Eric's Adirondack Vacation Pictures

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What, Who, Where, Caveats

This all started when we were freed from our kids and decided to enjoy a good old hiking vacation and then we considered a driving radius of about 4 hours around Ottawa, Canada.

We choose hikes via an online PDF brochure "Adirondack Great Walks and Day Hikes". Our experience is that it sticks to shorter hikes - not considering 10 to 15 mile hikes as "day hikes" (while that is what we consider to be a day hike).

Salvation was achieved by getting a $5 topo map at the Lake Placid Visitors Center.

AMC does not have posted maps on hikes. We're used to seeing (basic or full) maps at junctions when skiing or hiking but that was not the case on this trip. If possible, join AMC and get some maps ahead of time!

Hikes

Monday Aug 8, 2011

Mt Floodwood, Panther and Baker 3.4mi, moderate 1 hour 40 min, 37 pictures Mt Floodwood 3.4mi, moderate 1 hour 40 min
Panther 0.6mi, moderate ? hour ?? min

We missed hike #1, #2 many wrong turns, at end of 15 min. gravel road with free camping near start (and canoe outfitter), Floodwood Mtn 3:30pm start, 5:10pm finish

We missed the Meadowcreek campground - it takes some getting used to to find things in the USA!
Panther Mtn: finish 2:45pm (picture 3684) A steep climb leaning to view of Upper Saranac Lk and surrounding peaks
Note that AMC doens't put maps anywhere - they primarily sell them. We're used to seeing maps on skiing and hiking trails around here.
First impression - like Algonquin Park in Ontario, but with much less lakes and rivers and much higher hills. Mosly pine trees / sand / rocks

Tuesday Aug 9

Mt Algonquin 13 mi, 2900' climb, 6 hour 20 min, 63 pictures We started at the AOJ parking lot ($7/day).
We hiked to Avalanch Lake and came back via Algonquin peak
very rocky, very windy at top, great 360 views, 9:40am to 4pm, rain at the end
There was an amazing, fast, transition from a pine forest to tuck (stunted, short pine) to alpine (shrubs or smaller) to rock. There were some bugs, but very few, and mosquitos are silent.

Wednesday Aug 10

pic 3796 - the (thin) trail is at lower right going up pic 3804 - cross-roads Lower Wolf Jaw VS Roostercomb and Snow Mtn VS High Water Route (road)

Mt Snow ~1000' climb, 49 pictures Snow Mtn, Map 12, back 11am, rocky, returned by a road.
We couldn't find Cathedral/Bear Run

Mt Hurricane ~2000' climb, 24 pictures Hiked Hurricane Mt 2,000' elevation, rain coming down(only light), out 3:10pm hiker suggested Big Slide climb

Thursday Aug 11

Mt Big Slide 56 pictures Thur: Mt Big Slide and Yard Mtn from the Garden, out 4:10pm, great day, nice easy, up and downhill compared to Mt Hurricane.
My boot sole was tearing off. The last 2 hours was a fast flat return
very light rain on climb, heavy rain on return to campground
excellent views from each of the Three Brothers and Mt Slide, Yard Mt view we missed

Friday Aug 12

Mt Baker (1.8mi moderate hardness), done 9:05am, some blueberries, Wild Center last day Mt Floodwood, Panther and Baker 1.8mi, 37 pictures
The peak is carpeted with trees but there is a rocky outcroping, just before the peak, from which there is a good view of Saranac Lake village and the Saranac Lakes.

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