A stunning week of hiking in the ADK - Oct 2-7
Spent the peak fall color week hiking in the ADK, and I have to say I am so hooked to the place and cannot wait to come back.
Made some changes to my Initial itinerary based on very good recommendations from this community. Thank you to all and the people I met around town at the Loj, at The Mountaineer and fellow hikers on the trail.
Oct 2 - the rain helped to clear out the lots in the morning, found a spot at the Roaring brook trailhead, got a bus pass and made the hike to Indian Head in the rain and clouds! What a beautiful place!
Oct 3 - hiked Giant mountain with a friend. Found the last spot at the Roaring Brook trail at 5:15 am, went east to the Washbowl and headed up the Ridge trail. Consecutive days of 10mi hikes started getting to me a bit, and was slow up to the top but made it there just fine in beautiful blue sky weather. RPR felt like too much for the day, so only went about a few tenths of the mile in to get a view towards the east, and returned on the Roaring Brook trail.
Oct 4 - was a good choice to take it easy, so went up Mt. Van Hovenberg which had such an awesome view of Marcy and the valley in colors, and then checked in to the Loj and did Mt. Jo for sunset. Simply stunning.
Oct 5 - another easy ish day to rest up and pack properly. Hiked into the Phelps trail to settle in for the night at JBL. Met some awesome hikers and families and had a lovely time. So so grateful that place exists and learning about it's history and the effort it has taken to build it up from Zach was awesome!
Oct 6 - started at 7 in the morning at first light and spent the whole day on trail. Went up the Ore Bed brook trail. Was the perfect ADK trail - icy on the rocks, cold above the treeline, wet and muddy, brilliant fall colors in the valley. Summited Pyramid, Gothics, Armstrong and Upper Wolfjaw and returned to JBL.
Oct 7 - checking out JBL with a ton of memories and promises to myself to return soon. Went up the Klondike trail through Yard Mt. Up to Big Slide and down The Brothers. The lighting and clouds were simply amazing giving a view of all the Summits I went through yesterday and more that I want to soon!
Reached back to the Garden at 4:44pm, booked it for the last couple miles, headed up to Whiteface Mt. And made it to the gate 7 mins before close. Only got to spend about 20 mins at the top, but saw one of the best sunsets lighting up the mountains in my life.
Total hike: 55.5 mi, 15,141 ft of elevation recorded!
Hope you enjoy the pictures and thank you again for the advice and wealth of info in this sub!