I snowshoe hiked > 15.5 miles, with about 3237 ft. in elevation gain, to get our 35th and 36th Adirondack high peak summits. 10 more until we will be ADK 46rs*! We started before sunrise and finished after sunset. Long day, but fun. Thought I'd share some PIPs since it was so pretty.
Santanoni Mountains - ridge line
Panther Peak - near the summit
Cold River Valley & Seward range from the way up Couchsachraga Peak:
Exactly the same view maybe an hour later on the way back down:
(We got snowed on.)
In between, summit marker:
What passes for a trail:
*There are 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks that were originally measured at 4k+ ft. in elevation. You climb them all, you can join the 46rs.
Well done! You are on your way to becoming a 46er! How many peaks do you have to do in the winter?
We've done 7 in the winter, and 29 in the spring/summer/fall so far. We are just going for regular 46r status, so it doesn't matter what time of year you do them. I don't really aspire to Winter 46r status because there are some that I am just not comfortable attempting with ice and snow on them. The cliffs of Saddleback, for instance. But never say never. If we wanted to be winter 46rs later on, we would only have to redo the ones in winter that we did in non-winter months.
Truth be told, one of the two we did this weekend was because it's actually easier in the winter. The drop down into the col between the ridgeline and Couchsachraga has a huge upland swamp where people regularly sink knee and hip deep in mud. There's no good way around it, so we decided we'd do it when it's frozen and you can walk right over it. Winter hiking has its challenges to be sure, but I prefer them to trying to get through a swampy mess!
Well done! You are on your way to becoming a 46er! How many peaks do you have to do in the winter?
We've done 7 in the winter, and 29 in the spring/summer/fall so far. We are just going for regular 46r status, so it doesn't matter what time of year you do them. I don't really aspire to Winter 46r status because there are some that I am just not comfortable attempting with ice and snow on them. The cliffs of Saddleback, for instance. But never say never. If we wanted to be winter 46rs later on, we would only have to redo the ones in winter that we did in non-winter months.
Truth be told, one of the two we did this weekend was because it's actually easier in the winter. The drop down into the col between the ridgeline and Couchsachraga has a huge upland swamp where people regularly sink knee and hip deep in mud. There's no good way around it, so we decided we'd do it when it's frozen and you can walk right over it. Winter hiking has its challenges to be sure, but I prefer them to trying to get through a swampy mess!
I've heard others say the same thing about Saddleback. I was under the impression that you had to do at least one of them in the winter, but what do I know? I've only done Cascade and that's the easy one! (huh)
Beautiful! I have only done Dix and Giant. And those were most definitely not done during winter. Go you!
Those are two of my favorites! Which way did you do Dix? From Elk Lake or from the north? When we did it, we camped near Elk Lake Fri-Sun, and did a 5 peak loop on Sat, Macomb, E. Dix, S. Dix, Hough, and Dix. It was a big day, but it was so quiet, so few people, and beautiful.