Hiking in the Adirondack's

Link to Adirondack hike

Madonna, Morse, Whiteface 10/24/15

The day started with no expectations or plan. It looked like a nice Oct day so I decided to go somewhere different. The usual mtns, Camels hump and Mansfield, would be very busy on a Sat in Oct. I decided to walk on the long trail North of Smugglers Notch. Parking at the bottom of the ski mountain I went up the tracked road to the left of Sterling lift and followed that up to the top of the lift. After a detour to check out Sterling Pond I headed up Madonna. The long trail comes out near the top and then follows ski trails over the top. Heading down the blue square to skiers right the long trail heads back into the woods just after the left turn to Docs and FIS (ski trails). The trail then crosses the blue square again pretty far down. In the winter it would be possible to ski onto the long trail at this point and head up toward Morse for some woods skiing. There is a cairn and a 4x4 near the entrance. Something to try in a month or two!
The walk over Morse and on to Whiteface takes some effort. Not an easy ridge walk. Multiple ups and downs. It was a nice day though and warmed up from the 30's into the 40's as the day progressed. Windy day but most of the time the trail is in the trees and fairly protected. Good views on the way to Whiteface. The top itself only has a small window facing East. Nice stretch of trail and I saw no one from Sterling to Whiteface and back. There are a number of people who hike from the Notch up to Sterling pond. I was the only car in the lot at the ski area.
~12-14 miles and significant elevation gain over the day (~5000 feet).

Mansfield from Sterling

Sterling Pond

On way to Whiteface

Madonna seen on way to Whiteface

Notch on drive back

Winter is here for the moment

The J24 frostbite series (sailing) started on Sunday 10/18/15. Weekend races that go until just before Thanksgiving. The first one was decidedly winter conditions. Winds 5-20 and temps in the 30's. Snow squalls moving through a few times and shifty stronger winds coming with the clouds.

From the boat you could see that the mountains have some snow. On Monday I went for a closer look on Mt Mansfield. Winter conditions with temps in the 20's and strong winds. A wake up call!

Mid Oct

Huntington 10/10/15

Top of Camels Hump 10/10/15 - 30 degrees

Huntington 10/10/15

Top of Mansfield 10/12/15 - 65 degrees

Mansfield - sun through trees 10/12/15

Philo 10/15/15 morning

Philo 10/15/15

More Philo 10/15/15

Shelburne 10/15/15

Shelburne 10/15/15

Adirondacks 10/8/15

Link to ADK hike:

Adirondacks: Skylight and Marcy

Mansfield - Fall 10/3/15

First day scraping ice off car windshield in the valley.
Frost in the trees near the top of Mansfield.