 |
| Iroquois summit cairn, view back to Algonquin |
You don't get cell coverage in much of the 'dacks... below 3,500 feet that is. When I head out on a solo jaunt, I usually send a text back to K when a trail is starting to reach elevation just to let her know that all is well. This time, I got the phone out after just negotiating several nasty hand over hand scrambles on the rocky shoulder of Algonquin - the second highest of the 46ers - only to find multiple texts and calls. The message: "Locked out of the cabin!" Fortunately, we were able to work out a solution on the phone without the need for me to ditch the hike. So I pressed onward and upward to the top of the Big A.
 |
| Algonquin Trail |
I'd been there before, but that hike led to a summit totally encased in the clouds. This time, the weather was such that I had the amazing 360 degree views for which the peak is known. I probably would have come back just to experience the great vista, but this trip to Algonquin had a purpose -- you have to go up and over Algonquin to get to Iroquois.
 |
| View from Algonquin Summit |
It's not far - only 1.1 miles - but you have to go down and up to a little knob called Boundary Peak and then down and up again to get to Iroquois. Normally, that wouldn't be too bad, but the initial climb to Algonquin is so tough that this last leg can seem hopelessly grueling. I pressed on, missed the herd path that I needed to take, and started down towards Lake Colden on the wrong trail. Fortunately, I realized it fairly quickly and reversed course.
At the summit of Boundary, I encountered my first hiker of the day. He was relaxing with his little dog after having already made it to Wright Peak, Algonquin and Iroquois (he left before dawn and was on Wright Peak at sunrise). He was clearly an experienced hiker, but was just starting the 46er list and didn't know the geography very well. I pointed out Marcy and Colden and some other peaks and told him about the names Algonquin, Iroquois and Boundary being chosen because of the two main Native American nations that converged in this area (hence a "boundary" line between the two). I also told him that some historians dispute this.
After a fifteen minute break, I pressed down and up (yet again) and had time to enjoy the summit of Iroquois all to myself. As usual, I hit tons of hikers going up when I was going back down to the Loj.
Early bird gets the worm.
Peak: Iroquois Peak
Elevation: 4,840 feet (and 5,114 feet) (Gain: 4,360)
Distance: 10 miles round trip, trail time: 6 hours.
Route: Up and back, Algonquin Trail to Boundary and Iroquois herd path
Condition: Partly sunny, 70 degrees F
