only a couple inches. 

Looking towards the summit of Nippletop


The weather was perfect.  Blue sky, sunshine, temperature in the mid 20's and no wind!  I was on the summit at 10:45 AM and no one was there.  Nippletop has great views of the entire Great Range to the north, views of Dix to the south and Giant and Rocky Peak to the east.



A great view of Dix Mountain





It really was a winter wonderland, but only at the summit





The southern half of the Great Range (Gothics on the right)



I left the summit of Nippletop and hiked northeast down the ridge past Dial Mountain (4020') and Bear Den Mountain (3399') as well as the shoulder of Noonmark Mountain before descending back to the Lake Road.

It was a great day, climbing 2 of the Adirondack 4000' peaks.  I was back at the car at 2:30.  Not bad for hiking 13 miles.  Tomorrow is supposed to be the same weather, so I'm planning on climbing Colvin and Blake (the same general area and 2 more of the 46 ADK 4000 footers).  They should take about the same time, or slightly less. I want to get back home in time to unpack so I can sit down and root for the Patriots in the Super Bowl! 

Hike Stats:

Hike Distance:  13 miles

Hike Time:  7.5 hours

Total Vertical Gain:  4510'

Elevation at Trailhead:  1250'

Dial Mountain Summit Elev.:  4020'

Nippletop Summit Elev."  4620'

My route shown in blue