Sewards - Planning

This coming weekend, I'll be doing the Sewards.  Here I will be parking at the end of Coreys road, and hike about 4.5 miles in to set up camp on Friday afternoon.  Saturday, I will then go up Seward (4361', #24), Donaldson (4140', #33) and Emmons (4040', #40) then back over Donaldson and Seward for an 8.4 mile hike.  Alternatively, as the descent is easier than going down Seward per reviews, I may go back up Donaldson, and then go down the trail there and around, making it at 13 mile day (most on relatively flat land).  This is the loop shown on the map below.  Sund

Sanantoni Range - Planning

Thursday, I plan to do the Sananoni range, something I had planned to do this week as part of the week long camping trip, but planned to do as a multi-day trip.  It can be done as a single day though running about 15 miles, half of which are on herd paths.  The plan is to get on the trail by 7, ideally 630, and go in, up Sanantoni via the "Sanantoni Express", cross over to Panther, and then do the 4 miles (2 in and out) to Couchsachraga, which involves going through a high elevation muddy marsh/swamp once I get to the col between the mountains.  The worst part is th

Quest for 46er

Decades ago, when I was in my late teens, I loved hiking and backpacking.  I had the aspiration to do the AT, PCT, and CDT all as true thru hikes.  I really loved hiking and backpacking.  Then I got a job and well, that stuff has fallen by the wayside.  One goal I have kept though is to become a 46'er.  What is a 46'er?  Well, that's someone that has climbed the 46 tallest peaks in New York, specifically, it's all 46 peaks over 4000 feet (1219 meters) as originally surveyed.  A couple have been found to be a bit shorter, and a couple shorter ones were foun

Rocky Ridge try 2 - Planning

My first attempt at Rocky Ridge was in combination with Giant peak.  It was my first hike of the year up in the 'Daks, and I encountered a lot of snow and ice on the trail.  In short, I was not really ready for that hike.  I've done 4 more mountains since, and am in slightly better shape now than I was then.  I have decided to take a different route to the top...

Cascade and Porter - Planning

If I'm really good, Monday I'll be doing another 2 peaks.  More likely than not, it will be next weekend though.  These two will be Cascade and Porter from Marcy Field.  The old approach to the peaks has been closed due to it's immense popularity and issues with parking.  Cascade was the sacrificial peak as it was only 4.8 miles round trip and not a horrible hike either.  We'll find out what the new one is after this eason as the approaches to Cascade are now significantly longer.  I'll be doing the one from Marcy Field which takes me over Blueberry mountain an

Whiteface and Esther - Planning

This coming weekend, I will go out and attempt the northern most peaks of the high peaks, Whiteface and Esther.  These are both north of Lake Placid, and Whiteface was actually a major venue for the 1980's Olympics.   There is an observatory and a road to the top too.... I'll be hiking in from the old Marble Mountain ski area, going to Whiteface first, and then hitting Esther, which is an unmarked trail/herd path, on the way down.

Whiteface: #5 4867 ft

Esther: #28 4240 ft