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Mt. Marcy is the highest peak, towering above the tree line, in the Adirondack Mountains, upstate New York. Add winter's theatrics and you're a make-believe Himalayan mountain climber. 70 km/hr gusts blast your ski goggles, your partner 20 feet ahead fades in and out of blowing snow. Brace yourself at the summit long enough for Facebook bragging rights.

Mid February this is the best real-world mountaineering within a nine hour drive from Kitchener-Waterloo.

Itinerary:

Option 1:

Leave Friday, Feb. 15, as soon as possible. Drive towards Lake Placid, NY, stopping for the night around 10 pm at some shared motel room(s).

Option 2:

Meet the group en route or at some point Saturday morning in Lake Placid.

Both Options:

Continue Saturday morning, Feb. 16, to the Adirondak Loj parking lot, Eastern High Peaks, Lake Placid. Start hiking mid morning and establish base camp mid afternoon, most likely at a lean-to around the Avalanche Trail cutoff.

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Summit Mt Marcy Sunday morning and return to base camp for the night.

Holiday Monday, 'family day' in Ontario, hike back to parking, enjoy brunch in Lake Placid, head for home, an 8 to 9 hour drive to Kitchener-Waterloo.

Cost:

Shared gas + shared motel room(s) Friday night + parking at Adirondack Lodge.

$60 (gas) + $40 (motel) + $5 (parking) = $105 plus incidentals

Difficulty:

This probably shouldn't be your first winter camping experience, however, if it is, outfitters in Lake Placid can ensure it isn't your last. No genuine mountaineering experience required, no ropes involved. Physically demanding, start an aerobic exercise routine now if not already.

Gear:

Snowshoes, -30 C sleeping bag, tent, stove for melting snow, footware traction devices such as microspikes and/or crampons. Ski goggles and hiking poles optional but good idea. Passport for border crossings an excellent idea.

Inspiration:

Photos from identical trip last winter https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/6167222/

Photos from similar trip this fall https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/11401172/

Intriguing YouTube of this hike http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqHR6ZKYBlc (skip 0:35 to 3:40 to avoid author's first born, SUV in the ditch, and the snow cave :-).

Links:

Adirondak Loj (http://www.adk.org/page.php?pname=adirondak-loj)

Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS), Lake Placid

Adirondack Hiking forum (http://www.adkforum.com/)

Map of Mt Marcy (http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=44.111193,-73.925414)

Wildcard:

Travel times may vary due to road conditions.

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