Dix and Noonmark 10/27/15

It's late Fall so I started out early and arrived at the trail head (Round Pond) about 1/2 hour before sunrise. The drive over was pretty nice since it was a clear night and a full moon. I had my head lamp on for a about 5 minutes when I started walking and then turned it off finding I could see better with the moon. The sun was coming up just as I got to Round Pond. Nice still cold (20 deg) morning. The pond was calm with no ripples except those created by a beaver that started circling in front of me. The trail to Dix is relatively flat for about 5 miles until you get to the base of Dix. The trail from that point on is very steep and goes up just to the right of a slide and has roughly the same pitch as the slide. It was icy and then very icy for the last .5 miles. Dix has two tops that both look like they are about the same height. I don't know which is the actual top so I always go to both of them. Dix is South of most of the 4000 footers and has great views of the great range, Giant, and the rest of the Dix range.
I spent some time walking around on the Dix ridge and then headed back down the trail. There was no wind so it was very comfortable to hang out at elevation. Going down was slow going until I got to the bottom and the "flat" trail that goes back out. About 2.5 miles away from the parking area is the junction to Noonmark. Noonmark is a 3500 foot mountain with a rick top. It has great views since it is sitting in the middle of the high peaks and is closer to them than Dix. It also has great views looking back toward Dix. This was an extra 2 miles and 1200 foot elevation gain, and I was pretty tired at this point, but I had been up Noonmark before and it is worth it.

Sunrise Round Pond

Great range from top of Dix

Dix

Elk lake

Dix range

Noonmark on left and Giant on right from bottom of Dix slide

Dix slide

Great range from top of Noonmark

Ausable club

Looking back at Dix from top of Noonmark

Skylight and Marcy 10/8/15

A perfect Fall day to be in the woods. This trip was one of the better trips in the ADK's so far. Starting from the ADK Loj I went up to Avalanche Lake. I started at 6AM so it was still dark for the first 1/2 hour of the hike. Avalanche Lake is always nice and this AM it was particularly nice with the early light and steam coming off of the lake. The trail around Avalanche Lake is slow going but interesting. There isn't much room between the lake and a cliff that goes up along the length of the lake. The trail is a combination of boulders, ladders, and walk ways. Some of the walkways are built out over the lake. After Avalanche Lake I followed the trail going toward the Mt Colden trail access. After that I took a left heading toward Lake Tear of the Clouds which is at 4200 feet. The trail to the lake is a long climb along side a river with many small waterfalls and pools. A nice trail! You go by the trails to Redfield and Cliff and just before the lake the trail to Gray. Past Lake Tear of the Clouds there is a junction that goes to Skylight, Haystack, or Marcy. I turned up the trail to Skylight. Skylight has a wide rock top and sits beyond Marcy with views of many of the high peaks including Haystack, Basin, Saddle Back, and Gothics among many others. Marcy is close by so a great view of Marcy. Many people bring a rock to the top of Skylight. It is supposed to help out with the weather? I brought a rock up this time and placed it at the top of a large pile at the summit. There was no wind at elevation on this day. Out of the ordinary and very quiet at the top of Skylight. It also allowed for long stays at the summit since it was a comfortable temp, maybe 45, but with no wind.

From Skylight I went back down to the intersection and took the trail to Marcy. Half way up this trail you are above tree line and have great views of Haystack and Skylight. Marcy is the highest mountain the ADK's and has a 360 view that includes many of the 4000 foot mountains in NY. Again there was no wind on the climb up and at the top. From the top of Marcy I headed down the trail that goes to Indian Falls and the trail to Table Top. I went to Indian Falls and then back tracked a little to go down another route back toward lake Arnold. You can go to the bottom of Indian Falls off of this trail.

It was a long day, about 19 miles, and I finished at 4:30 (6AM - 4:30PM). Lots of variety and nice to do a big loop so you are always looking at new things.

Early AM Marcy Dam

Avalanche Lake

Trail around Avalanche Lake

Looking at Marcy from Lake Tear of the Clouds

Heading up Skylight

Marcy from Skylight

Looking back at Skylight while going up Marcy

Top of Marcy

Indian Falls

Back at Marcy Dam - near end of day

Esther, Whiteface 9/5/15

A hot day for Sept with temps in the 80's. Started from the old ski resort and headed up Marble mtn to Esther. The Esther trail was pretty dry since there hasn't been much rain in the last month. Esther has a few views of Whiteface on the way up. The top is pretty much in the woods. Not a very exciting climb but combined with Whiteface it made for a nice day. Whiteface is 4 miles RT from the Esther cutoff. Good views down onto the ski area side. There is a long slide there that is on the list for next winter. We decided to check out the tunnel to go down from the top of whiteface. There is an elevator that goes down about 300 feet into a 400 foot tunnel that comes out at the top of the auto road. Nice and cool in the tunnel with temps in the 40's. A nice sunny day although pretty hot for hiking. 12 miles round trip.

Esther trail

Top of Esther

Whiteface seen from Esther

Lake Placid

Esther seen from Whiteface

Tunnel under top of Whiteface