This weekend will be Colvin(4057', #39), Blake (3960', #43), and back over Colivn. I've heard that the trail between Colvin and Blake is a slog, and not fun...
My next trip will have a lot of hiking and hit 13 peaks over a week. The first 3 nights I'm saying at ADK Loj, so I'll have a soft bed and shower available each night. The next 3 nights, I'll be in the backcountry, hopefully at Lake Arnold, camping.
Saturday, I went up and did Gothics (4736', #10) and Sawteeth (4100', #35). The day started off rather poorly. When I got up there, I realized how tired I was, not having a great night's sleep along with getting up at 4. On top of that, the AMR and Roaring Brook parking lots were full! According to the ranger I talked to on my way out, they were full at 530...
So, the last 2 weekends I have left undone peaks. Specifically 2 weeks ago I left Colvin (4057', #39), and Blake (3960', #43) when I did Dial and Nippletop, and this last weekend I left Gothics (4736', #10) and Sawteeth (4100'. #35) when I did the Great Range. My goal is to get these 4 peaks done before I go in via ADK Loj for a week of hikes. That means that I will do them this weekend, or maybe, depending on weather, a pair next weekend.
This weekend, I tackled the Great Range of the Adirondacks High Peaks. Thursday, just after work I headed up to the Gardens parking lot. I had a fear that there would be no parking as it was marked as full about 9 in the morning, but when I arrived around 530, there were a dozen or so spots. I hiked in about 3 miles and set up camp on Howard Hill, just shy on the trail from the DEC interior outpost (aka rangers). I was surprised when I hit the trail to see a party of 10, about half of which were pre-teen, getting on the trail to go to Johns Brooks Lodge, an int
So, I planned to do the Great Range this weekend. As of this moment the Gardens parking lot is marked as full, so I may not be able to. If that is the case, I'll come home tonight and go right to bed when I get home to get up early and try again Friday morning. I suspect there are just a bunch of day hikers out today and when I get there I'll find a parking spot.
The great range of the High Peaks is one of the most rewarding things to hike in the park. The range itself is 7, mostly close peaks with a side peak of Sawteeth that also hits the 4000 mark. This is not one of the easier hikes to do. I know from experience as I've done 4 of the peaks back in College, and we had an Alaskan with us that was used to backpacking and hiking in Alaska, and she had trouble with our trails.
Sunday, I had an ambitious day planned. Dial, Nippletop Colvin, and Blake (with a repeat of Colvin and Bear Den which is not a 46er on the way to Dial). I got to the AMR parking lot about 630, and was on the trail shortly after. When I got to the trail register, about 1/2 a mile of road hiking in, I realized I left my poles in the car. That mistake made some of the downhill a bit slower than I usually do...