Phelps Mtn

Date:07/05/2012

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Phelps Mtn (4161') (#32)

Trailhead:South Meadows Trailhead

Trip Time:6 Hours (40 min on summit)

This log is under development.

Whiteface Mtn & Esther Mtn

Date:06/10/2012

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Whiteface Mtn (4867') (#5), Esther Mtn (4240') (#28)

Trailhead:Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) Trailhead

Trip Time:8.5 Hours (1hr on Whiteface, 10min on Esther)

This log is under development.

Macomb Mtn, South Dix (Carson) & East Dix (Grace)

Date:10/10/2011

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Macomb Mtn (4405') (#21), South Dix (4060') (#37), East Dix ('4012) (#42)

Trailhead:Elk Lake Trailhead

Trip Time:10 Hours (20 minutes on each summit)

This log is under development.

Dix Mtn & Hough Peak

Date:08/15/2011

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Dix Mtn (4857') (#6), Hough Peak (4400') (#23)

Trailhead:Elk Lake Trailhead

Trip Time:9 Hours (20 minutes on each summit)

I retired early for the night because I wasn't feeling so well. I set the alarm for a 4:30 wakeup, our agreed upon time with the hopes that we would be back at the campsite by five to make dinner, relax down by the lake, do some fishing and just enjoy the evening. The forecast was calling for rain all day but we were hopeful that it would hold off or just be spotty at times. We woke up at 4:30 to the sound of rain on our tents and tarps. We downed some oatmeal with a banana along with coffee and juice; we didn't eat that well in our leanto last year. By 5:15 we were leaving the site and heading to the Elk Lake Trailhead.

Elk Lake is a small parking area because it's located on private land. We arrived shortly before 6:00 with the rain still coming down pretty steady. We were thinking the weather was deterring people from hiking because there was not one other car in the parking lot. Matt signed us into the register and we began the trek down the Hunter Pass Trail in our attempt of conquering the Dix range. We were going to do the Dix Range Traverse going from Macomb – East Dix – South Dix – Hough – Dix.

Me, Frank, Matt

Mt. Marshall

Date:08/14/2011

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Mt. Marshall (4360') (#25)

Trailhead:Upper Works Trailhead, Tahawus

Trip Time:8.5 Hours (30 minutes on summit)

We left Albany around 5:00 AM setting out for our second 3 day hike.  We planned on hiking Mt. Marshall today and then tomorrow morning getting up early and attempting to hike all five peaks in the Dix Range.  We were going to hike Macomb Mtn., South Dix, East Dix, Hough Peak to Dix Mtn.  Instead of backpacking into the Adirondacks we reserved a campsite at Paradox Lake, we wanted to relax by a fire and have a nice meal before the adventurous 5 peak hike.  We arrived at the Upper Works Trailhead shortly after 7:00.

Matt, Frank, Me

Cascade Mtn & Porter Mtn

Date:08/01/2011

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Danny, Me

Peaks:Cascade Mountain (4098') (#36), Porter Mountain (4059') (#38)

Trailhead:Route 73, Cascade Trailhead

Trip Time:4 Hours (20 minutes on each summit)

Our friend, Danny, was coming into town from San Diego and wanted to join us on a hike in the Adirondacks. He's been accomplishing a lot of hiking out west, along with rock climbing, and had never done anything in the Adirondacks before. So we planned a hike to ascend Cascade and Porter. Ok, so it's the easiest hike of the 46 peaks, but we wanted something that would only take a few hours so we could grab a drink and relax afterwards. We departed from Albany at 5:30AM with a goal of getting these two peaks done before lunch time. We arrived at the Trailhead on Route 73 just after 7:30 and popped the hood to Frank's car. Frank had noticed his RPM's started to jump during the drive up and with a minor inspection under the hood and under the car, we found that he was leaking Transmission fluid. There wasn't anything we could do at that point in time so we decided to go on the hike and fix the issue when we got back. We strapped on our packs and Matt signed us into the registry.

Danny, Frank, Matt, and Me

Nye Mtn & Street Mtn

Date:07/25/2011

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Nye Mountain (3895') (#45), Street Mountain (4166') (#31)

Trailhead: ADK Loj Parking Lot, Heart Lake

Trip Time:7 Hours (5 minute break on Nye and 20 minutes on Street)

We departed from Albany at 5:30 having our eyes set on possibly hiking the lower range. We knew that the weather was calling for showers and thunderstorms throughout the day so an 18 mile hike could be a long stretch. We didn’t have a fall back plan so decided to figure it out when we got up into the Adirondacks. We pulled over at the ADK rest stop and pulled out the map. The skies didn’t seem that bad but the more we talked about it the last thing we wanted was to be on top of a range in a thunderstorm. Also since Gothics supposedly has the best views we thought there might be a possibility of overcast at the summit. So we made a quick switch and decided to hike Street and Nye out of the ADK Loj. I had seen online that Street and Nye don’t have the best views so if we got to the summit and it was overcast we wouldn’t be too disappointed.

Me, Frank, Matt

Dial Mtn & Nippletop

Date:07/11/2011

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Dial Mountain (4020') (#41), Nippletop (4620') (#13)

Trailhead: St. Huberts Parking Lot, Ausable Club Trailhead

Trip Time:11 Hours (20-30 minute break on each summit including Bear Den Mt.)

As usual we left Albany at 5:30 with our goal of hiking Dial and Nippletop. I researched these two peaks for about a week or so to find the best way to approach them. Some people say going counter-clockwise and others say clockwise. Everyone said going down Elks Pass would be tough and it’s easier to go up it. So we decided to go clockwise, meaning we would travel down Elks Pass. The bonus of going this route is that our walk out would be down Lake Road for about 3 miles. We arrived at St. Huberts parking lot around 7:30, strapped on our gear and started walking down Ausable Club Rd to Lake Rd.

Matt, Frank, Me

Algonquin Peak, Iroquois Peak & Wright Peak (McIntyre Range)

Date:10/11/2010

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Algonquin Peak (5114') (#2), Iroquois Peak (4840') (#8), Wright Peak (4580') (#16)

Trailhead:Heart Lake (ADK Loj)

Trip Time:9.5 Hours (20-30 minute break on each summit)

We left Albany at 5:30 for this trip to the Adirondacks. We were hoping to get three peaks in along the McIntyre Range. Our entry point was going to be the ADK Loj. We arrived at the Loj just before 8:00 and went inside to purchase a few items. Matt had under dressed for this hike even though he wouldn't admit to it. The high was going to 44° F with wind gust from 10-15mph so general consensus is to assume it's going to be colder on the summits. Matt purchased a winter hat to help him battle the elements and from the drive up to the ride home he wouldn't admit to being cold but if you look at the photos they would say otherwise. At 8:15 we hit the trailhead and started our hike in.

Frank, Matt, Me

Cliff Mountain & Mt Redfield (3 Day Hike)

Date:8/22/2010 - 8/24/2010

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Mt. Redfield (4606') (#15), Cliff Mountain (3960') (#44)

Trailhead:Heart Lake (ADK Loj)

Trip Time:3 Days, 2 Nights

Bear Canisters + No Bears = Excess Weight

Day 1

6:25 We leave my house and it just started to rain as I was waiting outside the house for everyone. As we drive north the rain continued to get heavier and heavier. We arrived at ADK Loj near 8:45. We run inside to rent our bear canister, sign in, and start assembling our packs to head to the trailhead via Heart Lake. Our quest of a 3 day hike starts at 9:30 as the rain is coming down pretty steadily. Frank and I estimated that our packs easily weighed about 42 lbs with bear canisters on.

Me, Frank, Matt

Rocky Peak Ridge & Giant Mtn

Date:7/12/2010

Hikers:Frank, Matt, Me

Peaks:Giant Mountain (4627') (#12), Rocky Peak Ridge (4420') (#20)

Trailhead:Zander Scott (Ridge Trail)

Trip Time:9.5 Hours (40 minute break on each summit)

We left Albany around 6:15 AM and headed North to Adirondack State Park. We mapped out our hike earlier in the week. This was our first hike in our quest to conquer the 46 High Peaks of the Adirondacks. We parked our Jeep on the side of Rt. 73 and gathered our gear together. We arrived at the Zander Scott Trailhead (formerly known as the Ridge Trail) around 8:15 AM to start our hike of Giant Mt. & Rocky Peak Ridge. The skies were clear and the temperature was around 70°.

Matt, Me, Frank