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.

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

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

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

You also get a neat view of Nubble.

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

You cross Giants’ Washbowl on a log.

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

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

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.

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.

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

That said, the views from this ledge where spectular.

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.

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

And Noomatic Mountain.

Looking South-West towards Pharoah Mountain Wilderness.

Dix Mountain and surrounding range.

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!

Map of the hike: