I moved this hike up a day to avoid hurricane Irene which was forecast to pass just to the east of the High Peaks region bringing high winds and heavy rain. Arriving at The Garden parking area at first light, the attendant told me the Park Rangers wanted everyone out of the mountains by evening. She warned that the many small mountain streams that we cross on the trail would not be passable once the rain began.
According to Adirondack.net this would be about an 8 hour hike. Starting up about 6:30 even at my slow pace I should be down by mid-afternoon and back home in Central New york before the rain actually began. Still, I wanted as large a margin as possible between being on the trail and this storm. This was in the back of my mind and kept me moving while on the mountain.
A view early in the ascent.
Even in the morning the cirrus clouds from Irene were visible in the south.
There were several difficult areas going up the mountain. Mostly just very steep bare rock faces that were about at the limit of what I am comfortable on. However this one spot I thought was the hardest. It wasn't very big but required pulling myself up a 5 foot rock. It doesn't look like anything in this shot but at the time it seemed a big deal.
This was interesting. A house sized rock with an overhang that would make a great shelter in an emergency.
These are called Harebell.
I took this shot of Big Slide assuming there would be another opportunity with a better view. I know there is as I had seen shots others had taken. I missed it and figured that on the way back down I'd catch it. However I decided to take a different trail down and never had the opportunity.
The beautiful green of this place caught me eye.
Turtlehead flowers
Two ladders on this rock face made an uncomfortably steep section fairly easy.
A good view shows the bare rock face that gave Big Slide its name
Arriving at the summit I walked into a party celebrating two climbers completing their 46th peak.
Panorama stitched together from 7 images in Photoshop CS5. On the left is Giant, which I climbed 2 weeks prior. Across the valley is the Great Range and Marcy in the distance on the right.
Going down I decided to take a different route. Rather than back across the Brothers, I headed down along the south face of the shoulder between Big Slide and Brothers. It followings a stream that brought me to the valley for a walk back to The Garden along Johns Brook. This trail was much less challenging than the hike over Brothers.
Along Johns Brook was a lean-to and...
All the comforts of home.
Though I didn't see the fawn, this doe was obviously trying to keep my attention by allowing me to get really close.
Bears Head Tooth Fungus
I was back at the Garden around 3:30. The walk along Johns Brook trail was easy enough though by the end of the day it started feeling like it would never end. Leaving for home, I stopped for a burger in Keene Valley. I ate outside enjoying the fresh air and afternoon sunshine. Though I knew hurricane Irene was on the way I could not imagine the damage that it would bring to these quiet communities along RT73 from the peaceful East Branch of the Ausable River. By the following evening Route 73 in Keene would be washed away along with heavy damage to homes and businesses.
The DEC had closed the High Peaks to hiking as of last week due to landslides, washed out bridges and blowdowns making trails impassable. This will likely be my last hike towards my 46 this year.
