I completed my Saranac Lake 6er today on Ampersand. I met quite a few other soon-to-be-6ers along the way too. It was a perfect day for a hike and fungus spotting - the trail was loaded with several varieties!

Beautiful day for a winter hike! Great views the whole time, especially at the summit of Wright Peak, though the 50-60 mile an hour winds made for quite the adventure!

One of my friends was working on a hiking project where she asks hikers to describe their hiking experience in one word. I chose 'whimsicle,' a play on 'whimsical' and 'icicle' to sum up the fun-filled day!

Peaceful wander on the backside of Blue Mountain.......off trail experience included a close encounter with a Fischer

Full story, photos & video at: http://forums.adkhighpeaks.com/showthread.php?t=23853 or www.mackenziefamily.com/46/46r.html

Duration: 10.5 hours
Mileage/elevation gain: approx. 12 miles/ 4,000 feet
Weather: Snow with 5-10F ambient with -10F windchill (about 30 m.p.h. wind speed)
Partner: Nangaparbat (NP)

Photo 1: Mosaic of various slide areas.
Photo 2: Kevin climbing a lower section of the slide, photo by NP Photography.
Photo 3: Beautiful ice formations were on the left for a 1/4 mile.
Photo 4: One of the 3 rappels we employed.
Photo 5: Kevin walking under a large overhang just before the most exposed pitches.

Photos and text: http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23392 or www.mackenziefamily.com/46/46r.html

Duration: 10 hours
MapTech Total Mileage/Vertical Ascent: 12.5 Miles/5,200’
Route: Garden to Bennies Brook (2.4 miles), ascend slide, trail to LWJ summit. Descend Range Trail to Wolfjaws Trail. Follow drainage up to base of Skinny Slide. Bushwhack left to Range Trail, descend to Interior Outpost and Garden.
Benchmarks: Begin: 7:30 a.m., Top Bennies Root Canal: 11:30 a.m., Top Skinny Slide: 2:00 p.m., End: 5:30 p.m.
Trail Conditions: Wet, mud, ice, minimal snow. Mixed climbing on slides
Temperature: 25-35F
Partner: Azimuth (Ranger Scott van Laer)

A few weeks back a friend and I ventured out to Azure and climbed the trail by headlamp. We summited and climbed up the fire tower just in time for a view of the rising sun!

Beautiful.

I could hardly dream of better late September weather than we had over the weekend. Nature Up North lead a hike up Mount Arab Sunday, enjoying the sun, perfect temperatures, and of course the fall color display. We caught a garter snake enjoying the sunshine on the hike down as well.