Winter was slow in leaving, and spring mostly cool and wet. Summer has arrived and continued this pattern. With high pressure in the west the eastern part of the country usually with be under under a low pressure trough. This has kept us under a cover of clouds with cooler temperatures and frequent rainy days. Though there have been some hot weather temperatures were a few degrees below average in May and almost 7 degrees cooler than the pervious year.
Though it is still a little early in the season, I've been very anxious to begin hiking this year. It is already July as I write this and I still carry around winter weight. Things have been busy and daily walks keep getting missed. The weather only adds to this.
In the week ahead of my hike, what started out as a good forecast for the weekend began to head downhill. By Saturday morning the probability of precipitation for the duration of my trip ranged from 30% - 50%.
I could sit at home all weekend and then find it didn't end up as bad as forecast or I could just go and hope for the best.
It was a holiday weekend for our neighbors to the north, so there would be no sites available at the KOA in Wilmington. There were however about a dozen spots left at the state park campground Wilmington Notch. Arriving late afternoon under partly cloudy skies I chose a spot and set up camp. It was hot and humid with many mosquitoes and black flies so I was glad I didn't plan on cooking and headed into town for some pizza.
During the night it poured and I found the tent doesn't stand up too badly with persistent heavy rain. Only a few drops onto my sleeping bag and this dried up the next day. But between the sound of rain and cars on the nearby road I didn't sleep too well and probably only got about 2-1/2 hours of sleep before getting up at first light. My first thought was to cancel the hike, but then figured I might as well go check things out. I was tired, but otherwise feeling pretty good.
Driving down Adirondack Lodge Rd I could see what the weather was going to look like for almost all of the day. Fog and low clouds.
Not too many cars at the ADK Lodge when I arrived about 5:30. After quickly wolfing down a cinnamon bun I was on the trail by 6:00. Researching this hike, one of the sources used was www.adirondack.net and it listed 13 hours to complete the hike. I walk at a reasonable pace but stop frequently for photos so I expected it to take most of the 13 hours. It didn't and I was back down before 3:00
With heavy rain overnight I was worried much of the trail would look like this!
Pine trees lining the trail on the way to Marcy Dam
Walkway through a soft moist area
Bridge out since Irene.
Almost empty with the contents now in the Atlantic Ocean.
After a moment of panic I see the sign for an alternate crossing a few hundred feet downstream.
Warm and steamy all the way up.
Pink Slipper
The trail up Tabletop
A couple other hikers passed me just before the summit and we exchanged cameras for pictures.
View from the top. I waited and waited for a break in the clouds which never came.
An Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Building material for the dam
Washed out.
It is early afternoon and I am on the way down passing people headed up to Marcy. A couple women separated from the rest of the group are walking up the trail only carrying a bottle of water each. It is over 80 degrees. A short while after leaving them I think that can't be enough water and wish I had offered my two bottles of water I kept as reserve in case my camelback wasn't enough. Then I pass a family headed up the trail. The father is trying to encourage a small girl who is crying while on his back is a baby. What are these people thinking? It is hot and humid in the afternoon and black flies are frequently after me. This can't be fun for the little ones...
Shortly after passing these people and still 30 minutes from the ADK Lodge I hear thunder. The sound seems to travel across the sky and circle off to the west. It was in the forecast and with the heat and moisture I was surprised it held off this long. As raindrops begin to fall I release my raincoat from the bottom of my pack, stow my camera and continue on.
Off the trail and into my car the skies let loose. It pours. Driving away with the cooling A/C blowing on me I worry about those still on the trail. Check the weather! Afternoon thunderstorms were in the forecast. Use common sense too. Look at the skies!
Cumulonimbus clouds over the hills as I leave the area.
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