We started the day with a little miscommunication.  I said I was at Loj, and my hiking companions took it literally and went over to the actual ADK Loj, while I was sitting there waiting at the High Peaks Information Center (HPIC).  We found each other though and started the hike on the VanHovenberg trail.  There was a sign at the trailhead that said there was enough snow, that snowshoes were legally required starting here.  So, the shoes went on.

One thing that comes up in most hiking conversations is "how long did it take"?  This is often pared with the much easier answer of how many miles and how much elevation which can be determined by using a map and counting contour lines, or more easily read up in the guide book or use a mapping software.  But that how much time question is not an easy one to answer.  It all comes down to what your body can do as far as pace goes along with the trail itself.

Yesterday, I went and tackled Dial and Nippletop for winter credit.  The last time I attempted this, I got about 3 miles in and couldn't get my heart rate down, even when relaxing on Noonmark's shoulder, so turned around.  This time I was solo and got was feeling much better.  Started the day with the 1.6 mile road walk to the trailhead in bare boots.  At that point, I put my spikes on and started up the HG Leach trail.  This was thinly covered with snow and spikes were just fine for the first half mile or so.

We started off the day at the AMR lot and I had jokingly said to someone going to sawteeth that we're doing the disappointing peaks today.  It's not totally true or false, but Blake is not 4000 feet (3960) and Colvin is not much higher at 4057 feet.  So we're planning to do a long hike (planned route was about 14 miles) with a lot of elevation gain (over 4000 feet) for one peak that's just barely 4000 feet that does have some nice views, and a peak that is under 4000 and has zero views.

This year has been another year of hiking.  It was a year where I was able to introduce a friend to the beauty of the high peaks and share with her one of my favorite places in the park, Avalanche Lake.  I also had the pleasure to hike in to Indian Head to watch the eclipse with about 50 others, and made a friend on that hike that I've thoroughly enjoyed hiking with since.

Hiked Lower WolfJaw today.  I know that it was hiked and broken out on Saturday, but we have had snow since, and nobody had been on the trail since the snow.  Bare booted on Lake Road and once I crossed the bridge heading over to the Canyon Bridge and West River trail, I saw a lone set of footprints that stopped just past that first bridge.  So, I threw on the snowshoes, and they stayed on until I reached the gate on the way out.

Today I went to do a "short" hike up Sugarloaf mountain in the Catskills.  I came in via Mink Hollow, the old trail.  The trail starts off as an old road that crosses a stream a few times, and was anywhere from a few inches to no snow.  I got to the Devils Path and hung a left and in no time I was at the trail junction with the new Mink Hollow trail.  This is where the climb starts.  There was a lone set of tracks I was following, and they were covered in a couple inches of fresh snow.  But damn it is steep.  

Well, a lesson in humility today.  I had this feeling when I had a bad nights sleep and a cautious drive up to Keene Valley that I should have stayed home.  The drive up was ok, but there was enough snow falling to make it interesting, and by the time I got to the Lake George area, it was mostly wet road... then 73 was dusted in snow.  I got my normal breakfast at Stewarts and found I couldn't really eat it.  Nerves I thought.

Absolutely beautiful day up Noonmark.  We started off with 4 people around 8 in the morning.  A late start, but it was going to be a short hike.  Th trail up Noonmark reminded me of the high peak trails just a bit further down the road.  A stead steep with some crazy steep spots.  With the rain that had come through earlier in the week, it was not as snowy, and there was plenty of ice.  Towards the top the snow started to dominate and we could have justified switching to snowshoes, but it wasn't really that deep....

Today was a day for winter hiking... although it won't count for winter credit.  The day started with it snowing as I reached exit 24 on the northway, and roads were being a little slick the rest of the way in.  My GPS said I'd arrive at 621 when I started, I got to the lot about 650 after stopping for a coffee and breakfast sandwich... the conditions cost me about 20 min and I was happy that I had left as early as I did.