In mid-August 2020, Jeff and I headed to the Adirondacks for a long weekend of hiking and backcountry camping. The primary purpose of the trip, aside from getting away from the pandemic for a few days, was to knock off some of the summits from the Adirondack 46 High Peaks list, and subsequently the Northeast 115 list.

PART 1 – DONALDSON, EMMONS, SEWARD, & SEYMOUR

The first two days of the trip Jeff and I tackled a group of peaks in the Seward Mountains of the High Peaks. We made a loop of it and camped near the Ward Brook lean-to. It was a good amount of hiking with a few views, but it was overshadowed by the steep and muddy hike down from Seward to Ward Brook.

ROUTE

DAY 1

Parked at Seward Trailhead off Ampersand Road, Saranac Lake, NY
Hiked Blueberry Trail to intersection with Culkins Brook Truck Trail
Right on Culkins Brook Truck Trail to intersection with Culkins Brook Trail
Left on Culkins Brook Trail to Seward Range Trail
Right on Seward Range Trail to summit of Donaldson Mountain, Mount Emmons and back to summit of Seward Mountain
Continue on Seward Mountain Trail to intersection with Ward Brook Truck Trail
Right on Ward Brook Truck Trail to Ward Brook lean-to

DAY 2

Hiked up Ward Brook Truck Trail to intersection with Seymour Trail
Right on Seymour Trail to summit of Seymour Mountain and back
Left on Ward Brook Truck Trail to intersection with Blueberry Trail
Left on Blueberry Trail back to parking lot

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 13 & 14 August 2020
Distance: 22.6 miles
Moving Time: 10:48:09
Pace: 28:40/mile
Elevation Gain: 5994′

PART 2 – COLDEN, TABLE TOP, & PHELPS

The second day of the trip, after driving from our first hike, we lucked out on a parking spot at Heart Lake. We hiked in to Lake Colden, through the amazing Avalanche Lake, and lucked out again when we found a decent campsite near the Opalescent River. On day three, we hiked three mountains just north of Mount Marcy, all of which had amazing views! We lucked out a third time with a nice campsite near Marcy Dam. On the fourth day we hiked out before sunrise.

ROUTE

DAY 1

Parked at Heart Lake Program Center on Heart Lake Road, Lake Placid, NY
Hiked Van Hoevenberg Trail to Marcy Dam
Right on Avalanche Pass Trail to Lake Colden campsite

DAY 2

Back down Avalanche Pass Trail to intersection with Mount Colden Trail
Right on Mount Colden Trail to summit of Mount Colden and on to intersection with Lake Arnold Trail
Left on Lake Arnold Trail to intersection with Lake Arnold Crossover Trail
Right on Lake Arnold Crossover Trail to Indian Falls and on to intersection with Van Hoevenberg Trail
Left on Van Hoevenberg Trail to intersection with Tabletop Mountain Trail
Right on Tabletop Mountain Trail to summit of Table Top Mountain and back
Right on Van Hoevenberg Trail to intersection with Phelps Mountain Trail
Right on Phelps Mountain Trail to summit of Phelps Mountain and back
Right on Van Hoevenberg Trail to Marcy Dam campsite

DAY 3

Left on Van Hoevenberg Trail to Marcy Dam and back to parking lot

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 14, 15 & 16 August 2020
Distance: 20.8 miles
Moving Time: 9:49:03
Pace: 28:19/mile
Elevation Gain: 6234′

PART 3 – CASCADE & PORTER

On our last day of the trip we got an early start to hike a few more mountains before heading home. After starting in the dark we got to Cascade Mountain in time to see sunrise and cook some breakfast. We hit Porter Mountain on the way out and then made the long drive back to Maine.

ROUTE

Parked at Cascade Mountain Foot Trail parking off Cascade Road in Lake Placid, NY
Hiked Cascade Mountain Foot Trail to Summit of Cascade Mountain and back to intersection with Porter Mountain Trail
Left on Porter Mountain Trail to summit of Porter Mountain and back
Left on Cascade Mountain Foot Trail back to parking lot