Making it 2 days in a row, I went and hiked Thomas Cole and Blackdome from Barnum Road as I didn't want to go up Big Hollow again. This approach is longer, but only has one real steep section as you are going up the caudal. It was icy, but it wasn't really anything I was worried about. By the time I reached the big tree on Camel's Hump, I put my shoes on as it was getting more and more snow coverage, and it helped with the heel lifts going up Thomas Cole.
To start the year off, Windham High Peak for my first Winter 3500 of the year.
This time, I took the escarpment trail up and down. I hadn't done that direction last time, so this was a new experience for me. No need for snow shoes most of the way, just microspikes as it was a bit icy once you reached the lean-to. On top though, it was melting snow, and I put the shoes on just for the top on my way down. The eerie part of the hike though was just how there were so many trees that were down that I dubbed it a "tree graveyard".
This was another big year for hiking. I finished the Catskill 3500 challenge and started/finished the Lake George 12 challenge. I also started on the ADK portion of the Fire Tower challenge, which will be my focus next year along with the LP 9, Saranac 6, and Tupper 3. Plenty of non-high peak hiking to do.
To end out the year, I hiked Big Slide. This was weirdly the first time I did it over the Brothers, which is the typical way most people first approach it.
It's the first day of winter, time to start hiking winter peaks again! Unfortunately, there was a major rain storm in the week leading up to the 21st, and that did some major road damage by Owl's Head on 73. Coming into the day, I was concerned about water levels around the washbowl. I totally forgot that on the ridge trail you cross the outlet 3 times.
Today it was Hurricane Fire Tower. I chose to go up this one as training for winter hiking, being only a week or so before winter, and someone had reported a couple days earlier that they used snowshoes all the way. I was pumped to use my snowshoes again. Sadly, the weather warmed up and all I used was microspikes.
To continue on my fire tower challenge, I did Hadley and Kane fire towers.
First up was Hadley. This trail was a bit icy and I had to put on the microspikes shortly after I left the car. The trail up was overall not bad, just steep and a few open slabs to climb up. The views from the top were lovely, and this is a wonderful hike that I highly recommend.
This time, I went and worked on completing the Tongue range for the Lake George 12, doing the lower 3 peaks. I started off on the crossover trail and next thing I knew I was on the ridge and heading south. When I got to 5th peak, it was a slight backtrack up to the leanto and actual peak. The views there were gorgeous, and I could easily see myself camping there, if not for the lack of reliable water nearby (yes, I can hike down to the lake, but that's a steep climb back up.)
Another day of trailhead stewarding, and another hike after, and trying to do Big Crow once again. This time I knew the trail was not next to the register, but the other side of the lot. This is a weirdly steep trail for the length. Not horribly difficult, short, but still not a walk in the park. The views though, my, they're worth it. This is another Lake Placid 9 down... now 3/9.
