Should we hike Algonquin or Mt. Marcy?

[Steven A. King]

My Scout troop is made up mainly of 11-13 year old smaller boys. They
have been on a few 5 mile overnight backpacking trips without a single
complaint on the trail. We want to go up to the Adirondacks over the
Columbus Day break, and hike either Algonquin or Mt. Marcy. I was
planning on taking them from Adirondack Loj through Avalanche Pass and
camping at Lake Colden the first day. Then hike either Algonquin or Mt.
Marcy the second day, but camp about 2-3 miles out from Adirondack Loj.

Any information on which might be the slightly easier route? Or,
suggestions on a different route to take? I don't want to go over 15 or
so miles total.

Thanks,
Steve--
--
Steven A. King / /
ASM Troop 88 - Seneca Falls, NY \/ \/
Dist. Scouting Training Chair /.-./
Antelope NE-III-133 _/ O \
Eagle Scout '85 < ___ \
sa...@cornell.edu \ \

[Scott Bernier]

Steven A. King wrote:
>
> My Scout troop is made up mainly of 11-13 year old smaller boys. They
> have been on a few 5 mile overnight backpacking trips without a single
> complaint on the trail. We want to go up to the Adirondacks over the
> Columbus Day break, and hike either Algonquin or Mt. Marcy. I was
> planning on taking them from Adirondack Loj through Avalanche Pass and
> camping at Lake Colden the first day. Then hike either Algonquin or Mt.
> Marcy the second day, but camp about 2-3 miles out from Adirondack Loj.
>
> Any information on which might be the slightly easier route? Or,
> suggestions on a different route to take? I don't want to go over 15 or
> so miles total.

I hope someone familiar with that area of upstate NY can help you,
Steve. I can't tell you which route since I've never hiked there. What
I can tell you is what we do when we're not sure about a route. A
leader or two will take the hikes ahead of time and they in turn provide
us with advice on which trail to take, what to expect, etc.

This has worked well for us in the past for Mt Katahdin here in Maine
and Mt Washington, NH for example.

Good luck!
Scott Bernier, moxi...@mint.net
SM Troop 443, Winslow, Maine Pine Tree Council
Eagle Scout, 1988

[Chip]

Steve,
The hike in through Avalanche Pass is pretty demanding for boys in
the age group you have. Once you leave the Avalanche pass junction it
is all up hill to Avalanche lake, very tough on kids. The ladders and
catwalks around Avalanche Lake are tough on the legs, you're constantly
climbing up or down. We camped at Colden and carried packs through, if
you are day hiking it should go easier.
The trip up Marcy from Colden is very steep, and all up hill. The
trip by way of Indian Falls is the more traveled one and more gradual,
it too can be difficult. If you choose this route Indian Falls is a
great place for lunch and water replenishment. I have not done
Algonquin so I can't help there.
Good luck.
Chip

[Chip]

[Mike Brown]

> The trip up Marcy from Colden is very steep, and all up hill. The
> trip by way of Indian Falls is the more traveled one and more gradual,
> it too can be difficult. If you choose this route Indian Falls is a
> great place for lunch and water replenishment.

I haven't done that trip in many years (nearly 20, in fact), but the last
time we did it we went up and back in one day without packs, and I wound up
sitting out the last half-mile or so with some of the younger Scouts who
couldn't make it. I don't know what the camping regulations are these days
- you should contact the Adirondak Park folks and find out - but if I were
doing it again with younger Scouts, I'd plan to hike in (perhaps to Indian
Falls or a bit beyond) and camp, then do the last up-and-back without packs
(but with lots of water and high-energy snacks) and then pack out, rather
than try to do it all in one day.

YIS
Mike Brown
SM, Tr. 80, Cortland NY (Baden-Powell Council)

[scot...@talon.net]

First be aware of the 10 person maximum for groups in the high peak
region. You may need to split the troop into two patrols and do both
trips. Lake Colden is a beautiful area and Avalanche pass is a
spectacular geology lesson, but that is not the easiest route to either
summit. Algonquin is a relatively easy day trip from the Adirondack Loj
for those in the troop that are in good condition, but Marcy is an
overnight for most kids that age. There is no camping allowed beside
streams or above 4000 Ft so suitable sites for "multi-tent" groups are
sometimes difficult to locate.

I would take the younger boys up Algonquin from a campsite at the
AdirondAck Loj. If they get to tired they can do Wright instead which
is on the way and somewhat lower, shorter and easier, yet has a stone
dome top that offers nearly equal views. If the group is over 10
people, the older ones could do Marcy from Marcy Dam or Avalanche
leantos or perhaps near Indian Falls if you find a suitable and legal
spot to camp. The Johns Brook approach is also an alternative using
Bushkill Falls or Slant Rock as the last campsite before the final
pitch. Get some good maps such as the ADK trail guide or the 1:25000
USGS series before you make any definite plans.

Also note the late date you have chosen might bring ice, or snow. The
boys should be well equiped for cold weather and have a definite turn
around time in the event of bad conditions. There have been deaths in
the past that time of year from exposure.

12 or so years ago I took my troop up Johns Brook and Big Slide, out the
Range (adding in Sawteeth) to Haystack and Marcy, behind Marcy to Gray,
Skylight, Cliff, Redfield, Marshall, Colden and then to the Loj over
Iroquois, Algonquin and Wright. The key was precise planning and
several conditioning trips at home before we left. Without enough
preconditioning they might enjoy Wright and Phelps from the Loj a lot
more than Algonquin and Marcy. My old formula for calculating hiking
times with inexperienced kids on the Adirondack trails, which are not
your normal walk through the woods, was 0.5 hours for each mile PLUS 0.5
hours for every 1000 feet of climb.
--
Ed Scott 46R#627 scot...@talon.net
http://www.talon.net/scottdvoa
--

[iddybud]

The High Peaks can be quite demanding, especially at that late a date. The
weather can turn quickly and you may be facing ice/snow up there. Marcy is
definitely a two day trip. Why not camp near a trailhead that gives access
to some shorter trails and try for two hikes. That way your site will be
closer to get out quick should conditions become adverse.

The Sarnac area is nearby and a smaller Ampersand Mt. gives quite a good
view with minimal effort. There are also some good bog trials there and the
wildlife will be active in the fall. The VIC near Paul Smith's offers some
nice programs on nature nearby. Remember that the Black Bears are begining
to eat up for their winter nap, so secure your food extra good.

Whatever you do be safe and be ready for cold nights. Also, have the boys
and yourself wear a lot of blaze orange since hunting season will have
begun up there by then. - Bob

[Joe A. Ulrich]

I was there a week ago and hiked up through Indian Falls. There is no
camping allowed there now. The closest would be around the Phelps
Mountain Trail junction or Marcy Dam. There is also a limit to the
group size. I believe it is greater than nine and you have to apply for
a permit. Less than nine and you can just go.

YIS,
Joe