Iroquois (and Algonquin), June 18, 2019, MacIntyre Range, Eastern High Peaks, Adirondack Park

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.

On Algonquin

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.

View to the slides of Mt. Colden and Marcy beyond from Iroquois summit

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

Table Top Mountain, September 4, 2018, Eastern High Peaks, Adirondack Park

Partial views from Table Top summit

On our July trip to the Adirondacks, I did a fair amount of hiking. But they were shorter, early morning hikes with the dog. The reason: It was HOT... 95, 96 degrees. And HUMID... 98-100%. And the heat wave didn't last a day or two. It was the whole week. Hiking weather it was not. So when we made a second trip later in the season, I figured I was long overdue to add a peak to my 46er list. Since my hiking day of choice had a forecast of summits in the clouds, I chose a peak not really known for its views - Table Top.

The old bridge at Marcy Dam... still under construction?

The hike to Table Top is a very straightforward ascent, rising over fairly moderate gain from the ADK Loj on the trail that goes to Mount Marcy. I hit the trail at 7 AM and made it to Marcy Dam in 45 minutes. From there, the trail follows Phelps Brook for a long stretch, crosses it, and then rises to the turn off for Table Top. I saw a few groups of hikers throughout the day, but all were headed to Marcy.

Phelps Brook foot bridge

The trail to the summit of Table Top is one of those unmaintained ADK "herd paths" but is easy to follow. I stowed my pack in the woods and did a quick up and back to the top. Sure enough, the summit was in and out of the clouds, offering only partial views.

But at least I had it all to myself.

Peak: Table Top Mountain
Elevation: 4,427 feet (Gain: 2,270 feet)
Distance: 9.8 miles round trip, trail time: 4 hours 30 minutes.
Route: Up and back, Van Hoevenberg Trail from ADK Loj to Table Top herd path
Condition: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees F

Nilmah Mountain, September 2, 2018, Adirondack Park

The view south to the High Peaks from Nilmah Summit

The Rock is part dog and part mountain goat. So whenever we are up in the Adirondacks, I like to take him out to bag a few peaks. The short, yet steep hike to the summit of Mount Nilmah provides a good workout and a nice vista point as payoff for a strenuous climb. It's tough for a two-legged human, but no match for a four-legged, high-energy mountain cur.

Nilmah is surrounded by private holdings and therefore inaccessible to the public. To climb it, we always have the proper permissions from the landowners. But in order to prevent others from trespassing without permission, this post uses as pseudonym for the mountain.

The summit, view from the field

From the auto road, the trail follows a wooded path to a open field, then turns right. After a short time on the level, the trail reaches a point where another trail connects from the right. Here, the trail to Nilmah proceeds straight ahead and immediately begins to climb, winding upwards past two small shed-like buildings, until a point where open ledges start to appear through the trees on the right. To get a nice, lower elevation view, go off the trail to the right and scramble up for some vista points.

Rocco on the ledges

At the first sight of the ledges on the right, however, the trail to the summit turns left, drops down, and then turns right and goes up a ravine. It is easy to lose the trail here. To follow it, always stay close to the ravine wall on the right - the trail follows the ravine edge the whole way up the mountain, sometimes following the ravine wall and sometimes going right up it.

Sunrise from the lower ledges, view of Jay Range

The top of Nilmah is flat and wooded with lots of blow-downs, so it is easy to lose one's bearings when getting to the true summit knob. When coming out of the ravine and leveling out, the trail turns to the left and traverses the summit. To reach the high point, look for a trail coming from the left, which goes straight for a short distance and then circles back and to up to the rocky summit knob. If you miss the left turn, the trail will continue and descend the other side of the mountain.

Peak: Nilmah Mountain
Elevation: 2,219 feet (Gain: 1,100 feet)
Distance: 3 miles round trip
Route: Up and Back, blue trail
Conditions: Hot and humid, 90 degrees F