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| Catamount Summit |
We always spend Columbus Day week in the Adirondacks. It's usually the perfect time of year. No bugs like in the spring; no crowds like in the summer; no dangerous solo hiking conditions like in the winter. The weather during Columbus Day week is usually perfect for hiking - cool and crisp in the mornings, not a lot of rain, and beautiful, brilliant sunshiney days.
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| The Chimney on Catamount |
Not this year. The weather gods decided that winter would come early, so much so that a full week went by without me being able to tackle a single 46er. Even the normally-benign up-and-back of Catamount proved to be more treacherous than normal. On a mid-week weekday, I wasn't suprised to find the parking lot totally empty and set off along the familar flat approach route through light snow and slush. As the climbing began, the conditions started to worsen and I needed microspikes to navigate the entire length of the slippery, slushy route upwards.
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| Snow on Catamount |
Snow started to fall as I reached the first of the many rocky outcroppings and it continued the rest of the climb. High winds caused blowing snow and reduced visibility. Although I usually take a long break at the top of this pretty little summit, this time I hightailed it out of there as quickly as possible. As is often the case with winter-like conditions, the descent was more difficult than the ascent with the snow still coming down and the slush turning to ice due to the plummeting temperatures.
Glad that I didn't attempt a 46er.
Peak: Catamount
Elevation: 3,169 feet (Gain: 1,571 feet)
Distance: 3.6 miles
Route: Up and Back, Catamount Trail
Conditions: High Winds, snow, 25 degrees F
