Seward, Donaldson, and Emmons Mtns

We Bare-booted to herd path, then to base of climb. First 500' of climb are easier with micro-spikes than bare-boots. Next 500' is a toss up between micros and snowshoes. I noticed a down-bound snowshoe track from yesterday so put mine on. Above 3000' elevation I'd strongly suggest snowshoes.

I didn't encounter the ice issues that folks on the 27th found. I believe the reason is because a light coating of snow overnight soaked into the wet ice surface and made it crusty on top. Good traction in snowshoes.

Due to differential melting of the snow pack (denser snow in track melts slower than loose snow on sides of track) there are many areas where there is no trench whatsoever, so even a light coating of snow will erase the track and route finding will be required.

Calkins Brook rock hop-able. (is that a word?)

Coreys Road is glare ice in the vicinity of the gate, but it's flat there. After you get out of the pine grove the road becomes mostly gravel, with some icy spots mixed with gravel. Should be passable by any 4wd/awd vehicle, as well as most front wheel drive vehicles. Just don't send me the towing bill!

Start Time: 7:37AM Start Elevation: 1764ft
End Time: 7:02PM Max Elevation: 4381ft
Duration: 11h35m Distance: 15.83 miles

Hurricane Mountain

A nice mountain with a fire tower that is starting to be restored. At an elevation of 3,694-foot near Keene north of the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. The trail from route 9N was drastically rerouted since I last hiked this.

This is an open peak which now has some pretty awesome views with the new re-route of the trail, whereas before the re-route you were in the trees until you scuttled up the rocks just before the summit. During the summer and fall of 2014 the trail was almost completely relocated to avoid all of the steepest and most eroded sections. The hike to the summit is now 3.4 miles, 0.8 mile longer than before, a much more enjoyable hike.

The trail leaves the north side of Route 9N 3.5 miles east of the junction of Route 9N/73. and climbs via new switchbacks to a first view at 0.4 miles, levels out, crosses a series of bridges across beaver swamps, an then resumes climbing, soon going left from the old trail. At 2.8 miles the trail comes to a ledge with a view ahead of the tower on the summit. The tower looks further away than it actually is, and after a second ledge at 2.9 miles the grade eases to a junction with the trail from Crow Clearing, coming in from the left at 3.2 miles. On the descent make sure everyone in the group makes the left turn at this junction. Past this junction, the trail is levels briefly before beginning the final rocky scramble to the summit at 3.4 miles.

Round trip 5.2 miles
Elevation gain: 2,000'

Scarface Mountain

The first half of this trail follows old roads over relatively flat terrain through coniferous forest and past rippling brooks. It is a very nice hike overall, crisscrossing over brooks and eventually gradually beginning a short steady climb just below the first and only ledge with views. Side trails lead to an open ledge with views overlooking Oseetah Lake and the Saranac Lake chain. The other views on the trail require some bushwhacking off the trail once up on the ridge. This hike is probably to me the best in the Adirondacks (so far) that offers a beautiful ridge walk that meanders to the summit, and the summit itself does not offer a view, but is a very tranquil summit.

This is a wonder snowshoe in the winter as well. The only tricky area is the scramble just below the open ledge, which can be covered with flow ice which may require various types of traction depending on the conditions.

Distance: 6.8 miles RT (10.9 km)
Ascent: 1480 (451 m)
Elevation: 3054 (931 m)

Baker Mountain

Baker Mountain is a very popular and short hike as it is basically in the village of Saranac Lake, and is really accessible in the area.

The most difficult thing about Baker Mtn. is perhaps finding the trail-head. From Route 3 I took Mckenzie Pond Road to Forest Hill Avenue on the left. Follow Forest Hill Avenue (aka, Moody Pond Road) for a bit over 0.5 miles to the Baker Mountain Trail-head which will be on the left at the north end of Moody pond.

You will start climbing almost immediately. The trail is a bit steep but offers great views as you ascend further. At 0.6 miles from the trail-head, an intersection offers part of an upper mountain loop. Left is a less aggressive climb and avoids the steep ledges that can be found if you head right. Both finish at the summit of Baker. The loop makes for a great hike option.

The summit of Baker offers great views over the Village of Saranac Lake, the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness Area and some of the High Peaks.

1.3 miles round trip.
Ascent: 884 (270 m)
Elevation: 2452 (747 m)

St. Regis Mountain

A beautiful day to be in the woods, and it was well over due. A 6.6 mile round trip through some open hardwoods, and some spectacular views.

Saint Regis is reportedly a popular mountain, but today there wasn't much traffic when I started. This hike is much like the hike to Scarface, a gradual increase with a short difficult section towards the end, but neither are overly difficult. I guess this is what makes these hikes popular. The trail is easy enough to follow up and over rolling hills through a mix of soft and hardwoods. Towards the end of the trail you will come to a sharp right, at which point the climbing really begins, for only about a 1/4 mile. This section is almost like a chute as you go up between crags, ultimately coming out to a gradual incline before coming out to the somewhat bare summit and tower. You'll be greeted with fantastic views of surrounding lakes and mountains.

To get to the trail-head you'll head westerly off Route 30 in Paul Smiths, immediately north of the entrance to Paul Smiths College on the left is Keese Mills Rd. From there travel 2.5 miles to the parking area which is on the left. By foot, cross over the bridge and follow the access road to the trail-head that's a short distance on the right.

The fire tower has recently been renovated.

St Regis has an elevation of 2,874 feet.
The hike itself has an approximate gain of 1,250 feet.
I clocked 4.9 miles round trip.
 

McKenzie Mountain

A beautiful day in the woods. A 7.2 mile hike via the Jackrabbit trail. We had attempted this same hike from Blodget Road to Bartlett Pond on February 7th but turned around after running out of time and energy. We (Derek mostly) broke trail from the road up.

McKenzie Mountains elevation is 3,861-feet. It is in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness area, it is visible from many locations in and around Raybrook and Saranac Lake. Unbeknownst to me it was formerly known as Saddleback, this is because from a distance it is shaped like a saddle.

There are 2 main approaches to McKenzie. The 5.3 mile trail from Rt. 86 which is shared with the trail-head to Haystack just west of Ray Brook. We took the Jackrabbit trail from Whiteface Inn Lane which goes behind the Whiteface Inn. From this direction it starts at 1950' in elevation is a little shorter at 7.2 miles round trip compared to 10.5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2340’ coming in from the Route 86 trail head.

I found the trail a moderate incline up to the junction of trail that leads to McKenzie (R) and Haystack (L) at 1.8 miles. Less than .5 miles from that junction the trail gets extremely steep, wet (icy), and eroded. Along with steep terrain comes slippery footing and wet or icy conditions. There is a side trail to the right just past the steep section that leads to a look out. From here the main trail (red discs) continues over two or three false summits. There is a glimpse of the final summit on a ledge to the left just before you drop down into a col. There are several areas along the way that have excellent views. The true summit has a disc (and temperature gauge for now), there is also a ledge to the right of the true summit that has views of Bartlet Pond (foreground) and Raybrook and Lake Placid.

Our elevation gain was 1855'

Ampersand Mountain

Ampersand Mountain is another popular hike in the Adirondacks, and is part of the Saranac Lake 6 challenge.

The trail-head is off Route 3 a little over 7 miles west of Saranac Lake, on the right is the parking area, across the road is the trail-head.

When we signed in, we were the only ones on the trail. We would not run into anyone until we were well down and on the way back out. We were able to bare boot the entire way, but added micro-spikes at around 2,750 feet when it started to get icy/slippery. The hike is fairly short at around 4.7 miles round trip.

At around 2.2 miles (3,000') it seems to level out and become more of a ridge walk, with a small section left to push up through.

We really enjoyed the hike, and even did a little butt sliding on the way back down.

Start Time: 9:20AM
End Time: 2:30PM
Duration: 5h10m
Distance: 5.27 mi

With Derek, Elanie, and Dingo. This was a rugged little peak.

Ausable Marsh

February 15, 2014

About 6 miles round trip from the first gate. Broke trail in snowshoes in about 6-10 inches of snow. It is well packed out now for anyone local interested in taking a nice hike. You will need four wheel drive to get to the first gate at the top of the hill. Dingo and I walked from there down through the marsh to the Ausable river and looped counter clockwise from the trestle. The only thing we saw was a rub and heard song birds. A nice little hike none the less with a 40lb pack, great conditioning.