“The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth ... the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need -- if only we had the eyes to see.” -- Edward Abbey (American writer and naturalist)

After over a year we were finally back in the mountains. Leaving California with its limitless peaks and vast wilderness and relocating to an area of Northeastern Pennsylvania which lacks high-elevation mountains was a very hard adjustment for me. We decided to drive to upstate New York and hike the High Peaks Region in the Adirondack Mountains. We would set up basecamp in Lake Placid, sleep one night and the next morning hike from Adirondack Loj on the Van Hoevenberg Trail to the top of Mt. Marcy, the highest peak in New York state. The journey would be an arduous climb of over 16 miles, most of which required bouldering, rock scrambling and climbing up large and oftentimes slippery slabs of rock. It had been over a year since I’d done any hiking with much elevation, but I craved the challenge and the rewards that come with reaching the summit after putting in a hard day’s work on the trail.

We arrived at Adirondack Loj at 5:30 am, about an hour before sunrise. We donned our headlamps and headed out on the Van Hoevenberg trail towards Marcy Dam. The trail was mostly easy going for the first two miles. We moved quickly to the first junction, and as we reached the dam the sun was starting to come up. We took a moment to enjoy the views of Mt. Colden, Avalanche Mountain and Wright Peak, but we couldn’t linger knowing we had a lot more miles to cover. We crossed the bridge over Marcy Brook and began to ascend on a moderate grade as we hiked along Phelps Brook. We passed the junction to Phelps Mountain and from here we began a steep climb up the trail which was covered in nothing but boulders. After the first steep pitch, the trail crossed Marcy Brook and briefly leveled off for a short distance as we passed the junction to Indian Falls. At about 5 miles in we began another steep ascent which seemed like endless scrambling and climbing. The terrain was slippery in sections and required a lot of mental concentration and careful foot placement. As we reached the top of the ridge, I began to see hints of blue sky. I knew we were getting closer. Now, the trail eased slightly except for the mud and the obstacle course of wooden planks we had to negotiate, and we began to get our first views of Mt. Marcy. We hiked through thick scrub and scrambled up more barefaced boulders before reaching the Alpine Zone. We were starting to get above the treeline, and I was beginning to feel anxious as the climbing got even harder and steeper. Higher and higher we ascended, scrambling the bare rock and slabs. We followed the cairns and the yellow paint blazes guiding the way straight up. And then, finally, we were there… standing on the summit of Mt. Marcy, the highest peak in New York State at 5,344 feet. It was an amazing feeling! One I haven’t felt since leaving the mountains of California. We took in the views and fueled up on snacks, but the moment could not last because we knew we had miles of strenuous descent before we could finally relax and celebrate. The climb back down the mountain was even more taxing. We were tired both physically and mentally, and the amount of concentration it took to descend the boulders and rocks was even more laborious then it was going up. It was about 6:30 pm when we finally reached the Loj. We were tired, sore and even a little delirious, but it was an incredible day and one which we will not soon forget.

Hiking Mt. Marcy was both a physical and mental challenge. It pushed us to our limits. There comes a point in hikes like these when you know you’re stretching yourself, but you just can’t turn back because you don’t want to waste all the effort you’ve already put in so you just keep pushing. The feeling of reaching a hard earned summit is a feeling that’s difficult to describe. It becomes an addiction. It’s a challenge not everyone will have the privilege of experiencing. It’s a journey that makes you stronger and brings you closer to those who are on that same journey. And although the moment of reaching the summit may be fleeting compared to the hours you put in to get there, it will always be worth it.

Click on “Read More Below for More Photos”

Today we went back to explore more of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This time we planned to hike some trails that started at the Pocono Environmental Education Center Campus. The PEEC is a non-profit organization that offers environmental learning experiences in a national park. It looked like a really cool place. We started the day on the Tumbling Waters Trail which begins just across the road from the Main Education Building. We crossed a bridge and along the trail was a fun looking bird blind complete with exhibits inside. I should note that the really cool thing about this place is that the trails here are interpretive. Points of interest are marked with numbers and you can purchase a guided map outside the PEEC building, or download them onto your phone. An interesting exhibit at the beginning of the hike is a Trash Graveyard. It’s meant to demonstrate the amount of time it takes for common materials to decompose such as water bottles, plastic bags and cigarettes. It’s a fun way to educate people on the effects of littering. The trail then took us through a pine plantation and along the shores of Pickerel Pond where there was evidence of beavers. We walked over a boardwalk above more wetlands and then into a forest of conifers and mixed hardwoods. Eventually, the trail became a lovely single track just above a ravine with hemlocks towering above. A helpful set of steps are cut into switchbacks leading down the ravine to the waterfall. The purpose of the steps is to keep hikers on the trail. Cutting switchbacks can lead to erosion. It’s so important to respect the rules of our beautiful parks and wilderness areas. Unfortunately, I did see many use trails branching off near the waterfall, which gives evidence that some hikers do not respect these principles. As we made our descent down to the falls, there were many rhododendrons and large hemlock trees. We spent some time here exploring the area, taking pictures, and enjoying the “tumbling waters”. Next, we hiked back up and the trail skirted cliffside with expansive views of the Delaware River Valley. We then passed a stone fireplace which was once part of a cabin. It made me think about how difficult it must have been to haul all those stones up the steep slope to build it. We then hiked through more forests of mixed oaks, cedar and pine. Along the trail I saw wildflowers of periwinkle and rue anemone beginning to peak out from under the leaf debris. Soon we arrived back at the parking area where we then made our way onto the Ridgeline and Scenic Gorge Trails. These trails offered so much variety! We hiked through forests of tamarack, oak, hickory, hemlock and pine. We climbed up and down large sedimentary rocks where there was a handy rope installed to assist with the descent. We passed through wetlands and vernal pools while spring peepers sang their spring chorus. We crossed bridges over the cascading waters of Spackman’s creek and enjoyed the scenic gorge that was decorated with bright green moss and fern. There were also various types of shelf-like mushrooms to observe. As we reached the trailhead once again, I couldn’t believe how quickly time went by on these trails. I really enjoyed my time here and am so appreciative that there are gems like this to learn about and enjoy the magic of nature.

Click on “Read More” below for more photos.

Mt. Marcy via Van Hoevenberg Trail, Adirondack Mountains, High Peaks Region, 16 Miles RT, 3,734' +/-, 5,344' Max Elevation, September 20, 2021

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Tumbling Waters, Ridgeline, Scenic Gorge, April 10, 2021