Climbing Mount Marcy
Details
Tired of the flat-lands? Dream of snowshoeing up hill half the day towards a mountain summit for a shot at snow capped glory and possible frostbite on your nose?
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/8/e/e/600_457775054.jpeg
This may be the trip for you. We will be climbing highest peak in New York State, Mount Marcy.
The climb is fairly non-technincal until the summit(optional) were conditions can be dangerously challenging. Participants must be a experienced and competent winter backpacker in good physical condition.
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/9/2/4/600_457775108.jpeg
Itinerary:
Friday Feb 17th:
Leave KW and head towards Lake Placid. Stop near Johnstown to spend the night. Use spreadsheet to coordinate sharing hotel rooms.
Saturday:
Get and early and head out by 7:30AM. Cross the border (You brought your passport, right?) and head into Lake Placid.
Pick up any rental gear at EMS (They rent a bunch of winter gear) and head to the parking lot at the "ADK Loj".
Pick up backcountry permits from the ADK office and aim to hit the trail around noon.
Travel by snowshoe to the area around Marcy Dam and set up camp.
Sunday:
With your summit kit (see below) we will day trip to the summit of Mount Marcy.
This will likely take most of the day.
Monday, 'Family day':
Hike back to the car
Enjoy lunch in Lake Placid
Head for home
Logistics:
Below is a link to the trip planning spreadsheet. Participants must fill this out. Failure to do so with-in a week of signing up will result in being dropped form the trip without notice.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zqYvoHmti3jo49C1RD_e--_x6HMnN1sQVC9tjw0gSB8/edit?usp=sharing
Gear: • Snowshoes, required by law. (Can easily be rented in Lake Placed at EMS or at the trail head/High Peaks Information Center, call for availability).
• -30 C sleeping bag (May be rented from Lake Placed at EMS , call for avaiabilty)
• Tent(Can and should be shared, see spreadsheet)
• Stove for melting snow(Can and should be shared, see spreadsheet. Avoid canister stoves unless liquid feed)
• Insulated winter boots(with removable liners or be prepared to sleep with the boots in your sleeping bag)
• Traction devices such as microspikes(Optional)
• Passport (The US is kind of cranky about those sorts of things)
• Trekking poles(optional but recommend)
• Layered clothing
• A summit kit (see below)
Summit Kit:
If you have not been on a alpine peak in winter the conditions can be surprisingly bad. I personally have experienced all of the following on Mount Marcy
• Winds that forced me to crawl to the summit.
• Wind slab so hard it required crampons to able to maintain my grip on the snow (see wind above).
• Frost-nip on a hand when I removed a glove for 2 minutes to operate a touch screen.
To deal with these conditions you must have the following in order to join this trip
• SKI Goggles
• A tight fitting (not a scarf or floppy material) mask that cover ALL exposed facial skin.
• A similar covering for the rest of your head likely in the form of a hood or tight hat(s).
• Gloves
• Wind-proof pants
• Multiple layers of jackets
• Crampons (optional but you may not summit if we run into windslab).
Costs:
• Shared gas (Estimate $60)
• Shared motel room(s) Friday night (Estimate $50)
• Meals along the way (Estimate $60-100)
• Parking at Adirondack Lodge ($10/day?)
Photos and videos of past trips:
Photos from 2015
https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/25926252/
Photos from 2014
https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/20189752/
Video from summit 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISwIeuNfBQs
Photos from 2013
https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/6167222/
Video from summit 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2BTFtFmK3c