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Mt. Marcy - Friday, August 20th

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  • Mt. Marcy - Friday, August 20th

    All,

    Myself and two others will be attempting to summit Mt. Marcy this coming Friday. My question is, should we get Skylight and Haystack in while we're in the area? We're all in decent shape, me being the worst. I have the most experience in the High Peaks, where this will be a first real hike for another.

    Thoughts?

    Oh, what's a typical turnaround time for Marcy from the Loj? Throw in Skylight and Haystack, turnaround time?

    If you do these three at one time, in what order?

    Thanks in advance!

    Martin
    Martin

  • #2
    Originally posted by rotty749r View Post
    All,

    Myself and two others will be attempting to summit Mt. Marcy this coming Friday. My question is, should we get Skylight and Haystack in while we're in the area? We're all in decent shape, me being the worst. I have the most experience in the High Peaks, where this will be a first real hike for another.

    Thoughts?

    Oh, what's a typical turnaround time for Marcy from the Loj? Throw in Skylight and Haystack, turnaround time?

    If you do these three at one time, in what order?

    Thanks in advance!

    Martin

    Marcy, Skylight, Haystack would be a difficult day. The best way to approach would be Marcy to Four Corners to Skylight to Panther Gorge to Haystack to Loj. This is a popular loop usually done by camping and starting at Panther Gorge or Slant Rock/Bushnell Falls. Coming in from the Loj and heading back out would make this a difficult day for a first hike with an early start.

    Your better bet if you want three peaks is Marcy, Skylight, Gray returning either via Avalanche Lake or back over Marcy.

    Another option would be to climb Phelp and/or Tabletop on your way back from Marcy if you still have the legs. If you select this option, do Marcy first so you don't end up skipping it at the end.

    Marcy from the Loj is round trip ~14.5 miles, ~3150 elevation gain. The book time is 8-9 hours round trip.

    Skylight would add about 2-2.5 hours if you returned over Marcy.

    Skylight to Panther Gorge would be about 1-1.5 hours. Panther Gorge to Haystack would be about 2-2.5 hours. So about 3.5-4 hours from Skylight to Haystack. Haystack to the Loj would be about 6+ hours.

    The time are based on a decent hiker. Anyone feel free to add more time input.

    Comment


    • #3
      Great info. Thanks. Marcy is definitely priority #1. I already have Phelps under my belt. I'll look at the Marcy, Skylight, Gray option when I get home. The thought of returning via Avalanche Lake sounds very nice. That can be done in one day?

      The three of us are asking for it. On Saturday, we plan to pedal the Ironman route....... LOL!
      Martin

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      • #4
        I like this circuit I did 2-3 years ago. ADK Loj to Avalanche camps, Lake Arnold trail, over a pass which drops about 500' vertcial, to the Opalescent River Tr to Lake Tear of Clouds. Climb Gray & return (from Gray, bushwacking directly to Marcy looks like the easiest & quickest route, been there done that, it's not. Bad cripplebrush. I recommend returning to lake Tear the way you came). From there climb Skylight and return to 4 corners. Then traverse over Marcy and return to ADK Loj via the trade route. This was about a 10 hour day give or take.

        Notes for the bottom of the pass after Lake Arnold, there was beaver activity there 2-3 years ago and the area was flooded, bring something to wade in water up to you knees in. Second, check to your right to Mt Colden and note you are at the bottom of a slide that almost goes all the way to the summit ridge on Colden. This is one of the nicest and most accessible slide climbs, do it someday.

        The problem with Avalanche Lake is it it is very rough terrain, allot of boulder scrambling, and is longer then the Lake Arnold trail. I would not find the boulder hopping very welcome at the end of a long day. But it can be done.
        **** Best Regards, John ****

        Comment


        • #5
          Trail from lake Arnold to Opalescent River Trail was in good condition a couple of weeks ago - no wading necessary.

          Made a circuit from Loj over Marcy and back via Avalanche Lake/Pass a few years ago. Could have thrown in Skylight and Gray, but had a full day as it was.
          ADK 46er #7634
          ADK Winter 46 8/46

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by jrbren View Post
            ADK Loj to Avalanche camps, Lake Arnold trail, over a pass which drops about 500' vertcial, to the Opalescent River Tr to Lake Tear of Clouds. Climb Gray & return (from Gray, bushwacking directly to Marcy looks like the easiest & quickest route, been there done that, it's not. Bad cripplebrush. I recommend returning to lake Tear the way you came). From there climb Skylight and return to 4 corners. Then traverse over Marcy and return to ADK Loj via the trade route. This was about a 10 hour day give or take.
            Agreed. Go for this loop. Then you will have the Van Ho golden highway at the end of the day...

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            • #7
              I think if this is one of the group's first hike, you should consider just doing Marcy. Trail miles are a lot different than road miles and if you turn their first hike into an endurance contest, it may become their last hike. Slow down, enjoy the trek, and have the time to plan future adventures together.

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              • #8
                If we decided to throw in Gray, what is the best way to accomplish this?

                Thanks again!
                Martin

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by rotty749r View Post
                  If we decided to throw in Gray, what is the best way to accomplish this?

                  Thanks again!
                  From the outlet of Lake Tear of the Cloud, near the Four Corners. There is a carin marking the start of the trail. Follow the trail from that point and return there. Don't try to bushwack to Marcy.

                  Jan makes a good point, don't push your group on some people's first hike.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by greenebr View Post
                    From the outlet of Lake Tear of the Cloud, near the Four Corners. There is a carin marking the start of the trail. Follow the trail from that point and return there. Don't try to bushwack to Marcy.

                    Jan makes a good point, don't push your group on some people's first hike.
                    I agree with not pushing it, so we'll gauge interest once we reach the summit of Marcy.

                    If we were to add Gray after Marcy, what is the additional milage added to the round trip from the Loj and back?
                    Martin

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by rotty749r View Post
                      I agree with not pushing it, so we'll gauge interest once we reach the summit of Marcy.

                      If we were to add Gray after Marcy, what is the additional milage added to the round trip from the Loj and back?
                      From Marcy you descent about 1000 ft in .9 mi. to four corners. Then about .2-.3 to the herd path. .5 mile and 500 feet or so up to Gray. So what's that, about 3.5 miles and 1500 elev. gain and loss? I've not hiked Gray or Skylight yet, but I think if you were to just add one to the hike, you'd get more bang for your buck by going up Skylight vs. Gray. It's a big open summit with fabulous views...and it would be a little less mileage than doing Gray. (and it's a maintained trail all the way)
                      Steve

                      Rule #6: Don't take yourself so G.D. seriously. There are no other rules. - Zander

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by PA Ridgerunner View Post
                        ...I think if you were to just add one to the hike, you'd get more bang for your buck by going up Skylight vs. Gray. It's a big open summit with fabulous views...and it would be a little less mileage than doing Gray. (and it's a maintained trail all the way)
                        Agreed. Skylight before Gray.

                        Skylight is 0.4-0.5 miles and 400 feet elevation from the Four Corner. You could return over Marcy via the Van Ho trail (7.4-7.5 miles from the Marcy Peak or 8.3-8.4 miles from the Four Corners) or from the Four Corner via Feldspar Brook/Opalescent River and by Lake Arnold (about 7.5-8.0 miles to the Loj). The Van Ho Trail is the best maintained trial in the High Peaks region. I was on the Felspar/Opalescent trail last year and it had some interesting swamp areas where you had to think about which way to not lose your shoes...

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