It's almost mid-October and we have been blessed with a stretch of beautiful weather. High pressure over the NE is keeping the skies clear, but slightly hazy. Daytime temperatures near 80 and nighttime lows around 60 would be perfect for what will likely be my last High Peaks adventure of 2011. Within a few weeks I expect these mountains will be snow covered.
I drove up Saturday after a shortened sleep following the night shift and arrived with just enough time to put up the tent before darkness arrived.
It was a beautiful evening with a light breeze to keep the temperatures up and an almost full moon providing enough fill light to make walking around the campground easy once your eyes adjusted.
Apparently I wasn't the only one who realized what a gift this unseasonably good weather was. Driving up ADK Loj Rd and still a couple miles from the Loj parking the road was packed with cars parked along the sides and hikers walking the remaining distance. Asking the obvious, I was told by one of these people that, yes the lot is full. Turning around and finding a spot on the only side street I parked and loaded up for the hike.
The morning was still a little cool, however within a few minutes a sweatshirt became too many layers and only t-shirt and shorts felt more comfortable. As I headed up the trail there was almost always someone in front or behind me. It was rare to find a scene that didn't include people.
On the lower part of the trail the walking is pretty easy, however through the mid section it becomes fairly steep with nonstop rocks and boulders to navigate.
In this rocky mid section a couple people had stopped and decided to turn around. Though ahead at points the trail was much steeper, it smoothed out and walking became easier a short distance beyond this point.
Within what seemed like a short time I turned up the Wright Peak trail and quickly ascended towards the summit. Here the trail makes a 180 degree switchback and then goes up this steep rock. Fortunately there are notches every foot and a half to make the scaling of this short but steep section pretty easy.
This open rock section is quite steep but the coarse rock provides good traction going up and down.
Just short of the summit a couple enjoys the refreshing breeze and view to the NW with Placid and Whiteface in the distance.
Busy weekend! Fortunately there was room for one more...
Though I try, pictures hardly convey the beauty and color of these Adirondack peaks. Green, yellow, and brown lichen over gray rock, cranberry colored fall ground cover, and grasses blowing in the wind. All surrounded by the rusty colored trees below and blue skies above.
This panorama looks from SE through NW. Algonquin at 5,115' is only a short distance away and towers over Wright Peak at 4,587'.
Lichen hanging on to life where nothing else can.
Me
Off the mountain and almost back to the ADK Loj, the trail glowed in a forest of birch lit by the late afternoon sun. This was my best hike of the year!
