Other Adirondack hikes previously written about on this blog, including another avalanche lake hike with Robert and Erick in 2013:
- https://washbourne.blogspot.com/2012/09/20120819-hiking-poke-o-moonshine.html
- https://washbourne.blogspot.com/2012/09/20120830-hiking-adirondack-great-range.html
- https://washbourne.blogspot.com/2019/06/20130821-algonquin-peak-and-avalanche.html
Excerpt from the National Geographic Adirondack Park High Peaks map.
- The green line shows the outward bound leg from the Adirondack Loj: past Marcy Dam, through Avalanche Pass, along Avalance Lake, along Lake Colden, and the very demanding climb up Mt Colden which includes a devilish 2000 vertical feet in 1.5 miles.
- The red line shows an unplanned detour of about 4 miles. The eagle scout (me) takes full credit for this mistake, but there were mitigating circumstances you can read about below.
- The yellow line shows the correct path from the foot of Mt Colden back to the lodge, and we were in fairly rough shape for this final leg. Everyone was tired and hiking with wet and muddy feet as the darkness increased.
- Total distance was just under 19 miles with more than 3000 vertical feet of elevation, two-thirds of that in 1.5 mile super steep section up Mt Colden (I already said that, but it is worth repeating)
Registration station at the Adirondack Loj
We mentioned my parents ADK membership and only had to pay $5 to park for the day.
At Marcy Dam, a couple miles from the Adirondack Loj (1)
At Marcy Dam, a couple miles from the Adirondack Loj (2)
At one of the many leantos provided on the trail.
You can see some of these marked on the map above. I do note that these are quite nice and can cut down on the amount of gear you need to bring for overnight hikes, but in the presence of bugs it might be better to use a tent.
Somewhere on the trail to Avalanche Lake
A beautiful mountain stream
Unlike hikes in dryer areas, we were not concerned at all about finding water, and we brought water treatment tools. We ended up filtering maybe 15 liters water in addition to the 10 or so we had in our packs.
We are now 3.2 miles from the Loj, and 1 mile from Avalanche Lake
The trail is pretty rugged, lots of large and small rocks, and many ladders (1)
The trail is pretty rugged, lots of large and small rocks, and many ladders (2)
Finally at Avalanche Lake! The Hitch Up Matildas (1)
The Hitch Up Matildas (2)
Just ahead of this point we ran into a team of rangers and volunteers doing trail work. It was very impressive to how well this park of the trail -- relatively close to the Loj -- is maintained. I will note that farther afield there is much less maintenance.
A view back the way we came along Avalanche Lake
Less well maintained trail ...
Farther from the Log you see fewer bridges over wet spots like this one. In spite of many long stretches of trail like this, we managed to keep dry feet for a surprisingly long time, until after we came back down Mt Colden.
Erick's happiness is very clear at the information on the sign: 1950 vertical feet of climbing in the next 1.6 miles.
A long stretch of ladders on the climb up Mt Colden
Katerina dancing on the Mt Colden climb (1)
Link to movie of Katerina dancing on the Mt Colden climb
More climbing ...
Some interesting flora (1)
new growth
Some interesting flora (2)
My Dad knows what this flower is called but I do not ...
Slightly out of focus, but I do not have a better photo of this flower.
Some interesting flora (3)
Mt Colden Summit (1)
Mt Colden Summit (2)
Mt Colden Summit (3)
Mt Colden Summit (4)
Descending from Mt Colden to Lake Arnold
Note on route finding and mitigating circumstances...
- So ... I had borrowed my Dad's clip on compass, since I had not brought my usual compass with me to New York.
- As a matter of routine, I frequently check the compass when I consult the map, to make sure the direction we are headed is consistent with the direction on the map.
- On this trip the clip on the compass failed during a water bottle refill stop, and so I stowed the compass in the backpack and stopped my usual routine of comparing actual compass headings with map directions.
- At the bottom of the Mt Colden trail, there was a sign indicating the trail we needed, but the trail itself was submerged and the mud made it very difficult to determine direction.
- Bottom line: the eagle scout (me) went the wrong way.
Going the wrong way (1)
The trails this far from the Adirondack Loj were not maintained at all. At this point we all got muddy wet feet. There were several sections that were simply ridiculous ...
Back in the day we might have called this "the moron trail".
Going the wrong way (2)
On the positive side, there was a fun river crossing via this log Katerina is balancing on
Going the wrong way (3)
Erick on the river crossing log
Back at the trail head
No pictures between that unplanned detour and the trail head, because everyone was very much toast. We all had wet and muddy feet, and as a result at least one of us had blisters.
Overall, in retrospect, we really enjoyed the day. It was a long ordeal, and the point which we determined we were a couple miles the wrong way from the car was a low point. But .... bragging rights!
