High Peaks Wilderness

The High Peaks Wilderness Area, the largest Forest Preserve unit in the U.S. state of New York, is located in three counties and six towns in the Adirondack Park: Harrietstown in Franklin County, North Elba, Keene, North Hudson and Newcomb in Essex County and Long Lake in Hamilton County.

It is roughly bounded on the north by NY 3, the old Haybridge Road, which runs from Cold Brook to Averyville, the Adirondak Loj property at Heart Lake, the Mount Van Hoevenberg area and NY 73 near the Cascade Lakes. Private land to the west of Route 73 forms the eastern boundary. The southern boundary is formed by privately owned lands, including the Ausable Club, Finch, Pruyn, and Company, National Lead Company and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Huntington Wildlife Forest. This wilderness is bounded on the west by Long Lake and the Raquette River.

There is one significant inholding: the Johns Brook Lodge, a cabin and surrounding campsites operated by the Adirondack Mountain Club, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) along the eponymous trail and brook from the popular “Garden” parking area and access point near Keene Valley.

The area includes 112 bodies of water on 1,392 acres (5.6 km2), 238.4 miles (383.5 km) of foot trails, 52.3 miles (84.1 km) of horse trails, and 84 lean-tos. The area contains 36 of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks, including the tallest, Mount Marcy.
The topography ranges from small areas of low-lying swampland (e.g., along the Raquette and Saranac Rivers) to the highest point in New York State at the top of Mount Marcy. Although there is a considerable variety of topography, it is predominantly high mountain country. Like the topography, the forest cover also varies from pole-size hardwoods to mature, large diameter hardwood and softwood stands to the spruce-fir of the subalpine region.

Giant Mountain

About three weeks ago I decided I wanted to go hiking in the Adirondack High Peaks. It was my first time hiking there, and it probably will be the last time I go up there for a while, mainly because of the absurdly bad fear of heights. A 120 mile drive from Albany, it took me about 2 1/2 hours to reach the trail head on NY 73.

Waiting for the bus to Thacher Park

The first part of the trail is steep (as is most of the trail), but with limited views.

Along Trail

After 3/4 mile of a hike, it opens up to a ledge with views of the Keene Valley.

Keene Valley

Shortly there after you reach the Giant Washbowl, a mountain pond with interesting views, surrounded by mountains.

7/10 Mi to NY 73

You also get a neat view of Nubble.

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There are two primative campsites along Giants’ Washbowl with no facilities except some logs to sit on.

Campsite

Second Campsite at Washbowl

You cross Giants’ Washbowl on a log.

Foot Bridge

With the confirous trees surrounding Giants’ Washbowl you would have no idea what season it was from this picture.

Colors

Past Giants’ Washbowl, the trail gets steeper and goes through a series of switch backs as you continue to climb.

View Through Trees

At about 2 miles the trail opens up to a series of open rock scrambles, where you walk along a ledge of sloped rocks. It did nothing for me.

Rock Scrabble

Literally, the trail runs right along this sloped ledge. These open ledges just made me sick. I started to puke, with my fear of heights kicking in as as scrambled along this.

Open Rock Face

That and seeing the maggots swarming over this piece of dung right on the trail did nothing for me.

Got Maggots

That said, the views from this ledge where spectular.

Looking Across the Valley

I continued to climb another 300 feet or so on the trail, when I decided to go back, but I did get a chance to get some pretty awesome pictures from up above.

Further

On a rock ledge, looking down at Giants’ Washbowl.

Giants Washbowl from Above

And Noomatic Mountain.

Noomantic Mountain

Looking South-West towards Pharoah Mountain Wilderness.

South-West

Dix Mountain and surrounding range.

Dix Mountain

At any rate, this kind of hiking did nothing for me. I decided to descend Giant Mountain, and not spend much more time in the High Peaks Range for the foreseeable future. As much as I enjoy spending time outdoors, the High Peaks with their significant ascent and the open faces just is no fun. Just writing about this mountain and looking at the pictures makes me want to barf again!

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Map of the hike:


View Giant Mountain in a larger map