Here are my Mt. Marcy pics. All in all the day was worth the 16 mile hike. Left Adirondack Loj at about 9am via the Van Hoevenberg Trail. Reached Marcy dam in about an hour. We spent about a half hour at Marcy Dam, and then proceeded on trail to Indian Falls, about an hour and a half, (12 pm). Indian Falls overlook has some outstanding views. Spent 45 minutes there, filtering water, and taking pictures. Left Indian falls around 12:45. we reached Little Marcy around 2:30 - 2:45. Little Marcy is essentially a false summit or shoulder of Mt. Marcy. At this point my hiking partner says to me "you know it is pushing 3 pm and it looks like the summit is another hour, we should think about calling it a day" I said "We came all this way, and I am not going to not summit now" (It took us about 20 minutes to summit from there, it just looks further than it is). So we spent about 45 minutes on the summit.

It wasn't the greatest day to take pics up there. It was really low cloud ceiling at the summit, and the clouds really messed with my light. Light was pretty diffused and hard to make good shots. When the clouds did break it was hazy. So here is what I have anyway. There is a write up at the bottom also.

Marcy Dam:


Indian Falls:


Me and my friend Joe, at Indian Falls:


The Summit Plaque, Mt. Marcy:


Mt Haystack from Marcy: (3rd Highest in Adirondacks)


Mt Skylight: (4th Highest in Adirondacks):


One of the Mt Marcy Summit Cairns:


Joe and I at the Marcy Summit:


Here are the things I will say about this hike for anyone thinking about it.

Be ready to really hike after the Marcy Dam. The first 2.1 miles is easy. Be ready for Mud. Be ready for some portions of the trail to not be very well kept. Trail is marked pretty well though. Have really good shoes (descent is always harder on your feet). Be ready for a lot of people (depends on time of year). We had bare minimum stuff to overnight with us, just in case. Sleeping bags. climbers stove, fuel, overnight of food, overnight of socks and underwear. They require that if you are going to overnight you have a bear proof container with you. You can buy them online, or rent them at Adirondack Loj, or other places in the towns around the park (The Mountianeer in Keene Valley). A word of warning about the container. They require them for overnighting, and it is a big container to try to fit into a pack. To the point where someone else may have to carry your sleeping bag or tent if you carry their food in the container, and put it in the pack. It is supposed to hold six days of food properly packed though. My next trip up there will probably be Algonquin or Haystack. All of these mountains can be done in a day trip though. Also if doing this in the summer, or early fall (color change) sure you plan ahead for accomadations. We couldn't get a tent campsite at Adirondack Loj due to Ironman being in town. I should have called weeks ahead of time, but didn't find reservation info until the night before we left. We stayed at a campground in Lake George. It is about a hour drive to Adirondack Loj from Lake George.

Oh and go buy books and read. I saw many people up there without so much as a map. Idiots.
Also, a few lean-to's on Van Hoevenburg Trail have been removed. So make sure which on you are going to stay at exists still. You can get all that info at the Adirondack Loj trail head. Read peoples trip reports on Peakbagger.com, and google search Van Hoevenburg Trail / Mt. Marcy

http://www.adk.org/new_store/Product...?productid=GHP
They also make 6 other books for the other regions of the park.



-Andy

I've heard that Van Hoevenburg Trail to Marcy is the best in the High Peaks region, due to the amount of people it is the most maintained. The other peaks and trails don't tend to be as good due to being less popular hikes. I think I am doing Algonquin next, so I guess we will see if that holds true. The book says the trail to Algonquin seems longer than it is due to the fast altitude gain. I know the trail from Heart Lake (Adirondack Loj) to Marcy Dam seemed like a four lane highway compared to some of the trails I have hiked on the AT and Catskills. Let me know if you are maybe meeting up for a trip some time. I am looking at Algonquin maybe in August, or early Sept, before the weather turns cold.

DP

@ a require bear container.

sounds like a good way to make money w/o really changing anything. Did they at least tell you to not keep it near where you slept?

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

@ a require bear container.

sounds like a good way to make money w/o really changing anything. Did they at least tell you to not keep it near where you slept?

You'd laugh even harder when you see the thing, and ask how the hell am I supposed to fit that in a 3 or 4 day pack? I could have done it that day, but if this was a 3 or 4 day hike, man it pushes it. Yeah any literature always tells you to keep it at least 100 ft away from camp. But I also know that from camping out west. I can't remember where I saw it, I think on campmor, "the bear container is advertised as being unable to be opened by bears unless they have a coin or screwdriver" If that mo fo has a coin or screwdriver, he can have the food.

DP

Originally Posted by Donkeypunch

But I also know that from camping out west.

exactly, and how many bear containers did you even need to buy/borrow out there? And coin or screwdriver? They only have about 10 of those right? 20 if they sitdown...

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

exactly, and how many bear containers did you even need to buy/borrow out there? And coin or screwdriver? They only have about 10 of those right? 20 if they sitdown...

Camped in Yellowstone and Tetons twice, and never used a Bear Container once. I can't believe they are quoted as saying "the bear can only open it if the have coin or screwdriver."

DP