Adirondack High Peaks: Mt. Marcy

The absence of a sign at an earlier fork in the trail did not deter us, though

I was glad to see that (eventually) we were indeed on the right path. (6/29/10)

The past three days, my son and I took a brief roadie to Lake Placid, New York, with the primary intention of hiking a mountain. My son had been asking to do so following his own trip to a running camp at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center during Spring Break, and I was only too happy to oblige. He and I had not been away on a trip with just the two of us since our roadie to Dublin, Ohio, for a marathon just over two years ago.

It was well past time to get in the car again...

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Not surprisingly, Jack scurried to the summit first--only after donning his rain jacket

as had been suggested by the peak docent who warned us of incoming storm clouds. (6/29/10)

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The first of the forty-six New York Adirondack high peaks that we set our sights on climbing together was the highest, Mt. Marcy. While Jack and I had individually climbed a number of other peaks individually on separate occasions (including Phelps), this would be the first of a planned many we would do together.

The storm clouds rolling toward our location were, in the words of the young lady

who greeted us at the base of the summit, "not full of thunderstorms, but do include heavy downpours!" (6/29/10)

Mount Marcy is the highest point in New York State, with an elevation of 5,343 feet (1,629 m). It is a popular destination for hikers due to its stature and great views. Located in Essex County, the mountain is in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks Region of the High Peaks Wilderness Area.

Getting closer... both the clouds and yours truly to the top of the mountain. (6/29/10)

We took the shortest and most frequently used route up the mountain from the northwest, the Van Hoevenberg Trail, which begins at the Adirondak Loj near Heart Lake. From there it is 7.4 miles (11.2 km) to the summit.

Watching storm clouds while eating a peach at the summit of the highest
peak in the Adirondacks. (6/29/10)

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!