Habitat: Alpine Zone - 4,098 feet above sea level. Characterized by low pressures, wind, cold, little cover. Direct sunlight.

The view offered from the peak of Cascade Mountain, one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks, is stunning. From it, you can see many of the other high peaks, including the MacIntyre range in the middle of the photo (Wright Mountain, Algonquin Mountain, and Iroquois Mountain). The pile of rocks, called a Cairn, is used to mark the path to the summit. Part of the reason for this is that the Alpine zone of the Adirondacks is a very fragile ecosystem that has survived since the glaciers of the last ice age, because it is so inaccessible. An abundance of vascular grasses and shrubs survive only in this hostile environment, but hikers and tourists who step on plants like the flowery Diapensia can kill them. Therefore, it is very important to remain on the trail!

Hiking an Adirondack High Peak is always a very rewarding experience. This photo is the culmination of a full day's hard working hiking to the summit, and the rewards of a fantastic view of the softwood forest I had just traveled through below. The sheer number of trees on a single mountain is astounding!